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Heard this great story on NPR's On The Media radio program yesterday. Do you know who was known as "Bucket Billy"? And a famous pitchman comes from a prodigious family of salesman? Lots of interesting stuff here. 19 minutes - listen or download the podcast (mp3)
No I haven't seen it but wish I had and will look for the show. I am still new to cable tv and keep finding great stuff there that I didn't know about. Serendipity, regarding the link I posted about the radio program with its story about beach boardwalk pitchmen. I used to travel regularly with friends to Ocean City MD during the sixties after I got out of high school. There was a boardwalk auction gallery there that fascinated me. I enjoyed the pitchmen/auctioneers there and their shtick - I could stay there for hours, but my friends, not as fascinated as me would say "C'mon, let's go" after a half an hour or so The auctioneers would start off with cheap stuff like ballpoint pens and get the crowd going. It was entertaining how they creatively and showman-like described their products, no matter how humble, and got the crowd to get excited and start buying. They would move on then to more expensive and intriguing products. I never was tempted to buy their stuff but loved to watch the pitchers
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The auctioneers would start off with cheap stuff like ballpoint pens and get the crowd going. It was entertaining how they creatively and showman-like described their products, no matter how humble, and got the crowd to get excited and start buying. They would move on then to more expensive and intriguing products. I never was tempted to buy their stuff but loved to watch the pitchers 
