For nearly 20 years, from 1971 to 1989, Crazy Eddie was one of New York-and-beyond’s computer retailer powerhouses, Best Buy before Best Buy. Odds are if you bought an Atari video game around the time of the above commercial, 1981, it came from the regional chain. The actor is actually radio DJ Jerry Carroll, whose Crazy Eddie character became something of a TV legend. The IRL Crazy Eddie, Eddie Antar. was a monumental fraudster/tax cheat and eventually sunk his company, spent a number of years on the run, and did two years in jail. Some guy in Brooklyn bought the brand name in 2009 and you can currently buy a new desktop eBox from Crazy Eddie at pricesareinsane.com.Reach this writer at michaelb@motherboard.tv.
Advertisement