Franco Cozzo original ad

Franco Cozzo, a legend of the Melbourne furniture industry, displays his bilingual talent!

[@emucentral]

I edited this TV commercial, or an earlier version which was the first Franco Cozzo commercial with the Greek language text. The only bloke with a Greek name on duty at Channel 7 at the time didn't actually read, write or speak Greek and Franco himself (who was present for the edit) couldn't write in Greek. I ended up having to telephone the Greek consulate or something like that, and had the woman on the phone describe which Greek letters spelled out "Migalo Sepulima".

[@gzeuskraiste]

Great story, thanks mate

[@andyshazza]

Franco was Italian.

[@TimmyTickle]

@@andyshazza His mother was Greek

[@ThePaulv12]

@@andyshazza You must've been one of those kids that failed comprehension in school I reckon.

[@bry1684]

Please tell me you know what song is playing in the background...

[@lordcuntworthy3015]

they need a bronze statue of franco cozzo in footahscray

[@mrsimonb3]

still waiting on the statue but there is a giant mural these days

[@JamesBos]

@@mrsimonb3 Don't forget Franco Cozzo Ln in West Footahscray!

[@helios8459]

Simon Burnett where

[@VicMorrowsGhost]

0:49 "Send me your remote Billy!" Favourite part.

[@storis511]

this is the man responsible for every1s grandmas houses "good room" lol

[@thisistheendpt2]

This was the catchiest ad on Aussie telly in the 80s. I swear, if you were a kid and didn't recit this word for word in Franco's wog accent there was something wrong with you. I want that flute tune as my ringtone.

[@Spudzilla5656]

What did Franco Cozzo say when he stood in a paint bucket? FOOT IS GRAY

[@jessm5558]

Spudzilla5656 nice

[@switchbladefights82]

Man, the furniture has more ornamentation on it than a Victorian-era house in Carlton...

[@beatlesteve03]

Man, this brings back memories. You can still catch the old fella in his Sydney Rd store :-)

[@uraniumdeath]

Franco Cozzo advertisements were proof that simple commercials work. Everybody remembers this advertisement, from the hideous furniture, to the awesome foreign languages as well as the accent that Franco provides. The music is also simple yet pleasant. Today, companies have all this fancy bullshit graphics and sound effects, but reality is that simple advertisements are among the most memorable around.

[@mcrazza]

"Grund sale! Grund sale! Grund sale! Where? In Brunsawick in Footisgray." Love it. :)

[@BADC0FFEE]

@zaniac100 Basically he says: "Franco Cozzo for the first time in Australia declares war, war to prices! Big sales! Where? At brunswich and footscray! If you want to buy the best furniture, today tomorrow and forever at Franco Cozzo you must go... Where? At brunswich and footscray!"

[@bravozulu51]

This is a Melbourne icon...Franco dates back to the late sixties with these ads....so good.

[@ninthnotch]

It's the easiest way of determining if someone's from Melbourne... Just ask where the Gran Sale Gran Sale Gran Sale is.

[@chiefpred9982]

Rest in Peace, Franco

[@dougieboy28]

Before IKEA this is what we had - classic! Long live Franco Cozzo!!!!

[@tech9803]

@fidderman Buy, buy, buy (in Greek). Franco had Italian and Greek heritage so he used a bit of both languages. A Melbourne legend.

[@dlawson79]

0:49 "send me the remote billy" is that some coded message about the drugs?? 😂

[@robertmilo5203]

"se i migliori mobili..."

[@emucentral]

I edited one of these commercials years ago. I dunno if it was this one, but I was the first to create the Greek supers with "Megalo Sepulima". It was done using letraset on black card and I had to phone the Greek consulate to get the correct spelling!

[@amandawitt9667]

When we go through the inner west on a train, my friend says at all the stations 'Footahscray!'. Then 'Middle Footascray!' Then almost falling off the seat with excitement 'Westa Footascray!'

[@Brando64]

Yep, I remember being at a railway in that part of the world in the early 1980s, the station master's phone rang, and he said "Hello this is Footahscray!'.

[@RT_today]

MIGALLO! MIGALLO! MIGALLO! love it. A kid I went to school with, he recited this add so much that he soon became known as Migallo! lol.

[@laz5659]

used to drive by franco cozzo everyday to primary school in footscray, great memories

[@nickdabsta]

Best ad of all time.

[@SIM2402]

There's three languages. "ΜΕΓΑΛΟ ΞΕΠΟΥΛΗΜΑ" means "big sellout" in Greek.

[@ruantengyi]

oh thanks! I was wondering what was the Greek sentence on the ad!

[@johnd8892]

There is an earlier version with Franco promoting his North Melbourne and Footscray shops. Before the North Melbourne shop was relocated to Brunswick. Funny that thid topic of the North Melbourne shop cropped up socially last weekend and on Melbourne radio this morning. Few remember the North Melbourne shop that may have been his starting shop. Not far from the Victoria Market, so some crossover visibility attraction.

