Saturday, February 12, 2011

Is this 'Maytag Repairman' Jesse White's last commercial ever?


This commercial shows truckloads of Maytag appliances being driven around and getting ready for Maytag's Truckload Sale. They got Washers, Dryers, Dishwashers, Ranges...
With this sale you can save $30!!

But it's sad because an old, lonely appliance repairman says "At least they got some place to go". Well, that old man has some history to him. He played a character created for Maytag and his real name was Jesse White (who already had a substantial acting career with roles in Broadway shows, feature films, and tv shows which included The Twilight Zone, The Dick Van Dyke Show; The Donna Reed Show; The Munsters; The Addams Family; and I Dream of Jeannie, among others).

His new role was to be a repairman and show that Maytag appliances were so reliable that he wasn't needed anymore. He was this character from 1967 - 1988. This campaign ended up being very successful for Maytag.

Interestingly though, this commercial that we have here for your viewing pleasure, might be his last EVER as the "Maytag repairman" since it's the same year he stopped being that character.

Several actors took his place thereafter with not as much success as Jesse White had. Eventually, the "Maytag repairman" character became a symbol for a professional whose services are rarely needed which some say, among other reasons, led to the decline of Maytag.

R.I.P. Jesse White and Maytag Repairman

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Video Title: (1988) Maytag appliance - 80's TV commercial
Product: Maytag Appliances (Whirlpool Corporation)
Original Air Date: 1988
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