Sunday Morning – Anybody Seen Homer?
Do you remember Homer Formby? You know, that guy with the folksy, country drawl who starred in his own tv commecials hawking his DIY furniture restoration and care products back in the early 1980's. That was most people's introduction to the existance of Tung Oil (mind the spelling). Even though I had never heard of Homer before, apparently he had been formulating his oils, varnishes and strippers for quite a few years, decades maybe.
Homer was a crafty fellow, it turns out. After struggling along for all those years, just making it in the trade, he mounted the campaign where he saturated the tv airwaves with his commercials and in the proverbial "overnight" he became a household personality and sales of his tung oil, furniture refinisher, and lemon oil went through the roof. Not only did it make him an instant millionaire, but it raised both the profile and the value of his little company to the point where one of the "big guys," Sherwin-Williams bought him out just to get that goldmine of a brand name and mug shot that adorned every can of product.
Then after pulling the deal, Homer seems to have retired and melted gracefully into the background to enjoy his comfortable retirement. But where did he go? As best as I can tell, he is still alive but he certainly has successfully remained incognito. A careful Google Search brings up references to the product which is still actively marketed by S-W, but zilch on any personal comments or news of his whereabouts. A check with Wikipedia tells me that the name does not exist in their database. I did learn that back when he started raking it in, he bought an entire island in the Florida Keys, but it was sold again several years later, and then no more Homer on the webscape.
I don't know why this popped into my muddled mind, but I became curious as to what he's been doing since then. Maybe somebody out there can tell me, whatever happened to Homer Formby?
Before we break out the finishing pads, we'd better get this equipment checked out. I need some more coffee, too. I'll check on the Sunday breakfast while I'm firing up the Bunn-O-Matic, then I'll see you back in the day room.
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Also on FireGeezer…
- Morning Lineup – November 14 – November 14, 2011
