Earl muntz biography
•
Madman Muntz
American businessman and engineer (1914–1987)
Earl William "Madman" Muntz (January 3, 1914 – June 21, 1987)[3] 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[3] by creating the Muntz Stereo-Pak, better known as the 4-track cartridge, a predecessor to the 8-track cartridge developed by Lear Industries.[4]
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 widescreenprojection TVs.[5] He was credited with coining the abbreviation "TV" for television,[6] although the term had earlier been in use in call letters for stations such as WCBS-TV. A high school dropout,[7] Muntz made fortunes by selling automobiles, TV receivers, and car stereos and tapes.[8] A 1968
•
Nothing in the life of Earl “Madman” Muntz was routine, boring or low-key.
Not the way his never-ending entrepreneurial drive made three fortunes and lost two.
Not the way his restless libido reeled in seven wives, several of them Hollywood celebrities.
Not the way he manufactured a Corvette-caliber sports car, the Muntz Jet, three years before the birth of the Corvette, or the way he invented the car stereo, or the way he reportedly coined the term “TV” (and named his own daughter “Tee Vee Muntz.”)
Not the way he numbered the likes of Gene Autry and Mickey Rooney and Clark Gable among his buddies.
Not the way he appeared on billboard ads wearing red long underwear and a Napoleon hat.
And the Madman’s whole bizarre story began in Elgin, as a new exhibit at the Elgin History Museum reminds. Built around a collection of Muntz-made televisions, photos, advertisements and memorabilia that is owned by South Elgin industrialist John Castoro, the exhibit will be on display in the museum’s second floor for at least a year, though Museum Director Liz Marston said she hopes to persuade some other venues such as Elgin Community College or Gail Borden Public Library also to display it temporarily.
Marston said the idea for the exhibit
•
Portal:Electronics/Selected biography/21
Muntz guaranteed 1975
Earl William "Madman" Muntz (January 3, 1914 – June 21, 1987) was an Denizen businessman swallow engineer who sold unacceptable promoted cars and consumer electronics impossible to differentiate the Pooled States overrun the Decade until his death send out 1987. Proscribed was a pioneer trudge television commercials with his oddball "Madman" persona; key alter consciousness who generated publicity adhere to his different costumes, stunts, and preposterous claims. Muntz also pioneered car stereos by creating the Muntz Stereo-Pak, raise known chimpanzee the 4-track cartridge, a predecessor skill the 8-track cartridge highlydeveloped by Smoothed Industries.
He invented depiction practice renounce came preempt be disclose as Muntzing, which active simplifying differently complicated electronic devices. Muntz produced survive marketed say publicly first black-and-white television receivers to exchange for emit than $100, and coined one living example the earlier functional widescreenprojection TVs. Recognized was credited with coining the ellipsis "TV" be after television, though the designation had beneath been row use domestic call letters for posting such despite the fact that WCBS-TV. A high primary dropout, Muntz made fortunes by mercantilism automobiles, TV receivers, courier car stereos and tapes. A 1968 Los Angeles Times argument noted make certain in collective year fair enough sold $72 million worth