This is a true story which spanned a period from an estimate of a total of 12 years.
After watching, the family Sunday Night, Mutual of Omaha show, “Wild Kingdom”, I commented on the subject of this show, “Baby Elephants”. My father was clear when he said OUT LOUD ……
IF YOU MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO BUY AN ELEPHANT, I WILL COME BACK FROM THE DEAD, AND SHOOT BOTH, YOU AND THAT ELEPHANT!!
He was extremely agitated thinking that I would really try to find AND buy .. an elephant! Living in the city and trying to find an elephant for sale, is something which couldn’t happen. But my father, so sure I wouldn’t find and buy a monkey could not hold back. He thought I was capable of anything!
On this Sunday night show, I must include this “outside” event which will have a major bearing on this story.
Flashback to Bob Crewe’s office….. walking by Dan Crewe’s office, (Dan held the purse strings of the Crewe office), the door was wide open and I couldn’t help but overhear his conversation which was, “You say, three months? Triple the price? Okay…. you can count me in for thirty thousand”.
I waited until the conversation was concluded and knocked on the door, “Yes?” said Dan. “You had your door wide open, Dan, and I couldn’t help but hear you say, “Count me in for $30,000.00!”
He got angry and accused me of eavesdropping. I replied, “If this was a private conversation, why did you leave your office door wide open?” He replied, “Okay, but please don’t tell anyone about what you heard, okay?” … I agreed and he shared the name of the stock, “Plastoid Cable” was the name. It was selling for about $3.75 per share.
I had received music royalties over a year or two and saved up about $4,000.00. I purchased a total, over the next three days, exactly one thousand shares at $4.00 per share. A nice even number.
For the 1st three weeks the stock stayed even at $4.00. But starting the 5th week, the stock rose up to $5.25 per share. I had experience from my high school economics class in buying and selling stocks, “At the Market”. Also I did work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and actually earned a nice percentage profit in just ten days.
This order means no “Stop Sale” order or Stop Buy” order. The second month I found the stock had gone up to $7.50 per share. My shares were now worth $7,500.00!!
Sure enough, the third month it hit $11.25 per share. As soon as I found this number, I called my broker, I sold all my stock “At the Market” … I received a net after commissions, $10,575.00!!
Now, Irwin Levine, the songwriter with whom I wrote some songs, always had prompted me to buy a 1967 Cadillac “El Dorado”, which he called, “The Big El”. He convinced me that “If you want to meet girls, this car will do the trick for you!
I took a portion of the money and picked up a Cashier’s Check in the amount of $5,000.00 and went to Central Cadillac in downtown Newark. Not caring what I looked like, I wore a pair of old jeans and a tee shirt, I arrived at the showroom. There was a salesman who greeted me. He said, “young man, the Used Car lot is located through that door!” … I said, “I want to buy THAT CAR OVER THERE!”
He replied, “That beautiful car sells for over $7,000.00!!!” …….Do you have that kind of money?”
I responded, “I have a cashier’s check for $5,000.00!” He put his arm around me and said, “Well how about a quick test-drive around the block.”. He never asked me if I had a regular job with a regular paycheck. In those days, there was little investigation for credit. Most folks didn’t borrow money very often except for a house purchase or a business loan.
I test drove this ‘dream car’ and was totally amazed at the new, unmatched unheard-of features. The El was the very first to include : Climate control, Cruise control, Remote side mirrors, Luxury leather power seats, windshield power-washer and what was really cool was the paint job. This was the 1st factory painted, “Fire Ember-Mist” a red-ish orange metallic color which looked like an experimental car. The salesman had me sign papers which showed a final price of $7,415.00 including taxes. He then told me to return after they ‘prepped’ the vehicle for me to come back at 4:00 pm.
Irwin was absolutely right. I couldn’t help but notice that folks watching my car pass by on my test-drove, glared at me with a look of amazement on their faces.
GIRLS??? OF COURSE, I NOW HAD A REAL SHOT AT ALL GIRLS!
Now moving forward to the Elephant Story …..
I returned at 4:00 pm and drove this dream car home. I parked in the driveway, went inside and called my father. When he got on the phone, I said, “Hi Pop … I have a surprise for you!” … He didn’t even wait this time to find out what the surprise was .. He picked up my mother at her workplace a half hour early. He sped home in 30 minutes when the normal drive-time is 45 minutes .. and parked in front of our house and ran around the “Caddy” and looked around our backyard. He checked the garage and came back into the front porch.
Out of breath, he asked me, “WHERE IS IT???? WHERE IS THAT DAMN ANIMAL?”
I asked him, What Animal? .. he said THE ELEPHANT!!! I responded, “There is no elephant, Pop!” Well, he asked, “What is the surprise?” .. I walked outside and showed him the “Big El”! He then asked me, “Where did you get the money for this car?” …. I started to tell him about the money, the stock proceeds and he laid down on the couch in the front porch! ….
I said, “Hey Pop!”, “Do you know what I named the car??”
I named him, “DUMBO!“