Your source for classic television commercials, old-time radio ads, and print ads, brought to you in vintage B&W and living color, by Josephine, the Plumber.
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Since it's now autumn, the leaves are changing and falling, the weather is cool and brisk, well, at least for most of us, this is what I call, "Tea-drinking" weather.
So, I am offering up this little tidbit.
This is what I liek to call a perfect match of product and voice. They show calming, soothing, hot tea being poured into a very simple, but inviting cup, while the gentleman speaking softly, gently tells us why we should all have a cup of tea.
I want to tell you all about someone I follow on Youtube and Facebook. His name is Ira Gallen, and this man does what I would love to do if I had all the money in the world.
My collection of vintage ads are fun, I really enjoy them, and I love sharing them, but this guy... he's just amazing. His ads, and other footage are from 16mm and 35mm film that he's been collecting for many, many years. He has restored all this footage himself, and has dedicated thousand of hours, and probably a good chunk of change to be able to allow us, the viewers, the priviledge of watching things that we would otherwise miss.
ZING Tennis... or, as I would have named it, "(insert string of swear words here) Tennis".
I just wanted to post something silly today, no real analysis, no detailed ya-dee-dah, just silliness. We're too serious sometimes, so just watch, smile, and enjoy.
Here is an early 1970's treasure. When I first saw this spot as a kid, I loved it, simply loved it. It was a jingle that got stuck in my head for days on end, and I didn't mind. It melds, it morphs, it twists and changes all in true 70s form.
It takes you from the 1930s, with it's Busby Berkley dancers to the 50s, with the singer who ever so slightly sounds like Elvis, to a meld of The Association, Peter, Paul and Mary, and a touch of the 5th Dimension, then HELLO 1970s! Or... it just looks like someone on an LSD trip decided to make a commercial.
Ah... a beautiful day. In 1957, there was nothing more important to a woman than a clean wash. Or at least this is what we're led to believe. In 1957, there's also nothing wrong with sending children to an outdoor birthday party dressed in all white. Mother had all the time in the world to do laundry! And every child loved looking like the ice-cream man or a nurse. I was going to say something about every child looking like the milkman, but I know where that would lead this...
Well, your wash day just got brighter with new Oxydol! It has Oxygen bleach!
SCREEEEECH!!!! Wait just a lily-white-cotton-pickin' minute! You mean to tell me that Oxygen cleaners aren't new? They weren't invented so that the marketing guru, Billy Mays (may he rest in peace) could scream it at us from our televisions?? You mean to tell me that in order to have a lovely white wash, I could have been using Oxydol all along and avoided that bearded, caffeine-huffing, product pusher (may he rest in peace)??
Oh, for the love of Speedy Alka-Seltzer. Don't that just beat all?
When watching current car ads, I want to scream, "Just show us the car!" I saw an ad this morning for the new Dodge Dart II, and I kid you not, the only time the car was actually shown was the last 1.5 seconds of the 30 second ad. Everything else was special effects. Here, just check it out.
The ads of the 1950s and 1960s were still mostly 60 second ads, nicely thought out, speaking to us like we had a brain. Now, companies pay dearly for their 30 second spot, so more information is crammed into half the time. Instead of spending 30 seconds showing the product and letting us decide, they manipulate us, flash images at us, and suck our intelligence.
To begin my blog, I offer this jewel. Beech-Nut baby foods, and Lifesaver Candy.
The advertising from this era still appeals to me today. It's basic, as in simply showing a woman shopping with her baby. No real "set up" or situation necessary, just a woman shopping with her baby.
Advertisers didn't assume that the viewer was completely void of any intelligence as they do now. In fact, I am of the opinion that the general consumer in the 1950s would be greatly offended if they were treated like we are treated now.
The second spot is silly, but not insulting. Very nicely displaying someone who really enjoys their Lifesavers candy! Nothing rude, nothing demeaning, just a man clearing out his desk, looking for his Lifesavers, and the show of contentment once it is found.
Notice how clearly the announcer speaks? Almost over-enunciating? Advertisers did not want to chance sounding ignorant to their potential consumers.
