I am forever indebted to the late Joe Liles for so much that he shared with me about Jim as I researched the book. This commercial and some of the early Sgt. Glory commercials are just some of the priceless items he shared with me. From the picture that became the cover of my book, and so much history about Jim that only he knew, Joe was truly invaluable. I'm sorry I was not able to meet him in person before he passed in 2016. | The Importance of Being Ernest: The Life of Actor Jim Varney

📺 Newly surfaced tv spot from 1984, featuring Jim Varney making a promotional appearance as Ernest P. Worrell at Braum's Ice Cream & Dairy! 📼 Video Credit: youtube.com/@kforarchives?si=2reW-gEJcsjnFzq5 | The Importance of Being Ernest: The Life of Actor Jim Varney

Before Ernest ever said, “KnowhutImean?”, Jim Varney was already making audiences laugh as Sgt. Glory for Purity Dairies. In the early 1970s, a Nashville advertising company cast Jim in a series of comedic ads as a drill sergeant— first commanding shoppers, barking at milk delivery men, and even the dairy products themselves! This was the start of Jim’s legendary partnership with Carden & Cherry, the team behind all the Ernest commercials, the TV show, and movies fans would come to love. You mig