Do you remember seeing any of the famous TV ads for Cal Worthington's car dealerships in California?

Worthington inspired a lot of advertisers who followed him with catchy jingles, animals and costumes that made his ads more fun to watch. Dave Karalis, general manager of Cal Worthington Ford in Long Beach, says Worthington died Sunday, September 8, after watching football with family at his Big W Ranch in Orland, Calif., north of Sacramento. No cause of death was released.I remember watching many Cal Worthington ads while living in southern California. They were unmistakable with the familiar jingle 'Go see Cal, Go see Cal, Go see Cal!'

The Oklahoma native founded his first dealership in the late 1940s in Southern California. Over the years, his business empire grew to other western states and even to Alaska. His commercials often featured a variety of animals as his 'dog' spot.

I'm sure Cal Worthington's ads influenced Jake Jabs with all his animals on the American Furniture Warehouse spots. Also on the TV show, 'Breaking Bad,' the commercials for lawyer Saul Goodman are a direct ripoff with their line 'Gotta call Saul.'

So Mr. Worthington's influence will live on in many ads to come.

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