Lynn Hauldren

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Lynn Hauldren (b. 1923 in Missouri[1])is a former advertising copywriter based out of Chicago who is best known for originating the television character The Empire Man, the spokesman for Empire Today.

Hauldren was working on the Empire Carpet account in 1977 and could not find an actor the company approved of for the role of The Empire Man in a commercial scheduled to be shot. Instead, then company owner Seymour Cohen asked Hauldren to play the role of The Empire Man himself.

The Empire Man character has appeared in practically every commercial for the company since 1977 and the company has also issued a limited edition bobble-head doll of the character.[2]

Over time, The Empire Man persona has evolved into a popular animated character, which Hauldren still provides the voice for.

Hauldren also wrote the tune used to accompany the singing of the company's phone number, and recorded the jingle with an a capella group, The Fabulous 40s.[1] The famous Empire Today advertising jingle (588-two-three-hundred Empire Today!) has made the Empire Today phone number one of the most recognized numbers in the country.[3]

During World War II, Hauldren served as a radio operator in Asia along the Burma Road from India to China. While delivering supplies along the road, Hauldren's unit came under fire. When Hauldren visited the area in 2005, he was greeted as a hero by locals.[4]

He recorded several albums with the barbershop quartet Chordiac Arrest[5] including "Live and Well" and "Second Opinion." The group also released a live performance video entitled "Chordiac Arrest! The Video". In 2007 Hauldren formed a new vocal quartet called Chordplay that has appeared on television.

In 2005, Hauldren appeared in a comedic short video for the stage show, Big Time Tonight, written by comedian Landon Kirksey. The video features Kirksey's character entering a bar and receiving sage-like advice from Hauldren himself. The video was directed by Jeremy Dionisio, a local Chicago filmmaker.[citation needed]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Toomey, Seamus (2007-01-08). "Advertising Empire: One Simple Jingle Made Lynn Hauldren a Chicago Icon. The Daily South Town. Retrieved on 2007-02-23.
  2. ^ Christopher, Rob (2006-04-13). "Who's the Empire Carpet Guy?". Chicagoist. Retrieved on 2007-02-23.
  3. ^ "Empire Today’s icon character 'Empire Man' celebrates 30th anniversary. Weatherford Democrat (2007-07-18). Retrieved on 2007-07-23.
  4. ^ Duncanson, Jon (2005-03-30). "Empire Carpet Man Reveals Heroic War Service". CBS. Retrieved on 2007-02-23.
  5. ^ Chordiac Arrest. Primarily a Capella. Retrieved on 2007-02-23.

[edit] External links

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