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JISAN, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 19BBCirtJondsle—HtfrIn—MBrphysb«r»Flora Becomes Fordtown U. S. A.£1Illinois Town Is Sife Of Massive Publicity SfunfIcrtBy Ben GelmanOf The Southern Illinoisan If Henry Ford were alive to-•day, he would have seen a dream come true during the week just past.In the mos: unusual publicity stunt ever devised to preview anew line of automobiles, the little town of Flora was turned into one big outdoor showroom for the 11961 Ford line of cars and trucks.Each of the 1.494 car owners of Flora—renamed Fordtown, U.S.A. for the occasion—was loaned a frraod new Ford to test-drive for a week.Henry Ford would indeed have one reservation he might have had. He once remarked “You can order a Ford in any color you want—as long as it's black/’All the new Fords in Flora were white.Thursday, the residents of Flora returned the Fords to the wheat field north of town where they picked them up the previous Saturday. The town is starting to return to norma!.Here are a few highlights of the week which the people of Flora will never forget;Before the news of the new-car loans was released, a huge International Business Machines Co. computer was set up in town to tabulate results of a survey on what type or model of Ford each car owner in town would choose if he were car.Many residcn they would he sacon — the Ford compact car— with straight transmission, and just a heater; no radio or other accessories.However, Flora Mayor Norman IBrydcn reported, as soon as peo- to the preview showing of 1961 I pie found out they were actoal-WELCOMETO FLORAResidents of Flora, town of 6,000 in cenLral Illinois, wait at the airport to welcome newsmenFord cars and trucks. The Flora airport’s main runway was extended 1,000 feet to accomo-date commercial circraft to timefor t3ic Ford preview. Cars in foreground are some of the L-494 new white Fords loaned to Flora residents tor a six-day trial.jly going to get new cars lo drive his office was flooded with calls. Hundreds of people iiari changed their minds.“What we reallv want. was;a typical complaint, ;.s an 2ir-From TV Comicthe same stunt, turned over his, car. and because the air-filter was out. gas leaked out, caught fire and burned up die vehicle.Luckily, there were no injuries.There were very few errors in:; conditioned Thunderbird convert the survey work by which Fordj]t?ble with power steering, power jofficials assigned die 1G6J cars :o mentor Sam Lcvenson nearly stoic: How to make life miserable for j brakes and what else can they tcsi-drivcrs. tfut 5-vear-old .to; toe show from the new Fords at a new teacher, how to crib answ-Kids Get A ShowTV comedian andteenage'school humor to draw upon.0»»jput on it?j People were driving new FordsSebie somehow was listed as a toe national press preview of 2961 ers on a test and how to answer vehicle recipient. He became so models at Flora Sunday and Mon-questions in such a way that even excited over the prospect of havlday. [if you don't know the answers iti tog his own new car for a week/ Levenson arrived Sundav eve-15 impossible for the teacher towho had never driven a new car| | before.! And the I shops were(While they w^rc urivjjjg i/w arcw i ivluuvi i w uiu jlt;tv yajpjr.g.:ngcars, people were having much-\space in the drive-oway field ioi ;0f toe press and their hostsneeded repairs on Lheir own cars (him. Joe is the only Flora rcs.- :pjora. » For instance, he quoted thisit made which they had never had; dent who will keep his new Ford. 1 strolled the streets, he'answer t0 r*,e ^uest,on on 3 -!;5^‘ lime to do before. j The five new-car dealers in Flo- i;vas besieged bv vouihful auto-?5**00* scionce lest- What haP‘It was difficult for Flora res/ ra had varying comments on tox;cran- hunto-s Adults particular-ipen5 U*CD ^ierc ** ecJlPse °*idt- cents to tell their wink* Ford* unusual Ford preview. The Che-■ j|v greens of Flora children .were ;sanr’ffapart, particularly those of thejvrolet. Cadiliac and Buick deai-jcharmed bv his *racious manned “Everyone goes oui into toesame model. One man was seen j ers took the long view Itat the; and interest ir. young people trying his key in five cars before attention brought to Flora would I their tJrobiemsincrease business for everyone.andstreet to watch.’11he found the one he had been driving. Another had a sign on theconvertible he had been loaned.- uuuiuus; 2 nope n win «• nwp-jwj-u sc.)00, ^ r0v. ^eir 7^ ■Keep your cotton-picking hands‘ful tor all toe dealers.” he said.]fort* 3nd cw*ed at length with-J*Wr' QX3m: xv]iat caused the off this ona-irs mine. * The Ford dealer, uns™.±,f‘* ^^ at 01 toe Roman Empire?Or question: Prove that tht world is round.The Dodge dealer was a bjtj A1 LTrtrTS nlrtSLh^ Ans'ver= 1 ^ever said it was.. !’!?• ne Prai :cd, the Or this one word answer from .dubious: I .hope it will be help■prxsThere were only a few acci- indy, had this comment: Finest.'; parents.Monday afternoon,Levenson!Carlessncss.Biology question: Describe toedenis involving the new Fords a/thing chat ever happened lo me in! * , “ J . ,Flora during the six days in which'the 43 vears since I've been ai*na G p,ne‘^/e tfPPea*_;circulation of Hood. 5 the cars were tol-dnvea. Two! Ford dealer.” aace St the Hora Hi;: of them involved hot-rodding in1 The IBM computer RAMACThunderbirds. One Flora youth was clocked at 215 miles an hour. He was trying t:o get the speedometer up to the right-hand limit of 220, he said. The ’bird, not yet broken-in. was a little sluggish So he had removed the hub caps, air filter and disconnected Uic fan bell to get a lirtle more speed out of it. The second youth who tried.305, (Random Access Method of Accounting and Control) which was used to tabulate results of asurvey of Flora car owners andalso their reactions to the newHigh School at j it flows down one leg and up toe toe request of principal Floyd other. (You figure that one out.) Smith. Bern ember geometry in school?Unrehearsed and unpaid, he ce- This is toe way one youngster livcred an hour - long impromptu [stated a theorem, according to performance for toe students at;Levenson : a special assembly. Parallel lines never meet. EX-He entertained the young peo-models. was “programmed” lo p);willhThc“ speciai’kind'of ma-an«m a scries of several r.und- ^, u.Md) has madc him fam.red likely questions which report- ous. Forfnorly s higl, ;choo] !an ers rnigh. ask about the prev:ew guage teachcr !n B:ooki71, X.Y.operauon._'Levenson has a rich vein of high]serious message.CEPT IF YOU BEND ONE OF THEM.After tlie Flora youngsters were weak with laughter from Levenso.i's quips, he gave them a
Newspaper Details
Southern Illinoisan
Carbondale, Illinois, US
Sun, Oct 02, 1960
Page 16
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USA 22 Aug 2018
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