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Favorite Local Commercials: Lamenting the Loss of Becky's

You can't have lived in St. Louis long without seeing Becky's Carpet and Tile Commercials. Now that it's closing, where does it fit in the pantheon of local ads?

The cheesy special effects, the changes in her size, the glorious view of the Arch — they were all there in the Becky's Carpet and Tile ads that were a staple of St. Louis local television.

Now comes news that Becky's Carpet and Tile Superstores will be closing. is expected to stay open awhile longer as inventory is moved there.

KSDK Ch. 5 reported on its website that employees of the store were told on Friday that they five-store chain was shutting down. Becky's has stores in , , and Collinsville, as well as South County.

West Newsmagazine quotes Becky’s General Manager Rick Rossfeld, saying "the economy hit us hard," in its report on the shutdown of Becky's stores

I've lived in St. Louis about 10 years; I'd probably lived here 10 minutes before I saw my first Becky's commercial.

What are you favorite local St. Louis commercials — current or past? Or, do you have some least-favorite commercials from St. Louis TV?

frank June 13, 2012 at 10:54 am
Just think Steve Mizzerany
Mark June 13, 2012 at 12:03 pm
"what's the deal"- Steve Mizzerany
Walter Smith June 13, 2012 at 12:19 pm
Don't forget the old Lammert' Automotive. "What's the story Larry?"
Colleen Hoette June 13, 2012 at 12:32 pm
The commercial was very catchy but after going into the store one time I vowed never to go back. That was one foul-mouthed woman!
Michael O'Fallon June 13, 2012 at 12:42 pm
Schweig Engel commercials were just bizarre. Loved them!
Debra Johnson June 13, 2012 at 12:42 pm
glad to see her go, we got ripped off there
Joe Barker (Editor) June 13, 2012 at 01:52 pm
To me, one of the first sings of Christmas is Don Brown breaking out that ugly Christmas coat. For better or worse, I always think of that commercial when I think of local ads. That and, of course, Ted Drewes.
Jean Whitney June 13, 2012 at 02:02 pm
Every town must have a wacky ad; my old stomping ground had 'Crazy Eddie' with prices so low...he actually went bankrupt.
Pat Maloney (Wilken) June 13, 2012 at 02:23 pm
I think the article is right....the economy dropping like it did.....probably put people's idea of new carpeting on the back burner, so to speak. We bought carpeting years ago, and had a pleasant experience, as I remember.
Bill Boll June 13, 2012 at 03:38 pm
I can't vouch for the sales staff, but Becky personally was the nicest person you'd ever want to meet. As a filmmaker and musician, I've needed small amounts of materials for odd uses over the years. Whenever I went to Becky's, she would spend a lot of time with me looking around her store for what I needed. Often, she would give it to me for free.
As for other classic local commercials, the songs for Mauls and Poolmart immediately come to mind. And of course, there was that trashy blonde shouting, "Meinneke discount mufflers shatters prices!" as she breaks a glass pane with a sledgehammer.
John Hoffmann June 13, 2012 at 03:59 pm
"There's something about a Muntz TV"
Gregg Palermo (Editor) June 13, 2012 at 04:58 pm
As someone who has spent a large amount of time in Mid-Missouri over the last 20 years or so, the "Earl & Edna" spots for Furniture Factory Outlet were always a fun watch. "Earl" died, but they had so many of the commercials in the can that I think it was a good 10 months before it leaked out that he had passed.
Thomas J. Stein June 13, 2012 at 05:08 pm
My Top 3 St. Louis TV Commercials of all-time areas follows:
3) NEW DEAL (Steve & Joe, late 1960s-early 1990s) 2) UNCLE LEONARD (Curtis-Mathes, Muntz TV, early-1960s-late 1980s) 1) BECKY'S CARPET & TILE (Becky & Wanda, early 1980s-early/mid 2000s)
Kim June 13, 2012 at 05:43 pm
I grew up in Southern California watching "Cal Worthington and his dog Spot" car sales commericals (only spot was never actually a dog - it was a tiger or a goat or some other animal.) The one from St. Louis I remember most was : "You get a better better deal on a better better car and it sells at a better better price price. You get a greater greater deal on a greater greater car, so good good you've gotta say it twice twice." I don't recall the name of the car dealer, but I'll always remember the jingle!
Kalen Ponche (Editor) June 13, 2012 at 05:53 pm
I liked the dirt cheap beer and liquor commercials. "The more she drinks the better you look!"
jack sprat June 13, 2012 at 05:55 pm
I don't think this article was meant to be a place to post your complaints against this business. Let's face it, we're losing yet another business in St. Louis -- that isn't good for any of us. The economy is very tough to battle as an individual let alone if you own a business. And believe me you can not be in business and never receive a complaint so with that being said, I wish her and the employees who lost their jobs the very best.
Robin Tidwell June 13, 2012 at 07:31 pm
I remember that one too, Kim. But thanks...it'll be stuck in my head the rest of the day now!!
And Earl and Edna - a classic!
Chris Charboneau June 13, 2012 at 07:41 pm
Sad to see the old biz go, but if the complaints are legit, maybe its part of it
Thomas J. Stein June 13, 2012 at 10:13 pm
I believe that was Sherwood Ford in north St. Louis County during the 1970s and early-1980s.
normalicy June 13, 2012 at 10:25 pm
Speaking as one of the former employees, Becky made little to no effort to warn us or to help. It was one of the worst companies I had ever worked for in my life and much of it was because of Becky. She was only ever generous or happy when the money was rolling in. Oh and none of the hourly employees has had a raise in almost 5 years. I believe the company for various reasons killed itself and believe that Becky got what she deserved. The many of the former employees that I know are actually kind of happy because they are getting a chance to find a decent job.
Robin Tidwell June 13, 2012 at 11:25 pm
Mr. Stein, I believe you're correct - seems like I remember "Come to Sherwood Sherwood Ford Ford!" at some point!
Jen June 14, 2012 at 05:46 am
Gotta love those Becky's ads! I think that my all-time favorites were the old commercials for the Tic-Toc Shop, with Mr. & Mrs. Tic-Toc and (always) their dog Nicholas! LOVED them...sooo cute!!! I also met Mrs. Tic-Toc once when shopping for a clock & she was just the sweetest! :)
Jeff TheDad June 15, 2012 at 05:41 pm
"Come down south to Art Hack Buick, come on down and get the Art Hack price"
"Thank you and Here's my address" Also, what was the funiture store that advertised during the Three Stooges on Dr. Martin Luther King Drive?
Devon Seddon June 15, 2012 at 06:14 pm
Get a better better deal
On a better better car And you'll get it at a better better price price... Always loved the Sherwood Sherwood Ford Ford commercials
Devon Seddon June 15, 2012 at 06:15 pm
Slyman Bros always had great ones too

