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Madman Muntz

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Entrepreneur

The Resume

    (January 3, 1914-June 21, 1987)
    Born in Elgin, Illinois
    Birth name was Earl William Muntz
    Sold used cars, TVs, car stereos, Stereo-Pak four-track cartridges, VCRs, cell phones, satellite dishes and motorhomes
    Founded the Muntz Car Company which sold the Muntz Jet sportscar (1951-53)
    Known for appearing in TV ads for his companies
    Taglines included 'I buy em retail and sell em wholesale -- it's more fun that way' and 'I want to give em away but Mrs. Muntz won't let me. She's crazy!'

Why he might be annoying:

    He paved the way for Crazy Eddie and thousands of other loud and obnoxious pitchmen.
    He sold only 400 Muntz Jets and lost about $1,000 on each.
    He was so obsessed with publicity that during the height of the Red Scare, he asked an aide, 'Do you think I'd make the front page if I joined the Communist Party?'
    He was married eight times.
    He named his daughter Tee Vee (although she usually went by Teena).

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was a self-taught electrical engineer who mastered the art of 'Muntzing' -- simplifying complex electronic devices.
    In the 50s, he was the first retailer to sell TVs for under $100 and in the 80s he was the first to sell cell phones for under $1,000.
    He became so famous from his ads that USC students spelled out his name in a football halftime show (1943) and Panner Motor Tours listed his car lots as the 7th biggest tourist attraction in Southern California (1946).
    Dan Bunker, who directed a documentary about him, said 'What set Muntz apart was his chutzpah.... He took chances, risked failure and reaped the rewards.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 8 Votes: 12.50% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 70.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 10 Votes: 70.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 13 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 17 Votes: 64.71% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 94 Votes: 38.30% Annoying