Mr. Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! was Jan C Gabriel and he died on Sunday, 01/10/10. As his web site puts it,
I didn't know Jan but he lived and worked in the area. What I did know and remember is his voice. His commercials about smoking US 30 drag strip were the type that stuck in your head. His life was covered by this segment on WTTW Chicago Tonight program (very interesting piece that shows a connection to Sally Struthers).
In addition to the radio ads, I heard him at Santa Fe speedway but didn't know it at the time. His voice will live on for sometime.
I first made the connection of the radio ad to Jan while researching a post I did last year. To save you the bother of finding that post about drag racing and Mr. Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!
"Jan Gabriel crossed the Finish Line of Life late Sunday..."There was a nice write-up about him in today's Chicago Tribune.
I didn't know Jan but he lived and worked in the area. What I did know and remember is his voice. His commercials about smoking US 30 drag strip were the type that stuck in your head. His life was covered by this segment on WTTW Chicago Tonight program (very interesting piece that shows a connection to Sally Struthers).
In addition to the radio ads, I heard him at Santa Fe speedway but didn't know it at the time. His voice will live on for sometime.
I first made the connection of the radio ad to Jan while researching a post I did last year. To save you the bother of finding that post about drag racing and Mr. Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!
here it is again.
Hot Rod Gang (1958)
I missed this exciting movie. I wonder what woman that graphic artist used as a model. Her curves look dangerous.
I do remember listening to the Beach Boys and their "Little Deuce Coupe".
I get rubber in ALL four gears. I wish.
My big brother had a hot 69 Camaro that I was lucky to drive a few times. That car could burn some rubber. Maybe I was more practical or just broke, but I had a used Pontiac Tempest and later a Vega (big mistake).
My brother and his friends got into drag racings. His friends got into the actual racing even more than him. He did drag race the car before the Camaro and won a trophy. If you don't anything about racing, one thing you should know it's expensive among other things.
A couple of times my brother and his friends were nice enough to let me tag along to the drag strip (maybe our parents forced him, I don't know). The nearest drag strip was near the small town of Oswego.
Here in the middle of soybeans and corn fields the roar of nytro powered funny cars was deafening. I thought the cool part was walking around the pits. There were some amazing machines being pushed to their limits.
Racing down this drag strip was open to anyone who paid the fee. I don't know the amount but it was reasonable. Back in the sixties they didn't even require you to wear a helmet. No special seat belts. When I recently asked my brother about it, he didn't recall even using his seat belt.
I don't know if the drag strips of today are as accessible. If you know, please share in a comment below.
I found that movie poster picture on blog/podcast site that I found when I looking up info on IKO IKO song.
Matt-the-cat does a Friday Night Cat Fight podcast that covers mostly classic rock songs.
Here's a clip of the US 30 Drag Strip commercial heard on the radio often in Chicagoland. US 30 was in northern Indiana.
7 comments:
I suspect the artist used a Barbie doll as am model.
@unknown mami - all choked up or just short on words today? - just giving you a hard time - thanks
@secret agent - yes the barbie was a little exaggerated in her shape.
You are a good writer lisleman, and funny too. I think in 1958, that is how they looked.
I know of hot rod from Tim the Tool Man Taylor!
BTW, in your last post the "thing" I was referring to was the handjob cloth thingy.
@ocean girl - thanks for the compliment and sharing. The Tool Man show Home Improvement was a big hit but I must say I didn't watch it often. Handjob opener thing in the last post - it's a joke and as often happens with jokes using slang terms it doesn't work well between cultures.
I think I remember his voice! He sure brought excitement to racing.
I haven't heard for Lily in a while. Her last two posts are all I know. I think she's just busy with life but I will email her again (she hasn't answered my last few) and see if I can find anything out. I'll let you know.
jj
@JJ - yes he did have a technique for a memorable voice.
q on Lilly - thanks it just seems strange to me that someone who was so good at blogging would just drop it cold like that. I understand that life changes your priorities and blogging could certainly be pushed lower. I would think one might still put out a quick post or two per month even if you lowered your blog activity.
I wondered about Lily too. Especially since the last post I read before I left for Mecca, was that she was getting back in the saddle. I was looking forward to her when I returned.
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