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flyoverland June 12, 2013 at 11:46 am
More about the Ladue site than yours. Just seems like stories are staying up longer. Maybe its justRead More the summer doldrums.
Robin Tidwell June 12, 2013 at 11:51 am
I didn't notice sign-in issues for more than a day, but I don't sign in every time either. As forRead More "more stuff, less news," I agree with Fly - putting the blogs under the headlines in the same column can make it appear that blogs are news too. Unless it's mine, of course! ;) Guess the announcements take up more space, but don't ever seem to change. And if Patch is all about local, shouldn't there be fewer national ads - esp. the garbage ones like "5 Veggies that kill Belly Fat?" Ugh. Just my two cents...
Stephanie R. June 12, 2013 at 11:59 am
Robin, no one local is buying ads to replace the national GoogleAds. No story about Monday's cityRead More council meeting. Guess it's hard for one editor to cover 2-3 cities.
Scott Simon June 12, 2013 at 04:05 pm
Thomas, AMEN to this issue I raised earlier this year with the Chamber. Image is everything. And theRead More Olivette City Council saw this too and pulled the plug. Creve Coeur, not so much, LOL. Not sure what business you own but if I know and get the chance, I'll support you because your're a right-thinking kind of businessman who knows how to define LOCAL.
Scott Simon June 12, 2013 at 04:15 pm
I think it's AMAZING the Creve Coeur/Olivette Chamber can't hold its golf tournament at the CREVERead More COEUR Golf Club, insider the Dielmann Rec. Complex, named after the Chamber's MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR. I'm amazed. Also not surprised.
Ryan June 13, 2013 at 09:16 am
http://www.ccochamber.com/ccochamber/event.jsp?id=249
Kurt Greenbaum (Editor) June 2, 2013 at 05:49 pm
Thank you, Susan! Very grateful for your feedback and we appreciate you being a Patch reader.
Scott Simon May 30, 2013 at 06:09 pm
Whaddaya expect, if it's not broken, fix it! Just like Creve Coeur Government!
Gregg Palermo (Editor) May 30, 2013 at 08:13 am
Thanks for asking! I'm working on a follow up story on that. Do you live in Orchard Lakes? What doRead More you think?
Chris June 6, 2013 at 09:39 am
I live in the subdivision and I can not wait for these offers to come in and to find out what isRead More going to happen. I for one plan on taking it if it is good. The subdivision is in rough shape, the sewers are falling apart and too many of the owners have moved away and just rent the homes to people who are not taking care of them or they are switching out tenants every year. If this one fails another will come and sooner or later one will get it. The hold outs are getting older and the younger families are going to jump at a chance to get out of their homes with doing absolutely no repairs.
Lindsay Toler (Editor) June 4, 2013 at 01:46 pm
It IS kinda pea-soup green. I like it - supposed to evoke "grassroots" news, I think!