More on the Retro Commercials! PART 3
Here is some more of those dang Retro Commercials stuck in our minds forever!
Morris the Cat
Morris the Cat (voiced by John Erwin of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe) is the advertising mascot for 9Lives brand cat food, appearing on its packaging and in many of its television commercials. A large red tabby tom, he is "the world's most finicky cat", and prefers only 9Lives brand, making this preference clear by means of humorously sardonic voice-over comments when offered other brands. Every can of 9Lives features Morris's "signature".
Morris has appeared in other media over the years. He starred in the movie Shamus with Burt Reynolds and Dyan Cannon in 1973. He also appears as a "spokescat" promoting responsible pet ownership, pet health and pet adoptions through animal shelters. To this end, he has "authored" three books: The Morris Approach, The Morris Method and The Morris Prescription.
Over the years several cats have portrayed Morris on television. The original Morris was discovered at the Hinsdale Humane Society, a Chicago-area animal shelter, in 1968 by professional animal handler Bob Martwick. All cats to play Morris have been rescues, either coming from an animal shelter or a cat rescue. The current Morris lives in Los Angeles with his handler, Rose Ordile.
In 2006, Morris was depicted as adopting a kitten from a Los Angeles animal shelter, L'il Mo, who represents the first in a campaign known as Morris' Million Cat Rescue.
Doublemint & the Twins
Doublemint is a flavor of chewing gum made by the Wrigley Company. It was launched in the United States in 1914, and has had variable market share since that time.
One of the most notable aspects of this brand is the advertising campaign, begun in 1956, which utilized twins as spokespersons for the gum, as a play on the word "double" in the name. The original "Doublemint Twins" were Jayne and Joan Boyd of Hammond, Indiana, who appeared in advertisements for Doublemint until Joan became pregnant in 1963.
The company however continued sporadically to promote the campaign; later "Doublemint Twins" included Patricia and Cybil Barnstable, Cynthia and Brittany Daniel, Tia and Tamera Mowry (future co-star of The Game). Heidi and Alissa Kramer, and Jean (née Barbara) and Elizabeth Sagal (daughters of TV director Boris Sagal and sisters of Married... with Children's Katey Sagal). The Sagal twins enjoyed a brief run as the stars of a sitcom, Double Trouble, in 1984.
Later twins projected more sex appeal in keeping with trends in American advertising; the Barnstable twins were later asked to pose for Playboy magazine due to their popularity as spokeswomen for the gum.
Alka-Seltzer
The original Alka-Seltzer was invented by pharmacist Mikey Wiseman in 1931 but was used in the 1920s as a remedy for back aches, diarrhea, leg cramps, and heartburn. Sodium bicarbonate in Alka-Seltzer also makes it effective in treating mild blood acidosis associated with allergy (see citation).
Alka-Seltzer is a combination of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), and citric acid, designed to treat pain and simultaneously neutralize excess stomach acid (the "Alka" being derived from the word "alkali"). It is provided in the form of large effervescent tablets, about 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter, which are dissolved (two at a time for the usual adult dosage) in a glass of water.
As the tablets dissolve, the base (bicarbonate) and the acid (citric acid) react vigorously producing carbon dioxide gas (hence the "Seltzer"), which also produces enough agitation to allow the active ingredients to dissolve slowly (it dissolves in water). The patient then ingests the resulting solution.
The product has been extensively advertised since the beginning of the mass media era in the U.S. It was formerly marketed as something of a cure-all; at one time its ads even suggested taking it for "the blahs.
" Subsequent regulation has taken into consideration that aspirin is a relatively powerful drug which is not tolerated by everyone and should not generally be taken at all by children or adolescents due to its linkage to Reye's syndrome; the product is no longer marketed in this fashion.
It comes in various flavors
At one time the product was available in both long glass tubes and foil packets; the latter is the primary way the product is provided today, with two tablets in each packet.
TV commercials•
An animated mid-1960s commercial shows a man and his own stomach sitting opposite each other in chairs, having an argument which is moderated by their therapist (voiceover). The stomach accuses the man of purposely trying to irritate it, the man accuses his stomach of complaining too much about the foods he likes. The therapist suggests Alka-Seltzer, and further suggests that the two need to take care of each other. The closing words are the stomach saying: "Well, I'll try - if he will".
• Alka-Seltzer had a series of commercials during the mid 1960s which utilized a song called "No Matter What Shape Your Stomach's In," a different version of which was recorded by the T-Bones and was released as a single which became a hit in 1966. The ads were unique in that they featured only the mid-sections (no faces) of people of all shapes and sizes.
• In an Alka-Seltzer commercial from 1970, an actor (played by Jack Somack ) in a commercial for the fictional product "Magdalini's Meatballs" has to eat a meatball and then say "Mamma mia, that's-a spicy meat ball-a!" in an ersatz Italian accent. Take after take is ruined by some comedic trial or another. By the commercial's end, "Jack" has eaten so many meatballs that it's "Alka Seltzer to the rescue". With his stomach settled, Jack does a perfect take, except the oven door falls off.
The director (off-camera) sighs and says, "OK, let's break for lunch." Although it has been said that this commercial was dropped because it was allegedly demeaning to Italians, more likely it was dropped because it failed to increase sales of the product (even today most people think it was a commercial for spaghetti sauce).
• Another 1970 commercial shows a newlywed couple in the bedroom after his wife (played by Alice Playten) has finished serving him a giant dumpling; the implication is that her cooking skills are severely lacking. She lies on the bed in delusional triumph. She offers her beleaguered husband a heart-shaped meatloaf; he disappears to take some Alka-Seltzer.