[@imGlobL]

this would have to be the oldest commercial still playing on tv any where in the world.its even in the background of the movie chopper, when chopper is at jimmy's flat LOL. i remember this ad when i was 5, now im 29 and still love it. guiness book of records are you reading this

[@MMTB616]

What wonderful memories! One can still ride past the Footiscray show room in buses 216, 219 or 402!

[@circespell]

Scusi per favore....but wasn't there a Norda Melbun store before he extended to the Bru[n]swick...there was some difficulty in pronouncing the N in Brunswick Doesn't anyone recall Franco doing the poet laureate in his best Inglese "If it's the best furtiture you want to buuuuy Franco Cozzo not far awaaaay He's in Norda Melbun and Footiscraaaay

[@Alex_machin_animator]

Anyone ever seen A single customer in Franco Cozzo's? I am frequently walking past the Sydney Road shop and it is always empty, or possibly closed entirely. What's up with that?

[@AntipodeanStar]

There will only ever be one Franco Cozzo. The legend will never die.

[@jsakajj]

Well, unfortunately, he did!

[@cornuto1]

This ad is legendary. The man himself is a legend - he has 10 kids, the last of which was born when he was in his late 60s.

[@oscardenrubi]

In Brunswick and Foot-ess-cray. I love this! I must get my hands on the background music....

[@jonathantan2469]

What did Franco Cozzo say to David Caruso when they found a rotting body part at a crime scene? "Footisgrey" (puts on sunglasses) YEEEEEEAAAAAA....!

[@Kateyangyuqing]

+Jonathan Tan What did Franco Cozzo say when he steps in cement? "My Footisgrey!"

[@vaxter]

This advert (well very similar) was shown on Channel Nine last.. late at night.. mentioned to my brother that the ad looked old.. he then told me a little about Franco.. interesting.. though the advert advertised two stores, I believe there is only 1 now. Weird to run an old advert.

[@peterparker690]

I love how he goes off at the end of the add, he looks like Bily Batts from good fellas, he rules

[@gzeuskraiste]

No more shines, Billy. Maybe you haven't heard, you been gone a long time

[@garyr8028]

RIP in one of your finest beds Franco.

[@kais2345]

Footscray is still open (it has a poorly made paper poster saying just that in the window), it's a bit sad to look at though. While I've never been inside, you can just tell a lot of the show room would be covered in dust and the furniture is probably suffering from sun damage. I would definitely like to look around inside sometime but you just know the you'd get caught up by someone desperately trying to sell you furniture.

[@damienmiller]

The Brunswick store is still there too, it looks a little better maintained but I've still never seen anyone in it.

[@lakeyboy1000]

I wonder if anyone has any of his later ads? I laughed so hard when he started to put his daughter in his ads!

[@danielferrari8372]

Ugly? Its beautiful traditional Italian furniture

[@captainsman]

What a classic.

[@gpyri]

The iconic Franco Cozzo

[@Damian1975]

THis ad at the time use to annoy the shit out of me..but now i love it because it reminds me of my days living in Melbourne

[@barbs19788]

i don't think i ever saw on an ad but i definitely saw him on the news taking the rap for his old man

[@ObeliskVredesbyrd]

I could watch this on repeat

[@vinsocks]

It's funny that most of the Italians and Greeks his ads were targeting couldn't afford his furniture.

[@ambadawn81]

I love that this was posted on yt

[@HomerAteMyBaby]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who hears him say this.

[@22gtrain]

i love this ad, i am 24 and i remember this ad when i was starting primary school

[@Missfantlady]

Did anyone else notice that in later ads he gave up trying to speak english and just got his grand daughter(presuming) to do it. still love my franco cozzo ads.

[@ethanstransportvlogs45]

What did Franco cozzo say when he stepped in grey paint? My footys-grey, my-footys-grey

[@LachClark]

When an Italian man in a suit says 'grand sale', he means it

[@DevoAl]

i saw this in melbourne on new years eve HILARIOUS!

[@nickdabsta]

Best ad of all time. As a kid all I did was walk around the school playground yelling Migallo, Migallo, Migallo.

[@nostalgiaof98]

I swear my nonna had her bedroom furniture direct from Franco Cozzo. The mayble anna woot feenish and the glass mirrors... just too close to home, or should I say Reservoir 🤣

[@RT_today]

Still a great advert, very memorable.

[@papersplease]

Ken Bruce has gone mad!

[@parkaoz]

Now THAT is quality!!!

[@insertnamehere5809]

RIP Franco Cozzo, a Melbourne institution

[@wavecrashes]

megalo magalo megalo LMAO this ad reminds me of melbourne back in 99 one of the best ads in the world

[@gmscotsese]

you mean tri-lingual - he breaks into Greek in the middle there

[@ddraig2012]

This is not the original ad, the original ad was only in Italian, the Italian/Greek ad came quite a few years after he started.

