Throwback Thursday: Old house, new sponsor
Long before the advent of HGTV and its modern legions of home decorators, designers and flippers, there was a simple PBS program from WGBH called "This Old House."
The April 6 ,1987 issue of National Home Center News, the forerunner of HBSDealer, reported that Weyerhaeuser was to replace Owens Corning Fiberglass as the sponsor of the show. Bob Vila, shown above announcing the deal, was host of the show, which was heading into its ninth season. Master carpenter Norm Abram was a regular on the show, too. "This Old House" was the era's most-watched PBS program.
Describing the 1987 sponsorship, Bill Simmonds, VP for repair and remodeling market at Weyerhaeuser, said: "We want to talk to the same audience: people with an interest in remodeling their homes and doing it well -- getting the best value for their money and personal effort."
The 1987 article examined a potential reason for Owens Corning's decision to relinquish sponsorship after six years. The company, it said, "incurred considerable debt fighting an unfriendly takeover by Wickes Cos. last year, and could no longer justify the $900,000 a year it shelled out."
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Don Knotts, for Quikrete
Readers Respond: Last week's Throwback Thursday featuring celebrity endorsers generated a response from Quikrete's Chad Corley, director of P.R., who sent this late 1980s image of Quikrete celebrity spokesman Don Knotts.
The comedian shared concrete DIY advice in books and videos. The tagline on the "Build and Repair with Concrete" book reads: "If I can do it, YOU can do it."
The April 6 ,1987 issue of National Home Center News, the forerunner of HBSDealer, reported that Weyerhaeuser was to replace Owens Corning Fiberglass as the sponsor of the show. Bob Vila, shown above announcing the deal, was host of the show, which was heading into its ninth season. Master carpenter Norm Abram was a regular on the show, too. "This Old House" was the era's most-watched PBS program.
Describing the 1987 sponsorship, Bill Simmonds, VP for repair and remodeling market at Weyerhaeuser, said: "We want to talk to the same audience: people with an interest in remodeling their homes and doing it well -- getting the best value for their money and personal effort."
The 1987 article examined a potential reason for Owens Corning's decision to relinquish sponsorship after six years. The company, it said, "incurred considerable debt fighting an unfriendly takeover by Wickes Cos. last year, and could no longer justify the $900,000 a year it shelled out."
# # #
Don Knotts, for QuikreteReaders Respond: Last week's Throwback Thursday featuring celebrity endorsers generated a response from Quikrete's Chad Corley, director of P.R., who sent this late 1980s image of Quikrete celebrity spokesman Don Knotts.
The comedian shared concrete DIY advice in books and videos. The tagline on the "Build and Repair with Concrete" book reads: "If I can do it, YOU can do it."