Mad Muntz

MAD MAN MUNTZ on Sunset Strip in 1966. Recognize that iconic location???  

Mad Man Muntz was a super salesman, a creative announcer, a tireless promoter, and a genuine inventor. First he sold used cars, then he sold his own cars. Then he manufactured his own television sets. He said, “If you buy a Muntz T.V., it’ll last for Muntz and Muntz”. He not only coined the term “TV”, he named his daughter, Tee Vee. He also developed the 4 track cartridge player. And towards the end of his life he was working on inventing cellular phones, but died before they took off.  Earl "Madman" Muntz was truly a flamboyant American businessman and an early pioneer of television commercials too. See below. 

Everyone wanted something Mad Mad Muntz was selling. And this was his store on the Sunset Strip where he sold and installed the Muntz Stereo 

Muntz Stereo refers to the car audio company founded by businessman and engineer Earl "Madman" Muntz, known for pioneering the Muntz Stereo-Pak, or 4-track cartridge system introduced in 1962. This was one of the first commercially successful in-car audio players and a predecessor to the 8-track tape. 

He was known for his "Madman" persona and unique business tactics, which included a practice known as "Muntzing," where unnecessary components were removed from electronic devices to simplify production and reduce costs. 

Mad Muntz was hugely known for his advertisements and crazy TV commercials with his oddball "Madman" persona – an alter ego who generated publicity with his unusual costumes, stunts, and outrageous claims. 

My Dad even made it onto his ads. (He’s right below the Beatles). 

Now, have you recognized the famous Sunset Strip property yet that Muntz occupied? 

It later became TOWER RECORDS in 1970. Now a Supreme Store.  The address has continued to stay 8801 Sunset Strip. 

Here’s some extra trivia: The high rise building at the top is Shoreham Towers. That’s where Art Linkletter’s daughter Diane, committed suicide by jumping out the window high on LSD in 1969. You can see a photo of Shorham Towers taken by Ed Ruscha in the image below behind the parking lot up on the hill. Humphrey Bogart’s former home at Horn and Shoreham Drive was demolished to make way for the new building.)

An original 900-square-foot concrete and glass building served as a showcase apartment for the luxury high-rise constructed a half a block up Horn Avenue. This building was originally the model that displayed the unit layouts. Been searching tirelessly for a photo. At the time, having a model apartment was a fairly new concept for an apartment building, especially an off-site model apartment. After Shoreham Towers was completed in 1964, Earl “Madman” Muntz took over the building. It has also been a Budget Rent a Car in 1965. Below is archival footage from 1965 showing Budget Rent A Car. 

Please see my blog post on the history of the entire property. Previously, it had also been a vintage furniture store during the 1920s, a series of drive-in diners starting with Simon's (1935), Dolores (1945), and Jack's On the Strip (mid 1952) 👇

https://martinostimemachine.blogspot.com/2021/10/8801-sunset-strip.html?m=1

Vintage Muntz 4-track players and tapes are now collector's items and can occasionally be found for sale on online marketplaces like eBay. 

A Muntz Jet is currently on display at The Petersen Auto Museum. The Muntz Jet was only produced a few years. They are super rare and almost impossible to find.  

Alison Martino is a writer, television producer, and pop culture historian. She founded the Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles in 2010. Alison muses on L.A’s. past and present on Twitter and Instagram