When she hears the fizzy noise coming from the bathroom, he quickly covers the glass of dissolving Alka-Seltzer as she wonders aloud if it is raining. Just when he has recovered his well-being, he hears her misreading recipes for dinner the next night: "marshmallowed meatballs," and "pouched (actually poached) oysters". He returns to the bathroom for more Alka-Seltzer.
• A 1971 commercial featured the catch-phrase, "Try it, you'll like it!" It was remade by Kathy Griffin in 2006.
• In 1972, an actor spent the commercial moaning, "I can't believe I ate the whole thing!" while his wife made sarcastic comments and finally advised him to take some Alka-Seltzer.
• Another Alka-Seltzer commercial from the same era is one concerning "The ultimate businessman's lunch". Seeking "revenge" on his underlings for former bad suggestions, "The Boss" [aka "Mr. J.G.", played by character actor Milton Frome ] is taking his "boys" out to lunch in the most out-of-the-way place imaginable.
In this instance they are seen trudging through the snow in a howling windstorm towards their destination, a Chinese restaurant in the mountains of Tibet. Once inside the restaurant and removing their parkas, J.G. and the boys are greeted by the proprietor, "Moo Chee" [a thinly veiled reference to other oriental food], played by character actor and voice artist Marvin Miller [best-known for playing Michael Anthony, personal assistant to John Beresford Tipton [III] on the 1950s TV series "The Millionaire", and the voice of "Robby the Robot" in the 1950s film Forbidden Planet ].
Moo Chee directs them into the dining room where J.G. orders all the food, including roast yak in a special hot sauce followed by "chocolate moose". One of the boys complains "but J.G., that's a French dessert!". J.G. responds "No, this is a real moose!" followed quickly by Moo Chee chiming in "with special hot chocolate sauce!" [as in hot peppers].
In the next scene J.G. and the boys are eating and getting sick, when in comes Moo Chee announcing "Important phone call for In the next scene, the hung-up telephone is seen [just a prop in the ruse to get away from the boys], and J.G. is finishing his Alka-Seltzer, thanking Moo Chee for his timely "rescue" from the awful food. Relieved, the boss returns to the now-empty dining room with Moo Chee. "Where are the boys?" asks J.G. The final remark is by Moo Chee "Maybe they too have important phone call, Mr. J.G." All of this detail is conveyed in a 30-second spot.
Plop-plop, fizz-fizz
Oh, what a relief it is.
Starkist Tuna & Charlie
In more than 85 TV commercials, Charlie® tried to prove that he was a tuna with “good taste” - a lover of Shakespeare and the finer things in life. Unfortunately for Charlie®, StarKist® has always wanted only one thing: tuna that tastes good. A very important difference! So the answer was always “Sorry Charlie®. StarKist® wants tuna that tastes good, not tuna with good taste.”
The Old TV Spots & 1 New! "Charlie Plays Tennis"
"Charlie's Girlfriend"
"Charlie Reads Poetry"
"MasterCard Priceless"
Ricardo Montalbán & Chrysler
Ricardo Gonzalo Pedro Montalbán y Merino (November 25, 1920 – January 14, 2009) was a Mexican-born American radio, television, theatre and film actor.
He had a career spanning seven decades (motion pictures from 1943 to 2006) and multiple notable roles. During the mid-to-late 1970s, he was the spokesperson in automobile advertisements for the Chrysler Cordoba (in which he famously extolled the "soft Corinthian leather" used for its interior).
The New Small Chrysler! 1977 Cordoba line First Spot
The Commercial (Ricardo Montalbán appears and stars in)
"I know my own needs."
"And what I need from an automobile I know I get from this new Cordoba!"
"I grasp for nothing beyond the quality of Cordoba’s workmanship!"
The tastefulness of its appearance!"
"I request nothing beyond the thickly cushioned luxury of seats available even in soft Corinthian Leather."
"Yet, it is on the highway where Cordoba best answers my Demands!"
"I have much more in this small Chrysler than great comfort at a most pleasant price."
"I have great confidence for which there can be no price."
"In Cordoba, I have what I need."
See The You Tube Video xxx.youtube.com/watch?v=vIL3fbGbU2o
(Replace the xxx with www)
"Soft Corinthian leather!"
R.I.P. Mr.Montalbán!
I Own One!! A rare Specialty! Low Mile, Near Mint 1979! Drive It Daily!!
Kenner's Spirograph
Spirograph is a geometric drawing toy that produces mathematical curves of the variety technically known as hypotrochoids and epitrochoids. The term has also been used to describe a variety of software applications that display similar curves, and applied to the class of curves that can be produced with the drawing equipment (so in this sense it may be regarded as a synonym of hypotrochoid). The name is a registered trademark of Hasbro, Inc.
The Spirograph was invented by British engineer Denys Fisher who exhibited it in 1965 at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair. It was subsequently produced by his company. Distribution rights were acquired by Kenner, Inc., which introduced it to the United States' market in 1966.
Spirograph consists of a set of plastic gears and other shapes such as rings, triangles, or straight bars. There are several sizes of gears and shapes, and all edges have teeth to engage any other piece. For instance, smaller gears fit inside the larger rings, but also can engage the outside of the rings in such a fashion that they rotate around the inside or along the outside edge of the rings.
To use it, a sheet of paper is placed on a heavy cardboard backing, and one of the plastic pieces is pinned to the paper and cardboard. Another plastic piece is placed so that its teeth engage with those of the pinned piece. For example, a ring may be pinned to the paper and a small gear placed inside the ring – the actual number of arrangements possible by combining different gears is very large.
The point of a pen is placed in one of the holes in the moving piece. As the moving part is moved the pen traces out a curve.
