Tom Carvel on Letterman, September 2, 1982

The ice cream magnate introduces the show, chats with Dave, and performs his big rap tune.

[@timhulsizer]

If you said 10 minutes ago I was going to see Tom Carvel rap, I’d have called you a liar. What an amazing time to be alive.

[@byua1835]

hell yeah haha

[@pfflyer3381]

Yea,....now !

[@timtonner946]

Hahaha! Totally agree...

[@779nkp]

Tom Carvel lived the American Dream. How could you not buy ice cream from this kind, hard working man?

[@user-zo7sh4gk8h]

Yes, Greeks that came to the US always were more hard working than everyone else

[@coryparrish525]

He was a great guy. Hell, he was even a great sport about his nose bein used for Cookie Puss.😊

[@n1ksf]

@@user-zo7sh4gk8h definately!! My Papou and Yiayia, very hard workers when they came here

[@yiannimil1]

@@user-zo7sh4gk8h χμμμ! we were a little different ...then!

[@maximussilverstacker3928]

We love going to carvel didn’t know he sold it in 1989 and suspiciously dies the next day ? 😢

[@Launchpad05]

Tom Carvel, the guy who honors most major credit cards. Thank you.

[@coryparrish525]

He did a good job for a low budget.

[@70sleftover]

Yes, you always have to close with a Thank You. Another reason to like that guy, other than for his making ice cream cake an easy option for any celebration in the NE U.S. or Florida!

[@Glitch-Gremlin]

The *Ice Cream Peddler*

[@ocker2000]

When I arrived in NYC from Europe in 1983 a year after this recording I did see the Carvel shops but did not know the history. Finally in 2024 I learned about its story. This episode of Letterman is very entertaining. I got to be in the audience in 1986 one time. Epic.

[@thegiftedone]

He was the Walt Disney of Ice Cream and cakes…..🍰 🍦…..he was a sweet as his products! Thank you Don! Once again, for your uploads….your the closest thing to a time machine! 🫡🫵🏻🏆

[@Qboro66]

Even my 11y.o. daughter saw this video and said he looked like Walt Disney...🤔

[@stephaniecampo954]

I love this. What a guy. His legacy lives on in the BEST ice cream EVER! I have great chilhood memories of going to one of the Carvel ice cream shops with my dad in North Miami. Sooooo good.

[@jmaxxtv9912]

"Thank you, and have a great holiday." I miss those commercials.

[@singlesideman]

I've wanted this back in my life for 37 years. I cannot thank you enough, Don.

[@fullesteemahead7250]

I have never tried Carvel's. I want to have some so bad. Tom is a real character. Damn. Why am I finding this out decades after this show. I'm loving this so much.

[@nelsonpapucci5615]

It was a huge part of my childhood

[@garcialorca8278]

A real American character. God bless him! I loved your ads, Tom!

[@user-zo7sh4gk8h]

He was Greek.

[@carlsedon2571]

I grew up with his voice on wpix!!!

[@MrRobYoung]

As a Boy in Reading,PA My Parents always got me a Carvel Cake For my July 3rd Birthdays 🎂 Good Times

[@sodapopinski690]

Letterman was MUCH funnier during this period than later on CBS.

[@PCH847]

So true

[@citrine65]

Never seemed the same after his heart surgery.

[@mimilini1]

He was allowed more freedom then

[@krisscanlon4051]

I tried to tell these two schnooks from NY that this was funny and of course only Letterman and SNL too thought this schlockly a old fella was off his rocker especially on WOR tv...any rate have fun Red😂 laughs on me😂

[@billbates5475]

Tom Karvelas was his real name, he was a Greek.

[@jesusthroughmary]

Athanasios Thomas Karvelas

[@MikeCee7]

I used to springboard dive compete against his grandchildren, at Rye golf club in Rye, NY. (in the late 70s, early 80s)

[@daveidmarx8296]

I still like him despite that.

[@paidrussiantroll1305]

I am certain that anyone under the age of 35 is thinking WTF, but for those of us a tad older, this is gold. Thank you for uploading this vid.

[@hyacinthlynch843]

Tom seems like a real sweet man.

[@lysippus]

never knew what he looked like. they probably could've made a tom carvel face ice cream cake too. nice one, don

[@TheDarkThunder]

lysippus he looked about what I pictured!

[@coryparrish525]

They DID! Look at Cookie Puss.

