The Iconic Failure of a Car (The Edsel) (Based on true events)

A group of people in a small Texas town react to an advertisement of a discontinued car.

The Iconic Failure of a Car; Mon. Nov. 23, 1959

Paul was sitting at his office desk, reading the morning paper and drinking coffee. A soft sunrise was taking place when Joseph Meisenbach peered into the window of the front door of Hill Company. Joseph was the district attorney of Hillsboro. His wife tried hard to chase him out of their house early every morning so that he would always be on time for work. Nevertheless, he sabotaged that early start. You see, he loved to socialize before tackling important legal matters. He was pleased when he spotted his good friend Paul. As he stepped inside, the bell atop the door sounded off. Paul looked up and gave the jolly greeting of, "Joe Bach, come in here !" Paul had chiseled the attorney's name down a few years ago. "I'm stopping by for coffee and chit-chat, " Joe said. "Well, of course you are. No one knows you better ‘an me! Help yourself to some coffee and I’ll give you a report of the news, " Paul replied as he held the Hill County Chronicle open wide. The newspaper was spread out and ran perpendicular from Paul’s mid-torso. Joe Bach reached for a cup on the coffee cart and poured himself a hearty cup of java. Just as Joe was settling into a chair, Dr. Ben Thompson came barreling through the front door, almost tripping over his own feet. He slammed the door behind him. Paul and Joe looked at Ben and then Paul yelled, "What's wrong with you? Your entrance did not look proper !" By now Ben was standing straight up. He threw his head back and began to laugh. Before long, his laughter turned into a howl. "Well, hell, Ben. What is it? Spit it out sos we ah know, " Paul snapped, with his Texas accent.

Ben finally got just enough composure to speak, "Look at the third to the last page! But brace yourself ! " Joe jumped up and found himself leaning into the newspaper as Paul fiddled through the pages. Paul sat up perfectly straight and his head made a jolting movement. He could not hold back as he screamed out, “Good Lord ! " What a disaster !" And then he started to laugh. The district attorney seemed like the only adult in the room. He shook his head in disapproval of the newspaper and said, "Now how did Scotty get that wrong ?"

There it was in all its disgrace; a full page car advertisement for Edsel. The sponsors had pulled their support and their ads off of both the television and the newspapers because Ford had announced on Thursday Nov. 19th that they had made the decision to discontinue Edsel. And rightfully so. The American population had not taken to the Edsel mainly because it had an odd look to it. The ornament in the middle of the front grill was oval and people said it looked as if the car were sucking on a lemon. CBS and NBC had carried thorough reports about all the reasons why the sensible American just could not bring himself or herself to put hard earned money into the selection of an Edsel when there were other cars that were cheaper and normal looking.

Joe spoke again and said, "How did a fine editor like Scotty make the mistake of running an Edsel ad when everyone in the country knows that car is over with ? Ford announced that!” Ben was still having a big belly laugh when he commented, "Yeah, how did this one get passed Scotty ? Oh, he gonna have trouble livin’ this one down! "

After about seven minutes of laughter which now included Joe Meisenbach, Paul said that he had an idea. "Say you bein’ the district attorney and all, what you say, you put in a call to Scotty sayin’ he has committed a crime against humanity in forcing the townspeople of Hillsboro to look at an Edsel ad on a Monday morning. " Once again, Ben began to howl. The howling was heard from outside which caused the pharmacist from next door to come over and see what was happening inside the office of Hill Company. The pharmacist was a nice man named James. And he had a good sense of humor. Once he found out what was happening, he could not stop laughing. When he finally did get his composure, he said that his niece and her husband were in town. "We could get them to go over to the car dealership and say that they want to buy the Edsel advertised in the newspaper," the pharmacist said. The laughter erupted again.