The pen is used both to draw and provide locomotive force; some practice is required before Spirograph can be operated without disengaging the fixed and moving pieces. More intricate and unusual-shaped patterns may be made through the use of both hands, one to draw and one to guide the pieces.
It is possible to move several pieces in relation to each other (say, the triangle around the ring, with a circle "climbing" from the ring onto the triangle), but this requires concentration or even additional assistance from other artists.
Oscar Mayer Weiners
well-known advertising jingle, written in 1963 by Richard D. Trentlage and set to music by Philip Bova:
Oh, I wish I were an Oscar Mayer wiener
That is what I truly want to be
'Cause if I were an Oscar Mayer wiener
Everyone would be in love with me.
A 1965 version of the Oscar Mayer Wiener song goes:
Oh, I'd love to be an Oscar Mayer wiener.
That is what I'd truly like to be.
'Cause if I were an Oscar Mayer wiener,
Everyone would be in love with me.
Oh, I'm glad I'm not an Oscar Mayer wiener.
That is what I'd never want to be.
Cause if I were an Oscar Mayer wiener.
There would soon be nothing left of me!
Oscar Mayer Bologna (My Boloney Has a First Name...)
Another product's jingle is almost equally well well-known:
My bologna has a first name, it's O-S-C-A-R
My bologna has a second name, it's M-A-Y-E-R
Oh, I love to eat it every day, and if you ask me why, I'll say,
"'Cause Oscar Mayer has a way with B-O-L-O-G-N-A."
“How’s That!?!”
This jingle was sung by Keith Bailly in 1976 in a famous commercial.
Tang
Tang is a sweet and tangy, orange-flavored, non-carbonated soft drink from the United States. The original orange flavored Tang was formulated by William A. Mitchell[1] for General Foods Corporation in 1957 and first marketed (in powdered form) in 1959.
It was initially intended as a breakfast drink, but sales were poor until NASA began using it on Gemini flights in 1965 (researched at Natick Soldier Systems Center), which was heavily advertised. Since that time, it has been associated with the U.S. manned spaceflight program, so much so that an urban legend emerged that Tang was invented for the space program.
Tang was famously used by the NASA Gemini space program. A NASA engineer working with the Gemini Space Program on a life-support module explained the story of how and why it was used. Paraphrased:
"... There was a particular component of the Gemini life support-system module which produced H2O (water) among other things. This was a byproduct of a recurring chemical reaction of one of the mechanical devices on the life-support module.
The astronauts would use this water to drink during their space flight. The problem was, the astronauts did not like the taste of the water because of some of the byproducts produced, which were not harmful of course. So, they added Tang to make the water taste better ..."
However, Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin has stated that Tang was not used on his lunar landing mission: "We... instead chose a grapefruit-orange mixture as our citrus drink. If Tang was on our flight, I was unaware of it."
The inventor of Tang, William A. Mitchell, also invented Pop Rocks.
Tootsie Roll Lollipops
Tootsie Pops are hard candy lollipops filled with chocolate-flavored chewy Tootsie Roll. They were invented in 1931 by Luke Weisgram, an employee of The Sweets Company of America. The company changed its name to Tootsie Roll Industries in 1966.
In addition to chocolate (the original flavor), Tootsie Pops come in cherry, orange, grape, raspberry, strawberry, watermelon, blue raspberry and pomegranate flavors. Another release of Tootsie Roll Pops, named Tropical Stormz, features six swirl-textured flavors: orange pineapple, lemon lime, strawberry banana, citrus punch, and berry berry punch.
In 2003, sixty million Tootsie Rolls and twenty million Tootsie Pops were produced every day.
In 1970, Tootsie Roll Industries aired an animated television commercial featuring a boy asking various animals how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. A shortened version of this commercial still airs on television today, making it one of the longest running commercials of all time.
In the original ad, a boy poses this question to a cow, a fox and a turtle. Each one tells the boy to ask someone else, explaining that they'd bite a Tootsie Pop every time they lick one. Eventually, he asks an owl, who starts licking it, but eventually bites into the lollipop, much to the chagrin of the boy.
While the original commercial is 60 seconds long, an edited 30-second version and 15 second version of this commercial are the ones that have aired innumerable times over the years.
The dialogue to the 60-second version is as follows:
Boy (voiced by Buddy Foster): Mr. Cow...
Mr. Cow (Frank Nelson): Yeeeeesss?
Boy: How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?
Mr. Cow: I don't know, I always end up biting. Ask Mr. Fox, for he's much clever than I.
Boy: Mr. Fox, how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?
Mr. Fox (Paul Frees): Why don't you ask Mr. Turtle, for he's been around a lot longer than I? Me, heheh, I bite.
Boy: Mr. Turtle, how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?
Mr. Turtle (Ralph James): I've never even made it without biting. Ask Mr. Owl, for he is the wisest of us all.
Boy: Mr. Owl, how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?
Mr. Owl (Paul Winchell): A good question. Let's find out. A One... A.two-HOO...A three..
(crunch sound effect)
Mr. Owl: A Three!
Boy: If there's anything I can't stand, it's a smart owl.
Narrator (Herschel Bernardi): How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?
(crunch sound effect)
Narrator: The world may never know.
The 30-second commercial dialogue:
Boy: Mr. Turtle, how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?
Mr. Turtle (Ralph James): I've never even made it without biting. Ask Mr. Owl.
Boy: Mr. Owl, how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?
Mr. Owl (Paul Winchell): Let's find out. A One... A.two-HOO...A three..
(crunch sound effect)
Mr. Owl: A Three!
Narrator (Herschel Bernardi): How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?
(crunch sound effect)
Narrator: The world may never know.
The over 15-second commercial only shows the boy and Mr. Owl, and a different narrator speaks the same above line, but without the scene showing the Tootsie Roll pops slowly disappearing, and with a different tune playing in the background. The question still stands unanswered.