[@Dueville7777]

Saturday morning cartoons, and Carvel commercials. Thank you.

[@bloodlegion4874]

Carvel will always be my favorite ice cream ever 🍦 ❤️

[@jazzjokesjalopies]

Good one! Dave has fun, we have fun.

[@BackFocus11]

Thanks Tom Carvel for the best soft serve ice cream in my 80s childhood.

[@RatKindler]

I remember seeing the Carvel commercials as a kid in Toronto on Buffalo NY stations in the 80s. Never got a chance to visit a store though. This was wild.

[@watsonroadster3707]

I live in Ontario across the border from the New York State but I remember watching those carvel ice Cream commercials on WUTV Channel 29 when I was a kid...My mother always hated his voice ,but, I always thought he sounded like someone's nice old grandpa...

[@darrellkramer8097]

New Haven Rd. Grand Island, New York.

[@watsonroadster3707]

@@darrellkramer8097 "Gilligan's Island"....

[@MGiordano]

Thank you for sharing your unbelievable collection with us. I was a Late Show fan most of my life, but was too young to have seen any Late Night. These are incredible. Thank you so much.

[@MWorsa]

Legend.

[@yiannimil1]

OHH! YEEA! rapping! ahead of his time....and being a drummer, HE shows appreciation to the man on drums.

[@mobus71]

My mind has been blown twice. Fudgie the Whale and Santa cakes are/were the same shape, and how close were we to having McFudgie the whale at McDonald’s today.

[@davidmadden3578]

Great interview. I really miss that guy. Love his ice cream.

[@cindyb8504]

Miss Tom so much

[@procedurettes]

I've heard of this but never seen it until today. Thank you.

[@TimFrith24]

Tom Carvel passed away in 1990, a year after he sold Carvel to Investcorp for $80 million.

[@PCH847]

Tom did well!!!

[@jesusisking3974]

Tom was found dead just before he was ready to confront certain people for stealing millions from his accounts. Read the story...

[@daveidmarx8296]

Gotta love a guy born in 1906 rapping.

[@CollectingCardboard]

Tom Seemed like a genuinely, likeable guy! When I was in high school, the father of a classmate of mine owned a Carvel franchise. In conjunction with the school, they sponsored a blood drive; *GIVE A PINT, GET A PINT* ! Us,...."smart kids" would coincide our blood donation with either the period _just before lunch_ or..... _just after lunch_ or.....the _next to last period_ of the school day (note: they gave us a period to "recover" after our blood donation)! Ahhh,...the #goodoledays

[@ysgdhio]

Growing up, getting Carvel soft serve was a treat. So now I'm craving a vanilla cone with a chocolate hard shell. Do they even sell those any more?

[@childoflight3166]

😂

[@greekgladiator7735]

Legend !

[@joemaxfield6978]

In October 2009, Carvel's niece Pamela Carvel filed court papers to have Carvel's body exhumed and an autopsy performed, stating she suspected he was drugged or suffocated by employees whom Carvel suspected of embezzlement.[3] Her petition was denied, and she later became a fugitive from justice in a personal bankruptcy case. She had been vying for control of his $67-million estate. 😢

[@tomjeffries58]

I loved Carvel as a kid. I loved the lollapilozza (Sp?) I loved Tom Carvel more. What a great man.

[@pfflyer3381]

Gotta love him

[@thegadflygang5381]

Mr Carvel's lack of humor makes this hysterical. He is just the nicest guy rambling about the ins and outs of ice cream and it perfectly works with Dave's erudite early 80s humor.

[@AF-ti7nb]

God bless that man. RIP

[@Danimal77]

I liked him when he was on the daytime version of What's My Line? in 1970.

[@andyrose5616]

"Comedienne Elayne... Boseler?"

[@citrine65]

Boosler

[@jasonschooler]

I caught that too!

[@Libertyjack1]

Almost 41 years ago. Wow!

[@johncortez2009]

I love this 😀

[@justcurious3119]

This has everything.

[@MikeCee7]

Tom’s real last name is “Karvelas”. He was Greek. And I used to springboard dive compete against his grandchildren, at Rye golf club in Rye, NY.

[@jesusisking3974]

Tom and his wife Agnes didn't have any children so they didn't have any grandchildren.

[@MikeCee7]

@@jesusisking3974 if what you’re saying is true, then somebody lied to me. So you know if he lived in Rye, NY (or Westchester county, NY) at any period of his life? I have a typo in my original post, but this girls last name was “Carvelas”.

