50-60s TV Commercials

PERSONAL PRODUCTS

VINTAGE 1956 MAYBELINE MAKEUP COMMERCIAL - FEMALE WAR PAINT

When a woman needs to catch a mate, she has to go into battle. What does she wear when she is about to go into a "deadly" battle? She wears Maybeline WAR PAINT. The intended "prey" will not see her coming - UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE.

Brylcreem, 50s
"A little dab’ll do ya" A now famous brand of hair styling products, this jingle was developed for the first time Brylcreem was advertised on TV. While later advertisements used slight variations of the tune, this original jingle still remains the most well known.

Pepsodent Toothpaste, 1953
"You’ll wonder where the yellow went when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent" This jingle was written to help advertise the brand’s claims that its toothpaste could help fight off tooth decay. Even though Pepsodent eventually held a competition for a new jingle, this early version still remains the most well-remembered.

Procter & Gamble Camay Soap, 50's
You'll be a little lovelier each Day! Commercial for pink Camay Soap, 1950s. Made by Procter & Gamble, Camay Soap was first introduced in 1926. Its advertising portrayed it as the soap for beautiful women.

Johnson & Johnson Bandaids with super stick

CLEANING PRODUCTS

Mr. Clean, 1958
After debuting in 1958, Mr. Clean from Procter & Gamble became the top household cleaner in the United States in just six months. Mr. Clean was first depicted as a cartoon character who looked on as a housewife cleaned her house. He was modeled after an actual U.S. Navy sailor.

AUTOMOBILE

Packard Automobiles, 1953
Packard films are hard to find. This spot promotes three important Packard convenience features: power steering, Ultramatic Drive, and power brakes. The Ultramatic shot is interesting, because you get a quick look at a hill at the Packard Proving Grounds in Shelby Township, Michigan.

Vintage 1950's Big New Studebaker Car Commercial

SPECIALITY ITEMS

1940's Singer Sewing Machine Sewing Center Promotional Commercial.

Marlboro Country, 1957
The Marlboro Man, accompanied by theme music from the classic Western “The Magnificent Seven,” first galloped across the open range and into homes around the 1957
in 1957. Originally a filtered cigarette aimed at women, the renowned Leo Burnett Agency created the rugged Marlboro Man to target a more masculine demographic and combat lackluster sales. Revered as an American expression of freedom and individuality, the Marlboro Man did just that, catapulting Philip Morris to the top of the tobacco industry. Four actors who portrayed the mysterious cowboy died of tobacco related-illness, including anti-smoking activist Wayne McLaren.

Lucky Strikes Cigarettes 1948

*Motorola Television
By 1951, Motorola was advertising its televisions on television. The TV sets the company pitched, however, played second fiddle to the many options and styles of cabinets, stands, and other massive furniture pieces that the actual televisions were packaged inside. As America was entering the age of mass consumer credit, another main selling point was the 65-week financing plan Motorola offered.

Winston Cigarettes, 1954
"Winston tastes good like a cigarette should" With this jingle, Winston Cigarettes created an enduring slogan that appeared in everything from television advertisements to magazines and radio. To this day, it remains one of the most widely recognized tobacco advertising campaigns.

Wrigley’s Doublemint Gum, 1959
"Double your pleasure, double your fun" This classic jingle was created by Chicago based advertising agency, Energy BBDO. The original commercial features the now legendary Doublemint Twins singing this catchy tune.

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Hopefully you enjoyed this nostalgic little trip down memory lane (we apologize for any tunes that may be stuck in your head for the next couple days). The 50s provided an essential foundation for television jingles, and in our next post, we will explore some of the most influential jingles from the 60s!

Roto-Rooter, 1956
"Away go troubles down the drain" This timeless jingle was originally created for Roto-Rooter plumbing company in 1954, and it has become one of the longest running musical jingles in history! The resonant bass voice that you may remember from the original belongs to Tom Fouts, otherwise remembered for Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

How to Spot a Communist

VINTAGE HOWDY DOODY PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (PSA) "IT IS YOUR DOODY TO VOTE"

Video Ranger Message 50's Public Service Announcement (1950)

50's Public Service Announcement telling it's young viewers to avoid racism. This is taken from the TV series "Captain Video", which aired on The DuMont Television Network.

FOOD & DRINK

BETTY CROCKER CAKE MIX, 1950
By the early 1950s, there were hundreds of companies putting out cake mixes, most notably, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, and Duncan Hines. Betty Crocker and Duncan Hines went the add-egg route, but Pillsbury stuck to just water until later down the line. The big companies were convinced that allowing bakers to add their own eggs was more appealing because it got them more involved in the process and created a better tasting cake.

*Puffed Corn Flakes Cereat, 50's

Chock full o’Nuts – “That Heavenly Coffee”
If you are of a certain age you will certainly remember the cream cheese sandwich. But equally memorable was that advertising jingle, based on the song “That Heavenly Feeling” sung by cabaret singer Page Morton Black (who was also the wife of Chock full o’Nuts founder William Black). It was heard on the radio and featured on television in the 1950s and 1960s. And one classic version of the commercial featured Page Morton Back as Snow White talking to Pinocchio.

Folgers – Mrs. Olson
For 21 years, Virginia Christine as folksy Mrs. Olson had comforting words and advice for young couples while pouring Folgers Coffee in over 100 commercials. In 1971, Christine’s hometown of Stanton, Iowa, honored her by transforming the city water tower to resemble a giant coffeepot.

Interesting fact: Virginia Christine was married to character actor Fritz Feld for 53 years.

Frosted Flakes, 1951 – Tony the Tiger
Created in 1951, Tony the Tiger was originally one of four animated critters to sell Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes. But he quickly edged out Katy the Kangaroo, Newt the Gnu and Elmo the Elephant and progressed from cereal boxes to commercials featuring the animated orange tiger describing Frosted Flakes as “they’re great!”

Tony was also the mascot for other Kellogg’s cereals, including Tony’s Cinnamon Krunchers and Tiger Power.

Good & Plenty, 1950s – Choo-Choo Charlie
Debuting in the early 1950s, licorice candy Good & Plenty was hawked by young animated character named Choo-Choo Charlie, who could run a locomotive by simply by shaking a box of Good & Plenty in a circular motion. This catchy jingle, which was staple on Saturday mornings during the cartoon commercial breaks, morphed into board games and comic books.

Kellogg’s Rice Krispies, 1950s
"Snap, Crackle, Pop" Doubtless, you have seen one of the commercials with the three iconic cereal gnomes (Snap, Crackle, and Pop). For the better part of a century, the trio have been singing this jingle, and to this day, those three words are synonymous with Rice Krispies cereal.

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Your High School

Class of 1977

Your High School

Class of 1977

50-60s TV Commercials

Video Ranger Message 50's Public Service Announcement (1950)