Trader Thorne

(1956)

23 minutes

Documentary

Directed by Jack Tilles

Writer: George Wilcock

Camera: John Niklasch

Sound: Raymond Esh

Art Director: Edward Jewell

Editor: Foster Travis 


Cast:

Hugh Beaumont (of "Leave it to Beaver" fame) as Joe Thorne

Glen Denning as Herb Potter

Frances Helm as Charlotte

Ed Prentiss as Mr. Fuller

Barry Hopkins as Mr. Thaler

Art Van Harvey as Mr. Armstrong

Hope Summers as Mrs. Armstrong

Ford auto dealer sales film explaining why trade-ins are necessary - because almost all customers already have cars. The Ford salesman's biggest investment is his time. In 1950's America there is an automobile for every 4 1/2 people and every car and truck you see on the road was put there by a salesman. The automobile business offered an exciting opportunity for salesman in the past, and because car buyers have been so satisfied with this method of individual form of transportation the automobile offers a still greater opportunity to salesman today. But the fact that virtually every family already has an automobile puts the new car salesman into the trading business. Therefore, it is essential that a salesman knows how to finesse a potential client and point out the benefits of trading a car in for a new Ford. Without investing his time into the customer, a Ford salesman comes up short. Part Ford promotion, Trader Thorne is an interesting look into automobile selling strategies in the 1950's.