Classic television commercials
Posted 10 March 2009 // Helen Rickerby
'Old man's beard must go!' Another classic TV ad
I’ve just finished editing the Te Ara entry about advertising (which is part of the Economy and the City theme). The section about television commercials really brought back memories! With the wonder of YouTube, I was able to watch some of them again.
Television ads from your past, much like pop songs I guess, can take you back to where you were when you watched them. Watching many of these, I’m about seven, sitting in front of the television on the orange-and-black carpet in my parents’ lounge.
One popular TV ad that I only vaguely recalled was the Kentucky Fried Chicken commercial featuring Holly and Hugo. Many people have told me that they remember it fondly, and then they usually sing a bit of the jingle: ‘Hugo said, “You go.” And I said, “No you go.”‘
I definitely remembered the old BASF tapes ‘Dear John’ ad, because it broke my heart every time. What I didn’t know was that it won international awards, and was the 1980s commercial of the decade.
Probably my favourite ad of the era was the Crunchy bar train robbery ad – the long version of course. The wild west, bandits, cowboys, Indians, Arabs (?!). What more could you need? Well Nazis of course, to blow up the track! And an English bobby, and a knitting grandma. Sublime!
What were your favourite commercials? Have they made it to YouTube yet?
Togs or undies?
Guy wearing speedos.
“If you can’t see the water, you’re in underpants.” 300 metres from the beach is an underpants transformation zone.”
It’s gotta be Ches and Dale. Read all about the making of - and watch - the famous Ches and Dale ad here - a mine of information. Apparently Dick Frizzell was one of the cartooning team who developed them (not surprising really, I guess).
It also looks into the perhaps apocryphal tale of an overseas trade delegation singing the jingle when asked to sing an NZ folk song - and the development of that tasteless, bland, soap-like substance that was Chesdale cheese. Although I do remember the foil-wrapped triangles in my school lunch with fondness - especially the cheese and pineapple.
This is one of my favourites… http://motionographer.com/media/oktober/Tiptop.mov
My favoutite parts are grandmas and brussel sprouts… it’s clever and the type is great… oh and did I mention I like icecream too?
I don’t currently have a fave, but I think the saddest one on at the moment is Dougal Stevenson trying to be wacky in the Primo ads. Would the youth market the product is aimed at even know who he was?
Ben, what’s not to like about such genius lines as ‘Even more extremo than extreme because of the extra o on the end’ and ‘28 times more betterer than a name like inferno!’ Possibly I’m no longer the target market, and admittedly I’ve never actually bought Primo Extremo, but it makes me smirk every time. You can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84DGlCepkPw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-Lx2ihpGbc. Doesn’t matter how often I see togs togs undies, I laugh raucously every time!
In terms of more recent ads, this Fresh Up ad is a fav: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBxQZjQk34U&NR=1. The longer it goes on for, the sillier it gets, and the more I laugh.
For a recent ad, I like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28pbk_cQx-w&feature=related.
I am no DIYer myself but these kids are pretty convincing …
Re: Basil
‘Togs or undies’ is probably my favourite ad too. it’s very creative and got everyone talking.
I think my other favourite ad, and I can’t remember what it was for/about, there was a 2 second clip of a toddler drumming on some pots shouting ‘RAH RAH RAH’. It always made me laugh.
I too like the Mitre 10 campaign “DIY. It’s in our DNA”. Check out the classroom ad with cleverly named children such as Patty O’Dor, Sam Paper, Polly Filla, Stanley Knife etc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2lohDTZ7eg
made by DraftFCB http://www.draftfcb.co.nz/index2.html
My favourite ad are the ones about Glad Wrap - informing the punters how to cover bowls in plastic. They are presented in such a manner that you think they are demonstrating something complex like brain surgery. And then there’s the cheery signoff of ‘better living everyone’. Inspriring stuff!
Cadbury Cream Eggs - scene is set in the class room where the school girl lifts her desk to sneak a bite of a cream egg. This was played over and over around Easter time (obviously!) for years and years. The girl in this attended my primary school.
Briar, you’d be referring to this ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olF-KP4J4ew. I could never tell what some of the words in the jingle were.
Fran, sadly there seems to be no trace of the informative “Better Living” series of infomercials on the interweb (at least not that I could find quickly), so unfortunately we can’t share the joy.
I’m also a fan of the “It’s moments like these you need Minties”.
The old Bernina ad, gggggggggerard - you know, the roofing ad but I really liked the Utter Peanut Butter Nutter ad. Can anyone help me with the words to the second verse of that one? I know all but the second verse. Thanks.
Hi Liz, I couldn’t find anything about the Bernina ad. And I couldn’t find a video of John Rowles exhorting us to ‘Go for GGGGGGGGerard’, but the ad is discussed on the Film Archive site. I can help you out with the words to the Utter Peanut Butter Nutter ad though, you’ll find them here: http://forums.overclockers.co.nz/showthread.php?p=359243. Looks like you aren’t the only one who enjoyed it!
The Fresh Up ad when the guys had just played squash. I’m sure the CD must have been American and taking the piss. I haven’t been able to find a copy anywhere online.
I like the KFC advert too. It was the first ad I remember seeing and I think the jingle is so catchy. George
I LOVED that you had Old Man’s beard must go!
Laughed and laughed… I remember it so well.
My fave ad is one they seem to have stopped playing… the Mitre 10 guy whose wife and dog leave him, so he renovates the whole house, then his dog turns up with a beautiful dog catcher woman…
I like it cos he seems so damn hapless!
Thanks for this blog… it’s very nostalgic.
M
to Micheal, who is the dof catcher in the mitre 10 ad? Is it Drasks from outrageous fortune?
sorry dog catcher not dof???
Micheal, Paddy,
The dog catcher is not ‘Draska’ (actress Aidee Walker), it is Emica Penklis.
Check out the Film Archive’s Sellebration and vote for your favourite 1970s NZ TV commercial - http://www.filmarchive.org.nz/sellebration/1970s.php