In 1984 at the age of 23, I moved to Johannesburg South Africa. Although it was a city the size of Detroit. There was barely any TV programming. One day, as I was watching the news...a Joshua Doore commercial played. I WAS STUNNED! Joshua Doore left Michigan and followed me to South Africa !
Robinson Furniture kept the slogan. "You got an Uncle in the Furniture business". Detroit only have 2 furniture stores now. It's a long time you left Michigan.
I was a volunteer solicitor for the March of Dimes and my first day I was assigned to call upon Joshua Door at the Gibraltar HQ. This was the day after the founder Harvey Leach was found murdered. It was early in the morning and I had not heard the news. Well, I walk in and announced to the receptionist I have 9:00 AM meeting with Mr. Leach. Well, you can guess the greeting I received!
Oh my gosh, I remember that after he died we would sing this same jingle, except we'd say "you got an uncle in the furniture business, not any more, not any more.
slickjilly - 😂 - I'm from Detroit. I was at Roosevelt Elementary at this time. My Aunt, fresh out of college, did accounting and book keeping for another locally televised proprietor: Bond Built: " We Do Good Work." 😂!
You do know Harvey Leach was murdered on his wedding day by Detroit gangsters wanting a piece of his business. Harvey was the owner. I believe he was found in the trunk of his car.
One of my favorite local television commercials when watching it air while growing up in the 70's. Catchy jingle to say the least. If only working in a furniture warehouse could have really been that much fun! They don't make television commercials like this anymore, that's for certain.
This was a catchy tune in the 70's! Around the same time as the Faygo/Boblo boat commercial and the Buscemi's Pizza comercial with another catchy tune. Anyone remember thise commercials?
Faygo but not Boblo. I’m from GR. What about I’m a pepper? Dairy Queen (scrumdidleiicious). OK they’re not Michigan but still. Commercials from the 70s that stick in your head.
You had an uncle in the furniture business - not any more, not any more. They picked him up in the warehouse, drove him out on the highway. Found him dead in his trunk - Yea you had an uncle in the furniture business Not ANY MORE !
My Ukrainian friend's mom (from the old country) was just fascinated with that place. She'd sing the song..."You gott on-cle een furneeture beezniss, Joshua Doore..."
Just to nitpick..."Joshua Doore" was actually a fictional character, a la Betty Crocker. The murdered company founder was named Harvey Leach. Nowadays, the old Joshua Doore warehouse in Taylor is the Gibraltar Trade Center.
I lived in flint and I remember this ad playing and my dad talking about his murder. On the lighter side, I loved the highland appliance and ollie fretter ads lol. I miss those times so bad right now
I worked at Joshua Doore in Grand Rapids in '73,4, first in the warehouse, then as a salesman. It was owned by Robinson Furniture in Detroit. We called it Uncle Josh's House. The thing most people didn't know was that he was a fictional character. They went bankrupt after I was laid off. They owed taxes to Wyoming, a suburb of GR. The story goes that they owed the Mob money, and that the president of the company ended up dead, in the trunk of his Lincoln. You've got an uncle in the furniture business, not any more, not any more! BTW I didn't need an uncle in the furniture business. I had a dad in the furniture business, in Delray Beach, Fl.
I haven't seen this ad since it first aired on TV. I loved it then, and I still love it ! The last bit gives me goosebumps ! Thank you so much for this !!
Thanks for posting this. This is one of the songs that run through my head every now and then. I knew all of the words...yow. But that's the purpose...to make people remember the jingle and buy the products. Too bad they didn't last. This commercial was huge in spring 1973. I was in the Grand Rapids area.
South Africans are shook, because this is our uncle that all our Aunts and grannies owe money to cause his furniture is all they could afford on debit back in the day😂 WOW! They still use the same Jingle!
Mmala Mokone In 1984 at the age of 23, I moved to Johannesburg South Africa. Although it was a city the size of Detroit. There was barely any TV programming. One day, as I was watching the news...a Joshua Doore commercial played. I WAS STUNNED! Joshua Doore left Michigan and followed me to South Africa !
@mdumas43073 Found in the trunk of a Lincoln in 1974 with two shots to the head. I believe the car had been left in the long-term lot at Detroit Metro Airport. The body was NOT beheaded or dismembered as is often reported. Joshua Doore opened for business in 1973 and was liquidated shortly after Leach's death.