After the commercial, Mr. Owl became the mascot for Tootsie Roll Pops, appearing in marketing campaigns and on the packaging.
In the 1990s, a new commercial was made featuring a boy asking a robot and a dragon how many licks it takes to get to the center.
Parkay Margarine ConAgra Foods, Inc
The Return of the Talking Tub
Since 1973, Americans have loved the Parkay Talking Tub. 2009, Look for its triumphant return!
Actor: Parkay!
Tub Of Butter:Butter!
Actor: Parkay!
Tub Of Butter: Butter!
MMM, Butter!
Tub Of Butter: Parkay!!
Dr. Pepper-I'm a Pepper
Dr Pepper is a soft drink that is sold in North America, South America, and Europe by Dr Pepper Snapple Group.
It was invented by Charles Alderton. There is also a no-sugar version, Diet Dr Pepper, as well as a line of flavored versions, first introduced in the 2000s. Its taste most resembles that of a cherry cola, though W.W. Clements, a former CEO and president of the Dr Pepper/7-Up Company, described the taste of Dr Pepper as one-of-a-kind, saying "I've always maintained you cannot tell anyone what Dr Pepper tastes like because it's so different. It's not an apple, it's not an orange, it's not a strawberry, it's not a root beer, it's not even a cola. It's a different kind of drink with a unique taste all its own."
This became grist for a number of pop culture references and parodies. One of the first was a sketch on the program SCTV, in which an overly-excited injured man (Eugene Levy) extols the work of a "Dr. Shekter" (Rick Moranis) who's been treating him. Levy and a group of patients wearing casts and crutches engage in their own elaborate dancing and singing (Would not you like to have my doctor, too?), all to the alarm of Shekter (These people should not be dancing!).
In the 1982 sex farce Beach Girls, the slogan became "I'm a popper, he's a popper..."
After appearing in a commercial, David Naughton had his breakthrough film role as the main character in the John Landis film An American Werewolf in London.
Naughton also had a major Top 40 hit in 1979 with the disco flavored "Makin It". Another famous "I'm a Pepper" dancer was Ray Bolger, the actor who played the Scarecrow in the film "The Wizard of Oz.
Lyrics written by: Barry Manilow, Jake Holmes and Randy Newman, 1977
"I drink Dr Pepper and I'm proud.
I used to be alone in a crowd.
But now you look around these days,
There seems to be a Dr Pepper craze.
(Oh Pepper) I'm a Pepper, he's a Pepper, She's a Pepper, we're a Pepper, Wouldn't you like to be a Pepper too?
I'm a Pepper, he's a Pepper, She's a Pepper, we're a Pepper, Wouldn't you like to be a Pepper too?
If you drink Dr Pepper you're a Pepper too"
"Us Peppers are an interesting breed,
an original taste is what we need. Ask any Pepper, and he'll say Only Dr Pepper tastes that way.
I'm a Pepper, he's a Pepper, She's a Pepper, we're a Pepper, Wouldn't you like to be a Pepper too?
I'm a Pepper, he's a Pepper, She's a Pepper, we're a Pepper, Wouldn't you like to be a Pepper too?
Be a Pepper, Drink Dr Pepper. Be a Pepper, Drink Dr Pepper... (repeat and fade)
Lyrics by Barry Manilow (additional lyrics Jake Holmes) Music by Jake Holmes
"I'm a Pepper, He's a Pepper, We're a Pepper.", "Be a Pepper.", "Would not you like to Be a Pepper too?"
Fun Fact: Barry Manilow wrote jingles back in the 70's! McDonalds, Dr. Pepper and Band-Aid were a few!
Band-Aid
Band-Aid is the brand name for Johnson & Johnson's line of adhesive bandages and related products. It has also become something of a genericized trademark for any adhesive bandage among the consuming public in the United States, India, Canada, Brazil and Australia.
"Band-aid" has also entered usage as a term for any temporary fix. (e.g. "Band-aid solutions were used to fix the leak.")
The Jingle
I am stuck on Band-Aid brand 'cause Band-Aid's stuck on me!
I am stuck on Band-Aid brand 'cause germs don't stick on me!
'Cause they hold on tight no matter what on fingers, toes, and knees.
I am stuck on Band-Aid brand 'cause Band-Aid helps heal me!
NESTEA
Go on! Take the plunge with NESTEA! Crisp, cool refreshing iced teas in powder, chilled, refrigerated and liquid concentrates.
Nestea is a brand of iced tea manufactured by Nestle and distributed by Nestle company's beverage department in the United States and by Beverage Partners Worldwide (BPW), a joint venture between The Coca-Cola Company and Nestle, in the rest of the world. It competes with Unilever's Lipton Iced Tea. It provides a variety of "tea products", in regular and diet forms, including liquid and powdered tea concentrates, refrigeratable teas, and ready-to-drink bottles dispensed by vendor or vending machine. The beverage comes in several flavors, depending on the country.
Nestea Geography
Nestea is available in Aruba, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guam, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malta, Mariana Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Turks & Caicos Islands, Ukraine, U.S. Virgin Islands, United States and Venezuela. Nestea's biggest markets are the United States, Canada, Australia, Taiwan, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Germany and Vietnam.
Take the NESTEA plunge!
I really do not think I can come up with much more! Again, these were the ones that I remember growing up along with the shows in this thread.
Now somebody needs to do a Retro Movies and Music post here!
I will step aside and let someone else do that!
If I go on I am afraid I will fry my brain, overload and blow a fuse I may need later during my mid-life crisis!
Thanks to Sandy Blosser & Melissa Peters for a couple of the ones mentioned throughout this thread I posted!
