This old spot features actor Tom Bosley, who later starred in Happy Days and Murder She Wrote, pitching the all-new Studebaker lineup for 1956. It’s lots of fun, watch.
Most of us remember actor Tom Bosley (1927-2010) in the role of Howard Cunningham, head of the household in the long-running ABC television series Happy Days. Hmm, we seem to recall that Howard was a DeSoto man. However, here Mr. Bosley is pitching the Studebaker lineup for 1956, and a fine job he does, even though he doesn’t speak a word of dialogue. We’re ready to visit our local Studebaker dealer tomorrow.
This two-and-a-half minute spot stars the President Classic V8 Sedan, the automaker’s top-of-the line family four-door boasting all-new sheet metal for ’56. With a base price of $2,489, the senior Stude slotted into the same price range as the Olds 88 and Pontiac Chieftain, and the tag line that year was “the big new choice in the low price field.” Also featured is the new-for-1956 Golden Hawk, described here as “the only five-place sports car in volume production.” Video below.
It was common practice to hire professional actors and other celebrities to demonstrate/sell new cars. A lot of them were (likely) glad to get the work. For the most part they did what they were paid to do. I still wonder if they actually drove the cars they advertised….
Quite so. We enjoy running these original promos that feature celebrities of the day, from Amelia Earhart to Ed Sullivan. We do quite a lot of them, actually. It’s an excellent way to place the car in its cultural context.
I’ll take a new Hawk, thank you!
Refreshing to see old commercials like this. I wonder if the volume was twice as high when one of these came like it seems to be today?
Bosley was still in the aspiring state of his career…his big break came in 1959 playing New York mayor LaGuardia in the Broadway musical FIORELLO!
And later in HAPPY DAYS’ run, Mr. C got a bright red Studebaker and laments “I buy a new car and next week the company goes out of business”