Re: IML: Chrysler Pentastar/Bob Hope Chrysler Theater

["Bill Watson" <wwatson5@xxxxxxxxx>]

That's television and marketing.  Sounds like an update from the old 'Climax
Theatre' where the cars were introduced one by one as they took off from a
dead start - Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, Chrysler and Imperial.  Note no Dodge
truck.

The intro as you described tied the five cars and trucks to the Chrysler
Corporation via the pentastar, but the penstastar meant more than just cars
& trucks.   And what about Canada where we had seven lines - Valiant,
Plymouth, Dodge, Chrysler, Imperial, Fargo trucks and Dodge trucks?   The
Valiant was a separate line in Canada from 1960 to 1966 and sold at both
Plymouth-Chrysler and Dodge-Chrysler dealers.

Again, what the advertising boys and girls do to get people to notice the
ads (and this was basically a variation of a song and dance intro number)
does not mean that was what the pentastar stood for as far a Chrysler
management was concerned,    I have read articles on the pentastar written
after it was introduced and praised for its success.  In the articles the
persons in charge of coming up with the pentastar are quite clear about
their mission - to come up with a symbol to represent all deparments,
divisions, products and services of the Chrysler Corporation, not just in
the United States, but all across the globe.  And given Chrysler's
involvement with missiles at the time, perhaps even in outer space.

Then Chrysler head, Lynn Townsend, was quite adamant on that point as he
wanted to expand Chrysler across the globe and expand its income base.  He
wanted something that would say 'Chrysler' to everyone, no matter where they
were in the world and no matter what language they spoke.  And the pentastar
succeeded magnificently.   Over the years no matter what Chrysler product or
service you purchased,. Chrysler Outboard engines, Chrysler Industrial
engines, New Process Gear transmissions, Chrysler boats, Introl gauges,
Oilite powdered metals, Cycleweld adhesives, Perth automotive metal
products, Imperial cars, Fargo trucks, Humber cars, Simca cars, Barreiros
diesels, Chrysler Defence tanks, Jupiter missile parts, Airtemp air
conditioners, Chrysler Leasing services, Chrysler Real Estate buildings,
Chrysler Finance loans, and a for a while British Cummins diesel engines,
the pentastar was used by all to show they were part of the Chrysler
Corporation.

Bill
Vancouver, BC






----- Original Message ----- 
From: <RandalPark@xxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, November 18, 2005 10:46 PM
Subject: Re: IML: Chrysler Pentastar/Bob Hope Chrysler Theater


> I remember a T.V. ad where each piece of the star was "zoomed" into place
following a shot of a corresponding vehicle. A strong male voice pronounced
the name of each car line as the "zooming" occured. I think that they were
in the order that I listed in my previous post. This may have been the what
happened to introduce "The Bob Hope Chrysler Theater".
>
> Paul W.
>
> In an email dated Sat, 19 11 2005 5:24:26 am GMT, "Bill Watson"
<wwatson5@xxxxxxxxx> writes:
>
> >
> >Your memory serves you right, except for "Of course, it also reflected
the 5
> >automotive divisions of Chrysler." The whole idea of adopting the
> >pentastar was to expand the public's knowledge of Chrysler beyond the
> >rubber-wheeled divisions. Besides, Chrysler has NEVER had 5 automotive
> >divisions. When the pentastar was approved in late 1962, there were but
two
> >automotive divisons- Chrysler-Plymouth and Dodge.
> >
> >The DeSoto division disappeared in 1959 when it was merged with the
Plymouth
> >Division. Then the Plymouth-DeSoto Divsion was merged with the
> >Chrysler-Imperial Division to form the Chrysler-Plymouth Division after
the
> >DeSoto was dropped.
> >
> >Like it or not, but the Imperial Division existed only on paper - it was
the
> >brainchild of the marketing department. Which is part of the reason
> >Chrysler was never able to completely separate the Imperial from the
> >Chrysler. If you check the list of divisions and corporate excecutives of
> >the Chrysler Corporation over the years, you will not find any mention of
an
> >Imperial Division. All designing, engineeering and marketing of the
> >Imperial automobile fell under the Chrysler Division (1955-1959),
> >Chrysler-Imperial Division (1959-1960) and Chrysler-Plymouth Division
> >(1960-1975). You will find Imperial Division only on advertising items,
> >etc.
> >
> >One other important aspect of the pentastar is that it looks correct even
if
> >it is looked at upside down or on the reverse. Which makes it perfect for
> >rotating signs, etc. In the 1960's Chrysler's pentastar became as well
> >known and noticed as Howard Johnson's roof.
> >
> >Bill
> >Vancouver, BC
> >
> >
> >



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