James explained that his niece Sheila and her husband Gene had been living in Amarillo. Gene had taken a position with a good accounting firm as he was a CPA. While he and Sheila had been in the Texas panhandle, she had earned her bachelor's degree in education at West Texas State University. She wanted to teach high school English. But right now, they were staying at his house because they were in the process of moving from Amarillo back to Houston. Gene had gotten the transfer he had wanted in order to return to their hometown. Since it was a long trip, they were using Hillsboro as a rest stop for two days. James went on to brag about Sheila. He said she was very intelligent. She knew all about current subjects in the news. She just hates the Edsel car. She always says that Ford has violated her basic rule in life; to live according to sense and sensibility. She is always quick to point out that the Edsel car was designed without any thought of sense or sensibility. "Well, get on the ho’n and tell her that she’s got an assignment, " Paul demanded. "Ok, I'll go back to the pharmacy and call her and tell her that she has an important activity for today,” James said as he made a happy exit.

By 11:00, Paul, Joe, Ben and James were sitting at a picnic table on the east courthouse lawn eating lunch. But sandwiches and cokes were simply an excuse to sit where they needed to sit. They needed a viewpoint that would allow them to look into the north east direction toward Harvey Car Dealership. They also needed a viewpoint towards the southeast direction so they could get an eyeful of Scotty through the large picture window of the newspaper office. Well, the action started promptly at 11:20 when a beauty queen of a gal marched onto the grounds of the car dealership with a newspaper under her arm. There was a serious, handsome man in tow. James thumped Paul on the shoulder and chuckled, "Here we go !"

As always, Mr. Harvey politely and cheerfully approached his customers. Mr. Harvey was known for his impeccable manners and his professional ways. But when Sheila opened up the newspaper and motioned to what was obviously the Edsel ad, Mr. Harvey did a half-turn away from Sheila. When he turned to face her again, he made sure to cover up his mouth with an open-handed paw. Perhaps he was trying not to scream or perhaps he was trying to hide his laughter. It seemed that he excused himself because he trotted away. He went into the dealership building. Before anyone in Paul Hill's group could even blink an eye, Scotty was answering the phone. The newspaper editor spoke for about two minutes and then hung up the phone. He then walked out of his office, passed the cafe and onto the car lot. Mr. Harvey herded Sheila, Gene and Scotty together like that of a border collie and then stepped away. It appeared as if Mr. Harvey wanted out of what looked like the beginning of a circus show. Scotty made a finger/thumb rubbing motion like when people are describing money. By now, Mr. Harvey was in the distance and laughing. Sheila was pointing at the ad and the handsome husband was looking at a new Chevrolet. Mr. Harvey soon joined the husband and they strolled from car to car. Sheila had her school teacher finger out and was shaking it at Scotty. Scotty shrugged his shoulders and then covered his heart with both hands. He began to walk backwards. Then, he abruptly turned and headed back towards his newspaper office.

Sheila would report in later that Ford had not yet canceled their ad nor had they canceled their payment to the Hill County Chronicle. Scotty, being honorable and of high convictions, could not bring himself to short circuit the Edsel ad until he got the word directly from Ford.

Paul, Joe, Ben, James, Sheila and Gene were sitting at a round, wooden table in the garage attached to Paul's office. The big garage door was opened up wide and the autumn leaves from Bond's Alley were blowing in with a November breeze. The whole group was enjoying noon time coffee. They sat in silence because they were all laughed out. Paul finally broke that silence and in his Texas accent said, "Clearly there are times when a person can be too conscientious. And that's our Scotty. "

© 2021 Christina Hill

My Review

Would you like to review this Story?
Login | Register

Reviews

Dave Brown

With the absolutely absurd prices being asked for any car these days, I wonder if an Edsel is now collectable and for what price
A few others disappeared along the way, Hudson, Nash etc. but I am surprised how an organization such as Ford designed such an ugly vehicle, however, in those days, it had lots of good company!

Posted 3 Years Ago

Chris

passed - or past? or passed by?

Was actually a good car... Surprising how minds form "opinions".

Posted 4 Years Ago

ToddK

This was a fun story. You were able to capture that part of the human condition when we find fault in others in a humorous way. We WANT others to make big blunders, so we these blunders out. When we find them, we are relieved that it is that other person who committed the error and not us. Finding these things gives us a certain feeling that we are not as bad as others. It is comforting somehow to know this. Your story did a great job in bringing those particularly human quirks to the surface. You allowed us to really get in and observe, firsthand, how our lust for finding fault in others plays out. I really liked the way you finished with the joke being on the accusers. Nice.