Jim Varney Collection of Advertising, 1983-2000
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Summary
- Creator:
- Carden and Cherry Advertising Agency, Inc.
- Abstract:
- Jim Varney was an actor who played the character Ernest P. Worrell in commercials, a television series (Hey Vern! It's Ernest), and numerous movies. These materials were collected and donated by Roy Lightner. The collection (2009-0119) (100 items; 2.1 lin. ft.; dated 1983-2000) includes videotapes of Ernest films; audiocassettes of commericals; advertising kits used to pitch Ernest as a spokesman for local markets; Ernest memorabilia, including t-shirts, movie posters, buttons, a towel, and a doll; and other miscellaneous marketing tools used by the Carden and Cherry Advertising Agency. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
- Extent:
- 2.1 Linear Feet
100 Items - Language:
- Material in English
- Collection ID:
- RL.01328
Background
- Scope and content:
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The materials in this collection include 18 videotapes of various Ernest films; two audiotapes of Ernest pitches; five Ernest posters; t-shirts, a doll, a license plate, and other Ernest memorabilia and merchandising products; articles and other publicity materials; advertising kits from the Carden and Cherry Advertising Agency; testimonials from Ernest clients; and personal photographs from collector Roy Lightner with Jim Varney.
- Biographical / historical:
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Jim Varney was an actor most famous for his portrayal of Ernest P. Worrell, a creation of the Carden and Cherry Advertising Agency in 1980. Ernest served as a spokesman for local markets on both radio and television: his commercials typically consisted of him encouraging his neighbor, Vern, to use whatever product the sponsor sold in that particular market. Clients varied, but included dairies, gasoline, local television stations, and car dealerships. Ernest was so well-received that a television series (Hey Vern! It's Ernest) and a series of movies were produced between 1987 and 1998. Varney died of lung cancer in 2000.
- Acquisition information:
- The Jim Varney Collection of Advertising was received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift from Roy Lightner in 2009.
- Processing information:
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Processed by Meghan Lyon, April 2009
Encoded by Meghan Lyon, April 2009
Materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
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Contents
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Collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
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The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.
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- Preferred citation:
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[Identification of item], Jim Varney Collection of Advertising, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
- Permalink:
- https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m10t6t