[@Receredo]

He is a Footscray Legend! I heard his son Louie(or Luigi) got done for drug importation around 1992. Also I heard he had another Footscray Italian relative(don't forget Franco's 1/2 Greek), called Frank Leone, who's also been done for drugs recently. Good Luck to them if they can get away with it! I heard rumours Kerry Packer was involved in the drug trade too one stage! Perhaps Franco should do an ad in Vietnamese too!

[@wonderllama4368]

it may have been said, but this can't be the original ad because his original ad was North Melbourne and Footscray. :P

[@giinhhakha]

this is gold.

[@sliat1981]

He still has his store in foots-a-cray

[@wonderllama74]

Yes, the original ad was Northa Melbourne and a Foodisgray!

[@LeslieMorris]

Amazing. Thank you so much!

[@internezzo]

yeah at one stage there was "norta melbourne" as well as brunswick and footisgray.

[@Davez621]

Yup, they are still running it.

[@s4nnybunny04]

greatest ad ever... besides the HBA ad (the one with the crocodile came up and bit my guts out...)

[@ndh641]

Must be made heritage listing

[@jimmyvanzeno]

LEGEND!!! MEGALO MEGALO MEGALO!!!

[@stuarterskine6094]

Fantastic

[@nannettesidebottom1021]

Itsa very good, si.

[@SysGND]

DARNIN' RRRROUM!

[@OMORFI94]

LOL in greek love this guy. hahaha he speaks pretty good bravo!

[@danedgar1539]

Whats funny is this ad didnt seem at all odd to me when i was a kid

[@Cloncurrify]

They don't make ads like this anymore.

[@SirWagsAU]

OMG, did anyone else just see this on channel nine as a legitimate ad?

[@Residualshanty]

KING

[@danichols49]

the best bit is how he is laughing at having to do it.

[@TheAxelay]

Imagine using this as a fone tone...Footscray store is still around (although empty) but I heard that it may get knocked down in favour for student apartments ,this must never happen as this store must be the only original living relic of Footscray left.

[@Robbieboy1976]

If I knew how much cocaine was inside each piece of furniture I would have bought the lot! :)

[@johnoh421]

Wouldn't look out of place in Liberace's mansion.

[@TimChuma]

According to someone who worked on the ad they had to ring the Greek consulate as nobody knew any Greek.

[@darrenmiles-morland8038]

Sorry to say it, but in the original Franco Cozzo commercial it wasn't Brunswick and Foot-es-cray, it was North Melbourne and Foot-es-cray. This is not the original Franco Cozzo commercial.

[@ollie2sik]

FRANCO !!!! CAN I COME AND SCORE SOME DRUGS ??!!! GRAN SALE ! GRAN SALE !

[@billymcdonald8802]

0:49:0 SEND ME YOUR REMOTE BILLY

[@Gsavy-s9x]

@fidderman It means "grand grand grand" or "great great great".

[@fantominc]

HahHa what a classic!..I came here to try and find out if anyone knows what the music is playing in the background...can anyone help me out???? cheers

[@luchilds]

It'll just be some Italian folk music

[@har234908234]

Did you ever find the music?

[@fidderman]

What does "Megalo Megalo Megalo" mean? Gee, what a great add.

[@KooperTrooper]

*thumbs up* dunno what vhs tape you picked this off but thanks :)

[@circespell]

@zaniac100 I do hope that he was wearing a Del Monte suit [looks good , feels good, are good] One of my girlfriend's father [Sam Mihelakos] sold him the Bru[n]swick store. I've recently heard that when "New Stock Arrived" was flashed across the screen during the ad it had a "particular" meaning to a certain demographic...but this may be apocryphal.

[@BubbleOBill33]

Addidassssssssssssssssssss!

[@imGlobL]

yeah i heard shit like that going down to with the furniture

[@uni000ver000sal]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha! You are a genius! ha ha ha ha ha ha ! Fucking hilarious!

[@TheCranberrySource]

Sure is.

[@uraniumdeath]

Agreed. Furniture looks awful (for my tastes anyway), but the commercial is truly legendary. Thanks Franco. You're a gem.

[@RazorbackBoofheadDartsNStuff]

What did Franco Cozzo say when he stepped into a tin of grey paint? Foot is gray

[@ollie2sik]

btw he says franco cozzo 10 times in a minute

[@mrnqr2001]

Wasn't this place raided by the cops for being suspected of drug distribution? (What I heard from my mum that large amounts of narcotics were found packed in some of the furniture)

[@jeremydivers5746]

+MrNQR yep was apparently his sons doing

[@mrnqr2001]

Jimmy Thuggins Jesus christ, who could do that to their own flesh and blood?

[@lamontcranston4203]

+MrNQR His son was importing drugs in the furniture. There was an urban myth that the ads ran to announce arrivals.

[@mrnqr2001]

Lamont Cranston Ah okay gotcha!! Fair enough. Thanks mate! :)