Madman Muntz, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

Madman Muntz

American businessman and engineer

Date of Birth: 03-Jan-1914

Place of Birth: Elgin, Illinois, United States

Date of Death: 21-Jun-1987

Profession: businessperson, engineer, entrepreneur, inventor, electrical engineer

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn


Show Famous Birthdays Today, United States

👉 Worldwide Celebrity Birthdays Today

About Madman Muntz

  • Earl William "Madman" Muntz (January 3, 1914 – June 21, 1987) was an American businessman and engineer who sold and promoted cars and consumer electronics in the United States from the 1930s until his death in 1987.
  • He was a pioneer in television commercials with his oddball "Madman" persona – an alter ego who generated publicity with his unusual costumes, stunts, and outrageous claims.
  • Muntz also pioneered car stereos by creating the Muntz Stereo-Pak, better known as the 4-track cartridge, a predecessor to the 8-track cartridge developed by Lear Industries.He invented the practice that came to be known as Muntzing, which involved simplifying otherwise complicated electronic devices.
  • Muntz produced and marketed the first black-and-white television receivers to sell for less than $100, and created one of the earliest functional widescreen projection TVs.
  • He was credited with coining the abbreviation "TV" for television, although the term had earlier been in use in call letters for stations such as WCBS-TV.
  • A high school dropout, Muntz made fortunes by selling automobiles, TV receivers, and car stereos and tapes.
  • A 1968 Los Angeles Times article noted that in one year he sold $72 million worth of cars, that five years later he sold $55 million worth of TV receivers, and that in 1967 he sold $30 million worth of car stereos and tapes.After his success as a used car salesman and with Kaiser-Frazer dealerships in Los Angeles and New York City, Muntz founded the Muntz Car Company, which made the "Muntz Jet", a sports car with jet-like contours.
  • The car was manufactured between 1951 and 1953, although fewer than 400 were produced. Muntz married seven times.
  • His wives included actress Joan Barton (who appeared in Angel and the Badman with John Wayne) and Patricia Stevens of the Patricia Stevens Finishing schools.
  • Phyllis Diller was among his many girlfriends.
  • He was friends with celebrities such as singer Rudy Vallee, comedian Jerry Colonna, actor Bert Lahr, television presenter Dick Clark, and cowboy actor Gene Autry.

Read more at Wikipedia

See Also