I'm a nearly twenty year old from Alabama who just recently discovered this and can't stop watching it. This sounds like it was recorded by the Association or any of those other pop vocal groups with such wonderful and irresistible harmonies. It also has a very Jeff Lynne/ELO-sounding end to it, specifically very similar to "Steppin' Out," or maybe "Can't Get It Out Of My Head." This is perfect proof that even advertising jingles had those kinds of aspects back then. Really wish they still did, because that's the kind of thing I really enjoy in a song.
After sitting through several safety trainings for various jobs, seeing the people on forklifted platforms makes me nervous. Love the commercial, though.
One of the greatest jingles!! Thanx for posting! I remember this commercial, too. They also tried to do a similiar jingle for "Uncle Robinson" furniture, in the Detroit area.
Joshua Doore is just the company name -- the "uncle" in the furniture business, and the company is still doing business offshore. Actually, Harvey Leach, the president of Joshua Doore, was found murdered in Detroit in 1974.... in the trunk of his Cadillac, no less, which is probably where the suspicion of mafia involvement came from.
I remember this commercial... I'm pretty sure my parents bought a chest of drawers from them about a year before they closed, sometime in 1974... Long ago...
I shopped there all the time with my hubby after we got married. Got most of our first furniture there, I think because of the commercials. Didn't hear anything happened to the owner though. Wow!
This is one of the first local Detroit commercials I remember seeing back in the day. Does anybody know the exact year it was first shown? I think it was 1972, but I could be wrong!
Steve Byczek In 1984 at the age of 23, I moved to Johannesburg South Africa. Although it was a city the size of Detroit. There was barely any TV programming. One day, as I was watching the news...a Joshua Doore commercial played. I WAS STUNNED! Joshua Doore left Michigan and followed me to South Africa !
I heard they found his body in a wardrobe. The guys who did it only had half-an-hour to assemble it, and the instructions were apparently not particularly helpful.
In 1984 at the age of 23, I moved to Johannesburg South Africa.
Although it was a city the size of Detroit. There was barely any TV programming.
One day, as I was watching the news...a Joshua Doore commercial played. I WAS STUNNED!
Joshua Doore left Michigan and followed me to South Africa !
It's now simply called Russell's.
You from South Africa ?
Johannesburg ?
Nope. I'm from Detroit,Michigan, USA The original Joshua Doore was in the Detroit suburbs. It shut it doors in 1980. It became Robinson Furniture.
Robinson Furniture kept the slogan. "You got an Uncle in the Furniture business". Detroit only have 2 furniture stores now. It's a long time you left Michigan.
"you got an uncle in the trunk of a Lincon, Joshua Doore"
I remember this song and still sing it 50 yrs later! 🥰. We bought our first furniture here!!
I was a volunteer solicitor for the March of Dimes and my first day I was assigned to call upon Joshua Door at the Gibraltar HQ. This was the day after the founder Harvey Leach was found murdered. It was early in the morning and I had not heard the news. Well, I walk in and announced to the receptionist I have 9:00 AM meeting with Mr. Leach. Well, you can guess the greeting I received!
nice
Had you been interrogated?
Oh my gosh, I remember that after he died we would sing this same jingle, except we'd say "you got an uncle in the furniture business, not any more, not any more.
slickjilly we used to say "you've got an uncle in the furniture business, Joshua Doore (not any more)"
slickjilly - 😂 - I'm from Detroit. I was at Roosevelt Elementary at this time. My Aunt, fresh out of college, did accounting and book keeping for another locally televised proprietor: Bond Built: " We Do Good Work." 😂!
😂😂🤣
Harvey Leech, was killed in a suspected mob hit in 1974.
You do know Harvey Leach was murdered on his wedding day by Detroit gangsters wanting a piece of his business. Harvey was the owner. I believe he was found in the trunk of his car.
One of my favorite local television commercials when watching it air while growing up in the 70's. Catchy jingle to say the least. If only working in a furniture warehouse could have really been that much fun! They don't make television commercials like this anymore, that's for certain.
Can’t remember the last time I actually saw an AMC Gremlin!!!
I still occasionally get that jingle running through my head. Glad I found it on youtube.