K E V I N
Here is some more of those dang Retro Commercials stuck in our minds forever!
Morris the Cat
Morris the Cat (voiced by John Erwin of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe) is the advertising mascot for 9Lives brand cat food, appearing on its packaging and in many of its television commercials. A large red tabby tom, he is "the world's most finicky cat", and prefers only 9Lives brand, making this preference clear by means of humorously sardonic voice-over comments when offered other brands. Every can of 9Lives features Morris's "signature".
Morris has appeared in other media over the years. He starred in the movie Shamus with Burt Reynolds and Dyan Cannon in 1973. He also appears as a "spokescat" promoting responsible pet ownership, pet health and pet adoptions through animal shelters. To this end, he has "authored" three books: The Morris Approach, The Morris Method and The Morris Prescription.
Over the years several cats have portrayed Morris on television. The original Morris was discovered at the Hinsdale Humane Society, a Chicago-area animal shelter, in 1968 by professional animal handler Bob Martwick. All cats to play Morris have been rescues, either coming from an animal shelter or a cat rescue. The current Morris lives in Los Angeles with his handler, Rose Ordile.
In 2006, Morris was depicted as adopting a kitten from a Los Angeles animal shelter, L'il Mo, who represents the first in a campaign known as Morris' Million Cat Rescue.
Doublemint & the Twins
Doublemint is a flavor of chewing gum made by the Wrigley Company. It was launched in the United States in 1914, and has had variable market share since that time.
One of the most notable aspects of this brand is the advertising campaign, begun in 1956, which utilized twins as spokespersons for the gum, as a play on the word "double" in the name. The original "Doublemint Twins" were Jayne and Joan Boyd of Hammond, Indiana, who appeared in advertisements for Doublemint until Joan became pregnant in 1963.
The company however continued sporadically to promote the campaign; later "Doublemint Twins" included Patricia and Cybil Barnstable, Cynthia and Brittany Daniel, Tia and Tamera Mowry (future co-star of The Game). Heidi and Alissa Kramer, and Jean (née Barbara) and Elizabeth Sagal (daughters of TV director Boris Sagal and sisters of Married... with Children's Katey Sagal). The Sagal twins enjoyed a brief run as the stars of a sitcom, Double Trouble, in 1984.
Later twins projected more sex appeal in keeping with trends in American advertising; the Barnstable twins were later asked to pose for Playboy magazine due to their popularity as spokeswomen for the gum.
Alka-Seltzer
The original Alka-Seltzer was invented by pharmacist Mikey Wiseman in 1931 but was used in the 1920s as a remedy for back aches, diarrhea, leg cramps, and heartburn. Sodium bicarbonate in Alka-Seltzer also makes it effective in treating mild blood acidosis associated with allergy (see citation).
Alka-Seltzer is a combination of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), and citric acid, designed to treat pain and simultaneously neutralize excess stomach acid (the "Alka" being derived from the word "alkali"). It is provided in the form of large effervescent tablets, about 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter, which are dissolved (two at a time for the usual adult dosage) in a glass of water.
As the tablets dissolve, the base (bicarbonate) and the acid (citric acid) react vigorously producing carbon dioxide gas (hence the "Seltzer"), which also produces enough agitation to allow the active ingredients to dissolve slowly (it dissolves in water). The patient then ingests the resulting solution.
The product has been extensively advertised since the beginning of the mass media era in the U.S. It was formerly marketed as something of a cure-all; at one time its ads even suggested taking it for "the blahs.
" Subsequent regulation has taken into consideration that aspirin is a relatively powerful drug which is not tolerated by everyone and should not generally be taken at all by children or adolescents due to its linkage to Reye's syndrome; the product is no longer marketed in this fashion.
It comes in various flavors
At one time the product was available in both long glass tubes and foil packets; the latter is the primary way the product is provided today, with two tablets in each packet.
TV commercials•
An animated mid-1960s commercial shows a man and his own stomach sitting opposite each other in chairs, having an argument which is moderated by their therapist (voiceover). The stomach accuses the man of purposely trying to irritate it, the man accuses his stomach of complaining too much about the foods he likes. The therapist suggests Alka-Seltzer, and further suggests that the two need to take care of each other. The closing words are the stomach saying: "Well, I'll try - if he will".
• Alka-Seltzer had a series of commercials during the mid 1960s which utilized a song called "No Matter What Shape Your Stomach's In," a different version of which was recorded by the T-Bones and was released as a single which became a hit in 1966. The ads were unique in that they featured only the mid-sections (no faces) of people of all shapes and sizes.
• In an Alka-Seltzer commercial from 1970, an actor (played by Jack Somack ) in a commercial for the fictional product "Magdalini's Meatballs" has to eat a meatball and then say "Mamma mia, that's-a spicy meat ball-a!" in an ersatz Italian accent. Take after take is ruined by some comedic trial or another. By the commercial's end, "Jack" has eaten so many meatballs that it's "Alka Seltzer to the rescue". With his stomach settled, Jack does a perfect take, except the oven door falls off.
The director (off-camera) sighs and says, "OK, let's break for lunch." Although it has been said that this commercial was dropped because it was allegedly demeaning to Italians, more likely it was dropped because it failed to increase sales of the product (even today most people think it was a commercial for spaghetti sauce).
• Another 1970 commercial shows a newlywed couple in the bedroom after his wife (played by Alice Playten) has finished serving him a giant dumpling; the implication is that her cooking skills are severely lacking. She lies on the bed in delusional triumph. She offers her beleaguered husband a heart-shaped meatloaf; he disappears to take some Alka-Seltzer.
