Surfing around YouTube. Or do you call it browsing? Or some other active verb implying aimless fun? I decided to see what magic it might work in the way of drumming up memories of TV commercials I watched as a kid. The following have stood the test of time. Not only did I recognize the product then (and build up brand loyalty), but I’ve remembered the commercial through childhood, adolescence and into adulthood (even of the post-ECT brand).
1. Kool-Aid Man - This one puts a “big, wide happy ear-to-ear Kool-Aid smile on my face.
2. I’m a Pepper - Truthfully, Dr. Pepper tastes too much like cherry cough syrup for my buds, but who wouldn’t enjoy an ice-cold bottle after watching this?
3. B-O-L-O-G-N-A – I found this humorous, not just for the song the little kid sings but for the announcer who pronounces the product, “Balona” at the end. Don’t they know it is “Baloney”?
4. Squeezing the Charmin - Mr. Whipple had OCD before OCD was cool.
5. Fruit-of-the-Loom, briefly speaking - I think this ad had an impact on my post-high school, pre-marriage purchasing loyalty. I remember the first time my wife bought me something other than “fruit-of-the-loom”. It seemed odd.
6. You Deserve a Break – Nothing like the sight of a clean burger machine to get me craving a Big Mac.
7. Have it Your Way – Who cares if they may have ripped the idea off McDonald’s (it could have been the other way, you know)?
8. Sorry, Charlie – By far my favorite character in all TV-land. Good old Charlie, the Tuna.
9. Muncha Bunch – Fritoes go with lunch.
10. The Janitor Lady and the Fight Song – Sometimes it isn’t the commercial, but the context. The opening bars of this commercial reminded me Bobby Knight’s Hoosiers of IU were about to play (back when they still had a chance to win every game).
What commercials still haunt the recesses of your mind nearly 40 years later?
more reflections on TV …
“In Praise of YouTube (and John Prine, of course)”
“Inspiring Pastors in TV and Movies”
I think you hit on the best ones …
Hmmm … I’ll have to work at it to think of one that belongs in the league with Charlie Tuna.
The Crest team! That’s it! The idea that brushing my teeth unleashed a team of superheroes to fight evil plaque monsters was just so much fun. My younger brother and I actually played that commercial with Star Wars action figures, no less!
The Pistol fires back: C-R-E-S-T! Good one. Check this one out – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh98wsnJhs0&feature=PlayList&p=6C7D28E294C6ADFC&playnext=1&index=31
Awesome post- thanks for providing those links :)
Here’s my favorite:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVtWXtSK
“Put down the ducky” promo for public TV
Seeing that Dr. Pepper commercial just reminded me of how old I really am. Thanks. ;)
Hope you and the family are doing well Pistol Pete.
Grace and peace be with you.
I loved the “party ring” commercial from the 70s. As I remember, there were some great disco dancers with fro’s; one of the men asked another, “Where’d you get that Party Ring?!” It was awesome. Can’t find it anywhere!
The Pistol fires back: I don’t remember that one.
Gina–I used to see that commercial on Channel 17 in Atlanta. One guy would say “Where’d you get that ring?” And the other would say “It’s a PARTY ring!”.