-9:  Blue Ribbon Sausage:  Two local legends embodied this product, as former Houston Oilers head coach Bum Phillips and star running back Earl Campbell endorsed this product.  This definitely had a “country” feel, as both Phillips and Campbell had outdoor style commercials, wearing cowboy hats and boots.  Sales were good for the product while ads aired. 

-8:  Blue Star Ointment:  As they say, it “stops itching fast.”  What kind of itch might make most of us men a little on the “light” side.  Blue Star was an ointment for the expressed purpose of helping sooth….jock itch.  No word on whether any wrestlers needed it or not from my perspective!! 

-6:  Pick Your Part:  Pick Your Part is and was an auto parts junkyard that catered to those who needed parts for their car, both new and used.  Their commercials were often funny, illustrating quite comically why you or I would need their “unique” services one day.  As far as I know, Pick Your Part is still around in the Houston area, although I haven’t seen a commercial for them in some time.  There very well could still be commercials airing however. 

-5:  Superior Waterbeds: As we enter the top five, we will see more associations with actual people or “characters,” and the first to mind is Harry from Superior Waterbeds.  They would often feature shots of things blowing up as a sign that they were blowing up big prices, and that you could get their waterbeds for the cheapest price in town.  Something worked, as they are still around, and still advertising on Houston television. 

-4:  Thunderbolt Motors and Transmission:  One of the more infamous advertisers due to the “cheesiness” of their commercial, Thunderbolt was a prominent advertiser throughout the 80’s run of Houston Wrestling.  They are still around, and only recently updated their commercial after nearly twenty years.  The theme song is still the same, which goes like this:

“When your transmission’s got you down, and your motor falls apart
It’s time to come to Thunderbolt, You don’t need a brand new car
We still believe in value, and we pass it on to you
At Thunderbolt we fix it right and we guarantee it too
WE PUT THE YEE-HAW BACK IN YOUR MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION!!”

The commercial would end with a blonde woman taking her longhorn adorned car out of the parking lot of Thunderbolt a satisfied customer.  Truly Thunderbolt was one of the greats. 

-3:  Mr. Norman’s Aluminum Siding:  One of the most famous “catchphrases” in Houston Wrestling for a while was, “need siding?  Llama Mr. Norman!”  That was not a typographical error, as Mr. Norman featured bilingual advertising.  (Llama being Spanish for call).  “Call Mr. Norman” was the mantra from the company, which featured many spokespersons, but never the real Mr. Norman to my knowledge.    Mr. Norman was a regular advertiser for many years on the Houston program. 

The top two are tough, as both companies are still prominent in the Houston area.  One features one of the most well known men in Houston, while the other can say they had the number one-hands down best commercial in Houston Wrestling history. 

-2:  I.W. Marks Jewelers:  Irv Marks would be featured many times on Houston Wrestling in both commercials and spots with Paul and Peter during wrestling.  The most famous commercial ever on Houston Wrestling featured Paul Boesch’s famous cauliflower ears adorned with diamond and gold earrings.  With a black backdrop and classical music playing in the background, Boesch would turn his head so we could see both ears.  His only line was the following, “If I.W. Marks can make my ears look beautiful, imagine what he could do for yours!!”  This is still a cult favorite here in Houston, as Boesch was willing to poke fun at himself for the sake of a valued sponsor.  I.W. Marks is still in business here in Houston, and runs continual ads on the dominant sports radio AM station.

And now…for number one….. 

“Gallery Furniture saves…..you…..MONEEEY!!!” 

-1:  Gallery Furniture/Mattress Mac:  With those words, Jim MacIngvale has made a fortune in the city of Houston.  Some of you who do not live in Houston might recognize “Mattress Mac” as the tag team partner of Steve Austin, when the two made the winning bid in the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo cattle auction.  As well, Mac was a big force in bringing WrestleMania to Houston last year, and was featured on the 9.13.01 edition of Smackdown.  Without a doubt, Mattress Mac is one of the most recognizable faces in Houston, and he started his advertising and branding….on Houston Wrestling with Paul Boesch.  Mac can still be heard all over the radio and local television, telling all of us that we can “buy today, and enjoy our furniture tonight!!!”  For Houston, Mattress Mac is the undisputed advertising champion. 

Here’s hoping you enjoyed a look at some of Houston Wrestling’s more colorful advertisers during the 80’s era.  Perhaps some of these have slipped your mind during the years since, and you too can reminisce and laugh again, as we remember their attempts to sell us their product.