When she hears the fizzy noise coming from the bathroom, he quickly covers the glass of dissolving Alka-Seltzer as she wonders aloud if it is raining. Just when he has recovered his well-being, he hears her misreading recipes for dinner the next night: "marshmallowed meatballs," and "pouched (actually poached) oysters". He returns to the bathroom for more Alka-Seltzer.
• A 1971 commercial featured the catch-phrase, "Try it, you'll like it!" It was remade by Kathy Griffin in 2006.
• In 1972, an actor spent the commercial moaning, "I can't believe I ate the whole thing!" while his wife made sarcastic comments and finally advised him to take some Alka-Seltzer.
• Another Alka-Seltzer commercial from the same era is one concerning "The ultimate businessman's lunch". Seeking "revenge" on his underlings for former bad suggestions, "The Boss" [aka "Mr. J.G.", played by character actor Milton Frome ] is taking his "boys" out to lunch in the most out-of-the-way place imaginable.
In this instance they are seen trudging through the snow in a howling windstorm towards their destination, a Chinese restaurant in the mountains of Tibet. Once inside the restaurant and removing their parkas, J.G. and the boys are greeted by the proprietor, "Moo Chee" [a thinly veiled reference to other oriental food], played by character actor and voice artist Marvin Miller [best-known for playing Michael Anthony, personal assistant to John Beresford Tipton [III] on the 1950s TV series "The Millionaire", and the voice of "Robby the Robot" in the 1950s film Forbidden Planet ].
Moo Chee directs them into the dining room where J.G. orders all the food, including roast yak in a special hot sauce followed by "chocolate moose". One of the boys complains "but J.G., that's a French dessert!". J.G. responds "No, this is a real moose!" followed quickly by Moo Chee chiming in "with special hot chocolate sauce!" [as in hot peppers].
In the next scene J.G. and the boys are eating and getting sick, when in comes Moo Chee announcing "Important phone call for In the next scene, the hung-up telephone is seen [just a prop in the ruse to get away from the boys], and J.G. is finishing his Alka-Seltzer, thanking Moo Chee for his timely "rescue" from the awful food. Relieved, the boss returns to the now-empty dining room with Moo Chee. "Where are the boys?" asks J.G. The final remark is by Moo Chee "Maybe they too have important phone call, Mr. J.G." All of this detail is conveyed in a 30-second spot.
Plop-plop, fizz-fizz
Oh, what a relief it is.
Starkist Tuna & Charlie
In more than 85 TV commercials, Charlie® tried to prove that he was a tuna with “good taste” - a lover of Shakespeare and the finer things in life. Unfortunately for Charlie®, StarKist® has always wanted only one thing: tuna that tastes good. A very important difference! So the answer was always “Sorry Charlie®. StarKist® wants tuna that tastes good, not tuna with good taste.”
The Old TV Spots & 1 New! "Charlie Plays Tennis"
"Charlie's Girlfriend"
"Charlie Reads Poetry"
"MasterCard Priceless"
Ricardo Montalbán & Chrysler
Ricardo Gonzalo Pedro Montalbán y Merino (November 25, 1920 – January 14, 2009) was a Mexican-born American radio, television, theatre and film actor.
He had a career spanning seven decades (motion pictures from 1943 to 2006) and multiple notable roles. During the mid-to-late 1970s, he was the spokesperson in automobile advertisements for the Chrysler Cordoba (in which he famously extolled the "soft Corinthian leather" used for its interior).
The New Small Chrysler! 1977 Cordoba line First Spot
The Commercial (Ricardo Montalbán appears and stars in)
"I know my own needs."
"And what I need from an automobile I know I get from this new Cordoba!"
"I grasp for nothing beyond the quality of Cordoba’s workmanship!"
The tastefulness of its appearance!"
"I request nothing beyond the thickly cushioned luxury of seats available even in soft Corinthian Leather."
"Yet, it is on the highway where Cordoba best answers my Demands!"
"I have much more in this small Chrysler than great comfort at a most pleasant price."
"I have great confidence for which there can be no price."
"In Cordoba, I have what I need."
See The You Tube Video xxx.youtube.com/watch?v=vIL3fbGbU2o
(Replace the xxx with www)
"Soft Corinthian leather!"
R.I.P. Mr.Montalbán!
I Own One!! A rare Specialty! Low Mile, Near Mint 1979! Drive It Daily!!
Kenner's Spirograph
Spirograph is a geometric drawing toy that produces mathematical curves of the variety technically known as hypotrochoids and epitrochoids. The term has also been used to describe a variety of software applications that display similar curves, and applied to the class of curves that can be produced with the drawing equipment (so in this sense it may be regarded as a synonym of hypotrochoid). The name is a registered trademark of Hasbro, Inc.
The Spirograph was invented by British engineer Denys Fisher who exhibited it in 1965 at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair. It was subsequently produced by his company. Distribution rights were acquired by Kenner, Inc., which introduced it to the United States' market in 1966.
Spirograph consists of a set of plastic gears and other shapes such as rings, triangles, or straight bars. There are several sizes of gears and shapes, and all edges have teeth to engage any other piece. For instance, smaller gears fit inside the larger rings, but also can engage the outside of the rings in such a fashion that they rotate around the inside or along the outside edge of the rings.
To use it, a sheet of paper is placed on a heavy cardboard backing, and one of the plastic pieces is pinned to the paper and cardboard. Another plastic piece is placed so that its teeth engage with those of the pinned piece. For example, a ring may be pinned to the paper and a small gear placed inside the ring – the actual number of arrangements possible by combining different gears is very large.
The point of a pen is placed in one of the holes in the moving piece. As the moving part is moved the pen traces out a curve.
The pen is used both to draw and provide locomotive force; some practice is required before Spirograph can be operated without disengaging the fixed and moving pieces. More intricate and unusual-shaped patterns may be made through the use of both hands, one to draw and one to guide the pieces.