The guy in the crate is Dan Resin, aka Dr. Beeper in Caddyshack
I was trying g to figure out who that guy was. I just couldn’t place the face. Thanks!
I am about to turn 60 and that damn jingle is STILL stuck in my head.
This was a catchy tune in the 70's! Around the same time as the Faygo/Boblo boat commercial and the Buscemi's Pizza comercial with another catchy tune. Anyone remember thise commercials?
Faygo but not Boblo. I’m from GR. What about I’m a pepper? Dairy Queen (scrumdidleiicious). OK they’re not Michigan but still. Commercials from the 70s that stick in your head.
very nostalgic 1970s east coast (Detroit) commercial; the tune still sticks in my head even now, LOL.
My mother named me after this jingle lol. I'm glad I finally found it.
You had an uncle in the furniture business - not any more, not any more. They picked him up in the warehouse, drove him out on the highway. Found him dead in his trunk - Yea you had an uncle in the furniture business Not ANY MORE !
My Ukrainian friend's mom (from the old country) was just fascinated with that place. She'd sing the song..."You gott on-cle een furneeture beezniss, Joshua Doore..."
Just to nitpick..."Joshua Doore" was actually a fictional character, a la Betty Crocker. The murdered company founder was named Harvey Leach.
Nowadays, the old Joshua Doore warehouse in Taylor is the Gibraltar Trade Center.
And there is a Joshua Doore furniture store in South Africa.
Now the Gibraltar Trade Center reduced to rubble and is now Menards, BJs, and a half empty lot
I loved my 1970 AMC Gremlin (Yellow). The jingle is so cool.
I lived in flint and I remember this ad playing and my dad talking about his murder. On the lighter side, I loved the highland appliance and ollie fretter ads lol. I miss those times so bad right now
I worked at Joshua Doore in Grand Rapids in '73,4, first in the warehouse, then as a salesman. It was owned by Robinson Furniture in Detroit. We called it Uncle Josh's House. The thing most people didn't know was that he was a fictional character. They went bankrupt after I was laid off. They owed taxes to Wyoming, a suburb of GR. The story goes that they owed the Mob money, and that the president of the company ended up dead, in the trunk of his Lincoln. You've got an uncle in the furniture business, not any more, not any more! BTW I didn't need an uncle in the furniture business. I had a dad in the furniture business, in Delray Beach, Fl.
I haven't seen this ad since it first aired on TV. I loved it then, and I still love it ! The last bit gives me goosebumps ! Thank you so much for this !!
Thanks for posting this. This is one of the songs that run through my head every now and then. I knew all of the words...yow. But that's the purpose...to make people remember the jingle and buy the products. Too bad they didn't last. This commercial was huge in spring 1973. I was in the Grand Rapids area.
...**sigh**....The Good Ole Days!!
South Africans are shook, because this is our uncle that all our Aunts and grannies owe money to cause his furniture is all they could afford on debit back in the day😂 WOW!
They still use the same Jingle!
Mmala Mokone
In 1984 at the age of 23, I moved to Johannesburg South Africa.
Although it was a city the size of Detroit. There was barely any TV programming.
One day, as I was watching the news...a Joshua Doore commercial played. I WAS STUNNED!
Joshua Doore left Michigan and followed me to South Africa !
Wow an AMC Gremlin! They opened next to Art Van in Warren then it became Robinson furniture, that too failed.
@mdumas43073 Found in the trunk of a Lincoln in 1974 with two shots to the head. I believe the car had been left in the long-term lot at Detroit Metro Airport. The body was NOT beheaded or dismembered as is often reported. Joshua Doore opened for business in 1973 and was liquidated shortly after Leach's death.
I wonder what he did to get offed like that? Anybody think Art Van did it?
On his wedding day
I'm a nearly twenty year old from Alabama who just recently discovered this and can't stop watching it. This sounds like it was recorded by the Association or any of those other pop vocal groups with such wonderful and irresistible harmonies. It also has a very Jeff Lynne/ELO-sounding end to it, specifically very similar to "Steppin' Out," or maybe "Can't Get It Out Of My Head."
This is perfect proof that even advertising jingles had those kinds of aspects back then. Really wish they still did, because that's the kind of thing I really enjoy in a song.
