As with any group of friends in high school or college, we had our share of drinking songs. The songs were fairly 
simple and stupid old time tunes. While we were playing the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, Moody Blues, the Who and such, but when it came to singing, our choices were “Coney Island Baby”, “This Land is Your Land” or any equally mind numbing ditties. Our favorite song to sing though was a jingle for a local jewelry store.
A man named Bill Savitt owned the store. You couldn’t drive a mile on I-84 without seeing a billboard of Bill. His store advertised on TV and radio constantly. When Chester Fields and I recorded a take off of the old Dragnet show, we used an actual commercial of Savitt Jewelers from TV. It stated, “I’m sure you all know Bill Savitt, a man who has been standing on his head for 35 years to give you the best deals…” In those days no local guy could afford video or film for a commercial. It would be a simple picture or two, while the announcer read the script. This picture had Bill Savitt upside down to appear he was “standing on his head”. You can’t make this shit up, you have to experience it.
The jingle we sang went like this:
It’s such a beautiful site, when you look to the right…
Going south on the Charter Oak Bridge,
You’ll see The Traveler’s Tower and a whole lot more,
Like the Constitution Plaza and Bill Savitt’s Jewelry Store.
For weddings and birthdays and anniversaries-
Bill Savitt, He’ll have it, the perfect gifts for these.
You’ll find quality service, you’ll dollar buys more
At 35 Asylum Street, Bill Savitt’s Jewelry Store.
Quite the tune, eh? Flash-forward in my life and the year is 1992. I was working at WTIC radio in sales. WTIC had a morning man who at times had the largest audience in the country. His name was Bob Steele 
and he was now in his eighties. A great man and a true gentleman. He was retiring and I so respected the man that I got someone to take a picture of us together right after his final show. A few weeks later they had this huge Retirement Party at the best hotel in Hartford. (I know that is like saying, “the smartest monkey in the zoo”…) That night I met Bill Savitt. He was a charming guy, about the same age as Bob Steele. I related the story to Bill Savitt that I just told you. He responded, “Do you still remember the jingle?” I responded, “Of course”. He asked, “Will you sing it with me?”
That was the night that 200 people heard me singing the Bill Savitt drinking song with none other than Bill Savitt. It wasn’t like singing “Yesterday” with Paul McCartney, but it was terrific fun.
Neither Bill Savitt nor Bob Steele are still with us. But, they were today, because they were in our post. Rest in peace, my friends. You will be long remembered.
This post was first published on May 6, 2006 and was our tenth post. W
e had almost no readers, a malady that nearly all of us bloggers suffer when we are new. But members of the Savitt family discovered the post and I thought that this time I’d include their comments:
NYC Taxi Shots said…
i picked bill up years ago he was a good tipper
Savitt said…
I’m Bill Savitt’s Grandson. I loved reading your memory of Grandpa Savitt. I named my business after him. Would love to hear more of your memories.www.pomgbike.comRich
Brad said…
I don’t know why but I thought of “POMG” this morning. I lived in Hartford as a young kid back in the 70s and can remember that old guy doing his ads. One day we were in the shop and he came out. He was the nicest man and spent time chatting with us.
Anonymous said…
I am Richard’s mom and Bill Savitt’s daughter. I am on your site in Boston and 
my sister Spring is on-line in Atlanta. We sang the song along with your blog and are sure Mr. POMG is smiling! Debbie Savitt First July 9, 2007
muzunguhowru said…
It wasn’t Just a drinking song. My High School wrestling team (Maloney High,Meriden) used to sing it on the bus on the way home from matches (if we won) Thanks for the memories
Anonymous said…
We lived in Cheshire. I notice some of the Savitts checked in here – Bill was a close friend of my father’s. When I was 8 years old, he gave me a golden ruler with my name on it. It said “Think Big, Work Hard, Have a Dream” and then it said: “The Measure of Love is Love Without Measure”. Isn’t that beautiful? And that was 45 years ago. I wonder if the Savitts knew of his golden rulers? Bill Savitt was a gem of a man who I have never forgotten. I lost my golden ruler but never forgot the kindness of him to have given it to me, and to share such incredible sentiments. He was always smiling. A wonderful man who made a lifetime impact: Bill Savitt.
It was at this point I knew people were actually reading blogs!
WTIT: The Blog 