It is possible to move several pieces in relation to each other (say, the triangle around the ring, with a circle "climbing" from the ring onto the triangle), but this requires concentration or even additional assistance from other artists.
Oscar Mayer Weiners
well-known advertising jingle, written in 1963 by Richard D. Trentlage and set to music by Philip Bova:
Oh, I wish I were an Oscar Mayer wiener
That is what I truly want to be
'Cause if I were an Oscar Mayer wiener
Everyone would be in love with me.
A 1965 version of the Oscar Mayer Wiener song goes:
Oh, I'd love to be an Oscar Mayer wiener.
That is what I'd truly like to be.
'Cause if I were an Oscar Mayer wiener,
Everyone would be in love with me.
Oh, I'm glad I'm not an Oscar Mayer wiener.
That is what I'd never want to be.
Cause if I were an Oscar Mayer wiener.
There would soon be nothing left of me!
Oscar Mayer Bologna (My Boloney Has a First Name...)
Another product's jingle is almost equally well well-known:
My bologna has a first name, it's O-S-C-A-R
My bologna has a second name, it's M-A-Y-E-R
Oh, I love to eat it every day, and if you ask me why, I'll say,
"'Cause Oscar Mayer has a way with B-O-L-O-G-N-A."
“How’s That!?!”
This jingle was sung by Keith Bailly in 1976 in a famous commercial.
Tang
Tang is a sweet and tangy, orange-flavored, non-carbonated soft drink from the United States. The original orange flavored Tang was formulated by William A. Mitchell[1] for General Foods Corporation in 1957 and first marketed (in powdered form) in 1959.
It was initially intended as a breakfast drink, but sales were poor until NASA began using it on Gemini flights in 1965 (researched at Natick Soldier Systems Center), which was heavily advertised. Since that time, it has been associated with the U.S. manned spaceflight program, so much so that an urban legend emerged that Tang was invented for the space program.
Tang was famously used by the NASA Gemini space program. A NASA engineer working with the Gemini Space Program on a life-support module explained the story of how and why it was used. Paraphrased:
"... There was a particular component of the Gemini life support-system module which produced H2O (water) among other things. This was a byproduct of a recurring chemical reaction of one of the mechanical devices on the life-support module.
The astronauts would use this water to drink during their space flight. The problem was, the astronauts did not like the taste of the water because of some of the byproducts produced, which were not harmful of course. So, they added Tang to make the water taste better ..."
However, Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin has stated that Tang was not used on his lunar landing mission: "We... instead chose a grapefruit-orange mixture as our citrus drink. If Tang was on our flight, I was unaware of it."
The inventor of Tang, William A. Mitchell, also invented Pop Rocks.
Tootsie Roll Lollipops
Tootsie Pops are hard candy lollipops filled with chocolate-flavored chewy Tootsie Roll. They were invented in 1931 by Luke Weisgram, an employee of The Sweets Company of America. The company changed its name to Tootsie Roll Industries in 1966.
In addition to chocolate (the original flavor), Tootsie Pops come in cherry, orange, grape, raspberry, strawberry, watermelon, blue raspberry and pomegranate flavors. Another release of Tootsie Roll Pops, named Tropical Stormz, features six swirl-textured flavors: orange pineapple, lemon lime, strawberry banana, citrus punch, and berry berry punch.
In 2003, sixty million Tootsie Rolls and twenty million Tootsie Pops were produced every day.
In 1970, Tootsie Roll Industries aired an animated television commercial featuring a boy asking various animals how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. A shortened version of this commercial still airs on television today, making it one of the longest running commercials of all time.
In the original ad, a boy poses this question to a cow, a fox and a turtle. Each one tells the boy to ask someone else, explaining that they'd bite a Tootsie Pop every time they lick one. Eventually, he asks an owl, who starts licking it, but eventually bites into the lollipop, much to the chagrin of the boy.
While the original commercial is 60 seconds long, an edited 30-second version and 15 second version of this commercial are the ones that have aired innumerable times over the years.
The dialogue to the 60-second version is as follows:
Boy (voiced by Buddy Foster): Mr. Cow...
Mr. Cow (Frank Nelson): Yeeeeesss?
Boy: How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?
Mr. Cow: I don't know, I always end up biting. Ask Mr. Fox, for he's much clever than I.
Boy: Mr. Fox, how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?
Mr. Fox (Paul Frees): Why don't you ask Mr. Turtle, for he's been around a lot longer than I? Me, heheh, I bite.
Boy: Mr. Turtle, how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?
Mr. Turtle (Ralph James): I've never even made it without biting. Ask Mr. Owl, for he is the wisest of us all.
Boy: Mr. Owl, how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?
Mr. Owl (Paul Winchell): A good question. Let's find out. A One... A.two-HOO...A three..
(crunch sound effect)
Mr. Owl: A Three!
Boy: If there's anything I can't stand, it's a smart owl.
Narrator (Herschel Bernardi): How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?
(crunch sound effect)
Narrator: The world may never know.
The 30-second commercial dialogue:
Boy: Mr. Turtle, how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?
Mr. Turtle (Ralph James): I've never even made it without biting. Ask Mr. Owl.
Boy: Mr. Owl, how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?
Mr. Owl (Paul Winchell): Let's find out. A One... A.two-HOO...A three..
(crunch sound effect)
Mr. Owl: A Three!
Narrator (Herschel Bernardi): How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?
(crunch sound effect)
Narrator: The world may never know.
The over 15-second commercial only shows the boy and Mr. Owl, and a different narrator speaks the same above line, but without the scene showing the Tootsie Roll pops slowly disappearing, and with a different tune playing in the background. The question still stands unanswered.
