If you grew up anywhere on the front range, you've known these guys for years.

Tom Shane is your friend in the diamond business. When he's not flying to Antwerp to hand pick the shiniest diamonds on the planet, he's hanging out weekdays until 8, Saturdays and Sundays until 5. (And I bet some of you can still recite the address from memory).

And yes, Tom Shane is a real person.

Jake Jabs, on the other hand, is the elderly pitchman who has cheated death for decades wrestling with dangerous animals on furniture. How can Jake Jabs still possibly be alive? For years, we've been waiting for a tiger or lion to go berserk and bite Jake's head off, right there on the sofa sleeper. At 84 years young, Jabs is still going strong.

They've both been around for over 40 years. And though each business has had its ups and downs; both the Shane Company and American Furniture Warehouse have expanded across the country and rank among the largest privately owned retailers in their respective industries.

While their businesses have been successful, both Shane and Jabs will be remembered for their unique marketing. The iconic pitchmen were even parodied in a 2007 episode of the irreverent adult cartoon "South Park".

Which begs the question: which front range advertising spokesman reigns supreme, is it Tom Shane or Jake Jabs?

 

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