As an East Coast kid, I never saw Cal Worthington's commercials, but I'm struck by his resemblance to Cliff Robertson as Shame in the linked photo. That, plus his presence as an Old West cowboy in mid-60s America, and the automotive angle to Shame's first caper, makes me wonder if inspiration might not have struck Stanley Ralph Ross during a late-night commercial break.
Do any board members remember Worthington's ads, or whether or not he was ever discussed in connection with Shame back in the day?
Cheers,