After the commercial, Mr. Owl became the mascot for Tootsie Roll Pops, appearing in marketing campaigns and on the packaging.
In the 1990s, a new commercial was made featuring a boy asking a robot and a dragon how many licks it takes to get to the center.
Parkay Margarine ConAgra Foods, Inc
The Return of the Talking Tub
Since 1973, Americans have loved the Parkay Talking Tub. 2009, Look for its triumphant return!
Actor: Parkay!
Tub Of Butter:Butter!
Actor: Parkay!
Tub Of Butter: Butter!
MMM, Butter!
Tub Of Butter: Parkay!!
Dr. Pepper-I'm a Pepper
Dr Pepper is a soft drink that is sold in North America, South America, and Europe by Dr Pepper Snapple Group.
It was invented by Charles Alderton. There is also a no-sugar version, Diet Dr Pepper, as well as a line of flavored versions, first introduced in the 2000s. Its taste most resembles that of a cherry cola, though W.W. Clements, a former CEO and president of the Dr Pepper/7-Up Company, described the taste of Dr Pepper as one-of-a-kind, saying "I've always maintained you cannot tell anyone what Dr Pepper tastes like because it's so different. It's not an apple, it's not an orange, it's not a strawberry, it's not a root beer, it's not even a cola. It's a different kind of drink with a unique taste all its own."
This became grist for a number of pop culture references and parodies. One of the first was a sketch on the program SCTV, in which an overly-excited injured man (Eugene Levy) extols the work of a "Dr. Shekter" (Rick Moranis) who's been treating him. Levy and a group of patients wearing casts and crutches engage in their own elaborate dancing and singing (Would not you like to have my doctor, too?), all to the alarm of Shekter (These people should not be dancing!).
In the 1982 sex farce Beach Girls, the slogan became "I'm a popper, he's a popper..."
After appearing in a commercial, David Naughton had his breakthrough film role as the main character in the John Landis film An American Werewolf in London.
Naughton also had a major Top 40 hit in 1979 with the disco flavored "Makin It". Another famous "I'm a Pepper" dancer was Ray Bolger, the actor who played the Scarecrow in the film "The Wizard of Oz.
Lyrics written by: Barry Manilow, Jake Holmes and Randy Newman, 1977
"I drink Dr Pepper and I'm proud.
I used to be alone in a crowd.
But now you look around these days,
There seems to be a Dr Pepper craze.
(Oh Pepper) I'm a Pepper, he's a Pepper, She's a Pepper, we're a Pepper, Wouldn't you like to be a Pepper too?
I'm a Pepper, he's a Pepper, She's a Pepper, we're a Pepper, Wouldn't you like to be a Pepper too?
If you drink Dr Pepper you're a Pepper too"
"Us Peppers are an interesting breed,
an original taste is what we need. Ask any Pepper, and he'll say Only Dr Pepper tastes that way.
I'm a Pepper, he's a Pepper, She's a Pepper, we're a Pepper, Wouldn't you like to be a Pepper too?
I'm a Pepper, he's a Pepper, She's a Pepper, we're a Pepper, Wouldn't you like to be a Pepper too?
Be a Pepper, Drink Dr Pepper. Be a Pepper, Drink Dr Pepper... (repeat and fade)
Lyrics by Barry Manilow (additional lyrics Jake Holmes) Music by Jake Holmes
"I'm a Pepper, He's a Pepper, We're a Pepper.", "Be a Pepper.", "Would not you like to Be a Pepper too?"
Fun Fact: Barry Manilow wrote jingles back in the 70's! McDonalds, Dr. Pepper and Band-Aid were a few!
Band-Aid
Band-Aid is the brand name for Johnson & Johnson's line of adhesive bandages and related products. It has also become something of a genericized trademark for any adhesive bandage among the consuming public in the United States, India, Canada, Brazil and Australia.
"Band-aid" has also entered usage as a term for any temporary fix. (e.g. "Band-aid solutions were used to fix the leak.")
The Jingle
I am stuck on Band-Aid brand 'cause Band-Aid's stuck on me!
I am stuck on Band-Aid brand 'cause germs don't stick on me!
'Cause they hold on tight no matter what on fingers, toes, and knees.
I am stuck on Band-Aid brand 'cause Band-Aid helps heal me!
NESTEA
Go on! Take the plunge with NESTEA! Crisp, cool refreshing iced teas in powder, chilled, refrigerated and liquid concentrates.
Nestea is a brand of iced tea manufactured by Nestle and distributed by Nestle company's beverage department in the United States and by Beverage Partners Worldwide (BPW), a joint venture between The Coca-Cola Company and Nestle, in the rest of the world. It competes with Unilever's Lipton Iced Tea. It provides a variety of "tea products", in regular and diet forms, including liquid and powdered tea concentrates, refrigeratable teas, and ready-to-drink bottles dispensed by vendor or vending machine. The beverage comes in several flavors, depending on the country.
Nestea Geography
Nestea is available in Aruba, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guam, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malta, Mariana Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Turks & Caicos Islands, Ukraine, U.S. Virgin Islands, United States and Venezuela. Nestea's biggest markets are the United States, Canada, Australia, Taiwan, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Germany and Vietnam.
Take the NESTEA plunge!
I really do not think I can come up with much more! Again, these were the ones that I remember growing up along with the shows in this thread.
Now somebody needs to do a Retro Movies and Music post here!
I will step aside and let someone else do that!
If I go on I am afraid I will fry my brain, overload and blow a fuse I may need later during my mid-life crisis!
Thanks to Sandy Blosser & Melissa Peters for a couple of the ones mentioned throughout this thread I posted!
K E V I N
Last edited:
