The story behind the creepy Don Bailey Carpets ad

If you've spent time in South Florida, you've come across the ad for Don Bailey Carpets, featuring a naked man sprawled across a shag rug.

There's a billboard off I-95

and several delivery trucks featuring the image

For years I was totally creeped out by the ad campaign, until I found out it was a spoof of an infamous Burt Reynolds Playgirl spread

Which only made it slightly less creepy, insofar as it was inspired by something and not an original concept.

Anyways, WLRN's fantastic Under The Sun program caught up with Don Bailey, discussed the 38 year old ad with him, and got him to pose for an updated version.

And yes, Don Bailey's son is Don Bailey Jr: former UM Hurricanes star, broadcaster and featured in The U.

Comments

[Mike McCormack]

Lol. way to go guys... I knew there was more to this story than just some homo-marketing manager... now the real question is, who at Rakontur was reading old issues of playgirl :)

[Jodi Taylor]

Don Bailey is my great uncle and my Grandfather painted this billboard for him. It was a "joke" but the billboards none the less went from Key Largo some distance North of West Palm. At some point in the 80's the City Of Hallandale asked Don Bailey to make the bathing suit darker to make the picture less offensive. Don complied. I live 3 states away now and when I meet people from Florida and ask them if they know the Don Bailey sign they know. It is a great piece of commercial art and i am glad you took some time to look up the "creepy" guy on the carpet. My grandfather had a great sense of humor and this was probably a genius piece of work on his part. Don Bailey has a great business and people 3 states away know he sells carpet and that his sign is famous.