After sitting through several safety trainings for various jobs, seeing the people on forklifted platforms makes me nervous. Love the commercial, though.
I was one of those guys. Later, I got into the sales dept.
One of the greatest jingles!! Thanx for posting! I remember this commercial, too. They also tried to do a similiar jingle for "Uncle Robinson" furniture, in the Detroit area.
When I was a little kid everyone said Joshua Door
Joshua Doore is still going in South Africa after all these years.
You've got an uncle in the gangster business....Joshua Doore.
This brings back great memories!! love it!
@airdriver
I got an uncle in the trunk of a Lincoln, Joshua Doore, Joshua Doore!
Lord have mercy.😂
Joshua Doore is just the company name -- the "uncle" in the furniture business, and the company is still doing business offshore. Actually, Harvey Leach, the president of Joshua Doore, was found murdered in Detroit in 1974.... in the trunk of his Cadillac, no less, which is probably where the suspicion of mafia involvement came from.
There is a Joshua Doore in South Africa.
It was a Lincoln, but, yeah.
OK, so Joshua Doore is no longer around... in the US. They are apparently in South Africa with the same slogan and everything. O.o
Yes. It's Russells.
I grew up less than a mile away from the Warren location. Worked at Boomba's restaurant in 1978 which is now Andiamo's, and at Art Van. Good Times!
Whatever happened to the Builders Square II that was on that corner? Now there's a church.
When this place went out of business, I wrote wrote this jingle.
We had an uncle in the furniture business/ NOT ANY MORE/ NOT ANY MORE
Joshua Door was a company Name, the owner was named Harvey Leach, they gave him a deal he couldnt refuse. he obviously tried to.
The female employees look great in their go-go boots!
OMG I think everyone sung that!
I remember this commercial... I'm pretty sure my parents bought a chest of drawers from them about a year before they closed, sometime in 1974... Long ago...
I shopped there all the time with my hubby after we got married. Got most of our first furniture there, I think because of the commercials. Didn't hear anything happened to the owner though. Wow!
You have an uncle in the furniture business, not anymore, not anymore
Nash sent me here!
I remember when this ad was shown.
This is one of the first local Detroit commercials I remember seeing back in the day. Does anybody know the exact year it was first shown? I think it was 1972, but I could be wrong!
Early 1973 is when I recall first seeing it.
Steve Byczek
In 1984 at the age of 23, I moved to Johannesburg South Africa.
Although it was a city the size of Detroit. There was barely any TV programming.
One day, as I was watching the news...a Joshua Doore commercial played. I WAS STUNNED!
Joshua Doore left Michigan and followed me to South Africa !
The computer voice sounds alot like Belvedere's sidekick Conrad Patrick (d. 1988).
+angusthethird real estate Belvedere?
kevin nash sent me here
Any Pants Galore or United Shirt commercials?
"Have we got pants for you....Pants Galore, that 5 dollar store....."
No way am I going to try to transport a heavy crate to my place just to save a few bucks. Pay the movers for that.
I bet a lot of people who were buying furniture from him when they found out he was killed was like...."Yay we got free furniture !"
Oh... three or four people already pointed this out. Guess I should read all the comments before posting....
Forgot to pay the Vig.
Anyone remember how he was murdered? Was his body found in a dumpster or something?
I heard they found his body in a wardrobe. The guys who did it only had half-an-hour to assemble it, and the instructions were apparently not particularly helpful.
ART Van competetor is going out of business; that means all Uncles must begin furniture stores again ,,,
Wasn't his name: "Crazy Clarence" ? Or am I getting your commercial memory confused with a different metro Detroit ad ?
Crazy Clarence was someone else in Detroit area. But I forget who.
Wasn't crazy Clarence a musical instruments dealer?
Who is the guy in the box? Didn't he do a bunch of ads back in the day?
John Cleese. He was in Monty Python and Fawlty Towers.
Nope not John Cleese
dead as a (joshua) doore nail
They have apparently been resurrected in South Africa.
frednora Robinson furniture is the same company, just a different name.
They never died here, I remember them from my early childhood.
The company have changed its name to Russell's (Yes,it's in South Africa)
reminds me of the belvedere construction commercials outta detroit "we do good work call tyler 8-7-100"