I still pull this up from time to time and can’t help but giggle.

  • @SzethFriendOfNimi
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    7 months ago

    Interesting… his names Johnny Ross and he’s done various wacky commercials for various stores

    Johnny Ross swings his arm around clockwise over and over from the elbow - not the shoulder - looks as if it would produce a sharp twinge.

    He swears it doesn’t hurt a bit.

    The portly television pitchman, known in Northwest Arkansas for the zany commercials he does for Sam’s Furniture in Springdale, incorporates the fast-moving swing into most of the ads he does. Ross’ quirky arm motion and familiar “Get it at Sam’s” line - spoken in unison with store owner Joe Donaldson - show up in most of the Sam’s advertising these days.

    Ross for 30 years has made his living in the fast-paced, sometimes crazy world of TV advertising for furniture stores. While Ross’ antics promote stores in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Jersey and Texas, other pitchmen do their own shenanigans elsewhere. Two people dressed as pirates clang swords over a dining room table to make high prices “walk the plank” at Martin Fine Furniture in Indiana. In Grand Prairie, Texas, Town and Country Furniture shows ads in which a man clobbers a piece of furniture with a baseball bat to “beat down” prices.

    https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2010/dec/27/arm-rotating-ross-puts-fun-furnishings-20101227/

    • @wjriiOP
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      17 months ago

      Possibly, but parsing the article and listening to the Texas commercial, I don’t think it’s Johnny. I’d be willing to admit he was involved, though. Our bat-wielding friend claims to be named Brent, and the article seems to put the Grand Prairie commercial in the “other pitchmen” section.

        • @wjriiOP
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          27 months ago

          No worries. I loved the article. Gave great insight into what must be one of the more unusual ways to make a career in TV. Thanks!