Consumer advocate and former film and TV actress Betty Furness displaying
a Westinghouse refrigerator during a commercial break in 1956

In 1948 Betty Furness was performing in the CBS television series Studio One which
was broadcast live. She was asked to fill in for a actor to promote Westinghouse products during commercial breaks and impressed the company so much with
her ease and professional delivery that she was offered a contract to promote
their products and subsequently became closely associated with them.

Elizabeth “Betty” Mary Furness

Furness preparing for a Westinghouse commercial in 1952

Charles at 15

                                   Charles Atlas (Angelo Siciliano)

Atlas developed a bodybuilding method and associated exercise
program that was best known for its landmark advertising campaign
featuring Atlas’s name and likeness; it has been described as one of
the longest-lasting and most memorable ad campaigns of all time.

Before fame, Charles Atlas worked as a leather worker for a time. He
died of heart failure at age 80 after his daily jog on the beach.

1950s

1950s

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup was created in 1928 by H. B. Reese (below), a former
dairy farmer and shipping foreman for Milton S. Hershey. Reese, was inspired by
Hershey, and left the dairy farm to start his own candy business. The H.B. Reese
Candy Co. was established in the basement of Reese’s home in Hershey, PA. and 
used Hershey chocolate in his confections. In 1963, several years after his death, 
Reese’s company was sold to Hershey Foods Corporation. 

Harry Burnett "H. B." Reese

Milton Snavely Hershey