Stupid Question

[Logan]

This may well show the depth of my ignorance, but I have a pronunciation question.  Most people seem to say, "Willies," (rhymes with fillies), but I have also heard, and believe to be correct, "Willis," (i.e. as in Bruce).  Can an expert help me so I do not commit an error at the next meet?

[Terry T]

THE LATTER IS CORRECT

[Logan]

Thanks!

[pnw_oldmags]

For an FYI -  In discussions with Edgar Kaiser's daughters they said Dutch Darrin always pronounced his name as Dah-rin not Dare-In.   At least that is the story from around their Dinner Table. 
Guess we should change the way we say the name of the roadster named after him then.

[Aeroman]

John North Willys was the owner of the name and he pronounced it WILL-iss, just like actor Bruce Willis pronounces his name. And it's spelled Willys, not Willies and it has no apostrophe in it (Willy's). And Frazer is Frazer, not Frazier or Fraser.
Very common errors. We need to educate the world.

[vettelang]

I grew up about a mile from the plant and never heard anyone say they worked at the Willis, the pronounciation around there was Willys (Overland).

[Dragon]

I believe Willis came from the south.  People around Toledo factory always said Willys.  Every time I heard Willis they were from the south.

[pnw_oldmags]

That settles it our new car is going to always called an Aero Lark!

[Corsairdeluxe]

We in the south are used to our nawthen friends and their strange pronunciations. For instance they refer to the strip between opposing lanes on the highway a ”Median”. Everyone knows it’s a “Mediterranean”,

[Dragon]

And it is Kay-sir not Kiser.

[MarkH]

I've always pronounced it as Willies as everyone else I've met seems to. However, my son just sent me this youtube link to a 1954 TV commercial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdHp5mM56ts

[Logan]

Hey, thanks for that!  That does seem pretty definitive, no?  At least for the 'official' way to pronounce it, if there is one.

[84RabbitGTI]

We need to persuade the folks who have these commercials in a form closer to the original, to digitize them in higher definition.

[Logan]

Yes, that would be great to see them in a higher quality.

[HJ-ETEX]

Referring to Jim Betts posting It's Mary Kay Cosmetics International Pink.