[@Composingstick]

Now that’s a treat.

[@TownhouseLady]

LOVE HIM!

[@chevken1831]

I remember the commercial where the little girl says, "I don't like that kind!".

[@user-wt2yn2vw7m]

This guy was Greek 🇬🇷

[@70sleftover]

I probably didn't have a chance to watch this when it originally aired because in Philadelphia our wonderful NBC station KYW TV3 decided that their Hawaii Five-0 reruns were probably a bigger draw than some new show by that quietly humorous guy Letterman had started. (Until they realized the show was becoming a hit.)

[@FUGP72]

Man...Dave was definitely hard up for guests in that first year. He gave a local ice cream guy THREE segments!

[@hialeahe818]

I wonder if Will Ferrell got any ideas for his Elf movie from Carvel? Tom Carvel sounds just like Papa elf, also Mr. Narwhal=Fudgie the whale= Santa. I need my aluminiun foil hat to solve this😄

[@lawrenceweinzimer]

Some say Tom was the real Godfather !

[@joyceventrella6390]

I knew Carvel I was 7 yrs old when I met him.and yes he was a godfather .u figure it out.some people that teach game step on other people's toes,Godfather u bet

[@lawrenceweinzimer]

@joyceventrella6390 Hi Joyce, I was positive. Yes, I modestly just 'know my onions.' His legacy sure lives on. Be well, be safe, Lawrence-

[@deanparis6180]

I called the number… it is a much different kind of company that answers now!!! Lol go try it!!!!

[@jamesten]

Times Square hasn't been the same since the Carvel store closed.

[@tpryce6243]

That wolf in sheep’s clothing Tom Carvel.

[@slida65]

If Tom knew what goes on in his stores taday.

[@citrine65]

Oh no, what?

[@slida65]

@@citrine65 I'm sorry but today's owners treat customers differently.

[@wiedep]

one-take Tom

[@nefaurora]

"Thank You for your Patronage!" .....LOL..... :)

[@beaumcmahon2556]

I miss being 13.

[@Flavum]

Steve Khan on guitar? Outstanding! Must have been filling in for Hiram.

[@dongiller]

He was. He was Hiram’s most frequent sub. If interested, here’s a more complete history of the band - donzblog.home.blog/2022/04/17/the-musicians-on-late-night-with-david-letterman/

[@andrewjansen9702]

I’ve never had one.

[@wladyslawjagiello]

He sounds very sweet, but with that voice and those jowls, I could see him as Marlon Brando's double in 'The Godfather'.

[@elenij3781]

sad what happened after his passing.

[@umarbentley4953]

Did Tom Carvel had some black in him,not only his voice sound distinctively soulful but he looks like he's mixed, he had a certain swag.

[@OlChunkOfCoal]

He was Greek, so he's definitely got a darker skin tone.

[@billbates5475]

This how the Greeks are. They're so funny too omg, and he;s got big ass hands LOL!

[@user-zo7sh4gk8h]

What you been smoking lately bud?

[@foxbasealpha]

Too bad he opened Carvel locations in then apartheid South Africa.

[@mcafton]

Beastie Boys grought me here.

[@swissmister123]

8 people haven't been able to talk to the supervisor

[@stevel.2759]

Circular saw lol

[@AlanJames1987]

I know, right? Was this new tech in 1982? No, what the hell was that section?!?

[@ahmaudarberywasaviolentkle8094]

Did he have emphasema?

[@erik_griswold]

Who is the guitarist on this episode?

[@dongiller]

Steve Khan.

[@erik_griswold]

Don Giller Thanks!

[@andywolan]

what was up with that wood working project?

[@dongiller]

At the end of Act 1, before the commercial break, there was a videotaped segment where Dave asked folks on the street what they’d like to see on the show. Scripted, each person wanted to see something on woodworks. So throughout the show, before every break, there’d be a short woodworking project.

[@Bill_Woo]

Funny thing, I could barely understand him on the opening theme blurb. As though he had a terrible media voice! I hope his commercials were better than that!

[@Bill_Woo]

I guess I wasn't in on the joke :)

[@randywalsh8383]

His voice was distinctive, and you immediately knew what he was selling. Bingo... An ad man's dream...as a kid growing up that's all you needed to know.

[@i.k.320]

He was funny Greek guy Αιώνια σου η μνήμη Αθανάσιε