Commercials You Remember From Your Childhood

This anti-smoking commercial had a huge impact on me and many kids my age; I looked just like this and must have identified with him. My mother smoked and I grew up a big antismoker because of this and other commercials of that era.

The Keep America Beautiful crying Indian commercial helped shape my environmental awareness, to bad it was basically a hoax!

It just wasn't Christmas until this guy came sledding over the slopes. My family would wait for this with baited breath for this to come on TV each year!

I love this risqué St. Louis tv commercial from 1980. KSHE-95.

Calgon “ancient Chinese secret”.

I’ll borrow my Mom’s earrings, her scarf, but my Motger’s tampons....(ECU)...

NO WAY!

Charmin - squeeze it, gurls.

Lauren Bacall pushing de-caf coffee.

Madge, you’re soaking in it...

Bacall's High Point commercials get lots of play on DL. And for good reason.

I desperately wanted one of these for Christmas. I didn't get it.

I remember the PSA with the Indian crying and I asked my mommy why the Injun was a cryin and she said, "Because he's EYE-tail-un"

r11

Race bait troll

I loved this commercial, as a tender, young gayling.

r9

I always wondered why when Madge said 'you're soaking in it,' the lady reacted like her hand was in sulfuric acid. I mean it's only dishwashing liquid.

I wondered why Mrs Olsen only had a can of coffee and some veggies (usually celery) in her shopping bag. And why did the bag boy put the can of coffee on the top?

I have a vague recollection of the AIM toothpaste Mommie yelling at everyone.

In Chicago we had some good commercials like Shelley Long in "Homemaker's by John M Smyth." Every straight male in the city wanted her.

We had one by Victory Auto Wreckers where the guy basically kicks the door off his car and get's three bills for it. The same commercial probably ran for two decades.

We had Timmy from "Long Chevrolet"

And the worst most unintentionally funny commercial 'Eagle Auto Insurance" (see link)

[quote]R11 Race bait troll

I assume you meant R12.

About the liquorice Lajaunie, the ad is short and effective

enjoli perfume

and of course this one

Shelley Hack and the sophisticated “Charlie” perfume commercials. Those TV ads had such glamor and style.

Proto drag queen Rula Lenska

Here’s a hidden gem. A Safeguard soap commercial with Tom Selleck, Patty Deutsch and Teri Garr.

"I could have had a V-8." "Where's the beef?" (Wendy's) "We wear short shorts. If you dare wear short shorts..." (Nair) "Calgon, take me away!" "Thank goodness for Chef Boyardee" Loretta Lynn's Crisco commercials

I'm a pepper

And they tell their friends, and so and so on

There was one, I believe in the early 90's maybe late 80's where this little kid does something and the sibling says "moms gonna kill ya". Gone in a flash.

R25 You forgot Penny Marshall!

Alan Seuss as a big drunk, gay Peter Pan breaking into Iola's house and frightening her kids.

I also remember the Messy Marvin commercials from the early 80s. Also, Emmanuel Lewis was adorable in the Burger King commercials.

R18:

The bad news is, John Wayne Gacy is still out there molesting and killing young men and boys.

The good news is, "Timmy From Long Chevrolet" is missing.

I was obsessed with this. I think it aired during the ‘92 Olympics. I remember thinking the special effects were so amazing, I recorded it on my VCR and rewatched it over and over.

This commercial, only because it featured a woman named Toppie Smellie.

R34 Love it! Not only does that commercial feature Toppie Smellie, but it also features Willie Cummings and William Mann. LOL!

Time to make the doughnuts.

This commercial used to weird me out as a kid, I guess it was supposed to have been hot to straight guys. The commercial from 1982 is even worse, it stars a malfunctioning wonky eyed fembot with a towel on her head.

Here's the 1982 fembot version, weirdly this campaign apparently lasted for a few years and was done with quite a few models.

Look for the union label.

ABC’s “Still The One” promos from 1979 (featuring the late Penny Marshall and America’s TV Sweetheart)!

Here's another 70's classic.

Madge ad.

Australian American Express .

Show us your Lark pack!

I believe in ME!

My love of classical music began here.

I'd buy it now if I could, R46.

Emma stone did a parody of that Lauren Bacall coffee commercial in that movie with Ryan Gosling ( not LaLaLand). i could not believe my eyes, it was like Datalounge going mainstream!

My favorite.

The R31 commercial seems to have been inspired by the 1971 Coke commercial with the kids singing in a meadow (I'd like to teach the world to sing).

WTF at the clip in R49!

I loved the Riunite jingle from the late 70s through mid 80s. Even when they used it in the 80s, it still had a strong disco influence (especially the intro). The melody is so catchy.

Edie Adams for Muriel Cigars

The 'ancient Chinese secret' ad always made me want to slap that woman, I think she was the wife of the laundry owner. She was giving away the secret to how they got the shirts so white, basically sabotaging their business. I kept thinking what a stupid bitch.

I remember the Hi-Karate ads, with a James Bond type theme (I think he had to fight off horny women), Alka Seltzer (I can't believe I ate the whole thing, that's a bigga meatball, and I think the guy opened his medicine cabinet only to find some annoying jerk talking to him from the other side), Shake and Bake (with the annoying kid at the end - and Ayyyyyy helped).

Not as a kid, but one I remember from when I lived in the Detroit area - Mel Farr, Superstar. Bad local ads where Mel was a Superman of sorts, flying among the stars, telling everyone about his fabulous used cars for sale. One had some guy dressed up like Superfly, flying along with Mel.

I remember loving the Riunite Christmas commercial but I looked it up on Youtube and it wasn't as great as I remembered.

Lite Brite!

In the Washington DC metro area, this tae kwon do commercial aired frequently in the late 70s through mid 80s. The jingle was written by Nils Lofgren

Washington DC metro area, late 70s, early 80s. Jingle by Nils Lofgren.

The first commercial I remember. Loved these.

Later I learned they were directed by Tony Scott

R40 love “I’m growing out my beard because I’m on hiatus” Henry Winkler.

Mom, do you douche?

R60, thanks for identifying him. I had no idea who he was. It looked like Michael MacDonald. I went back and rewatched, and I noticed he gives the thumbs-up gesture after a few seconds. I missed that hint the first time around.

Was that Mr. Roper at the beginning?

R62 YES. But interestingly he was off TC by then, so it must have been for his own failed show.

R61, it's kind of ironic that commercial is set on a beach. As the smell of dead, washed up fish lingers in the air, the daughter tries to give her mom a hint but instead receives a lecture.

A hint? She asks her if she douches?

The I-phone 4.

[quote]Not as a kid, but one I remember from when I lived in the Detroit area - Mel Farr, Superstar. Bad local ads where Mel was a Superman of sorts, flying among the stars, telling everyone about his fabulous used cars for sale. One had some guy dressed up like Superfly, flying along with Mel.

Don’t forget Alan Ford

Adam Ant & Grace Jones for Honda Scooters.

Cracker Barrel Cheese

Rheingold Beer

OP, I love that!

This commercial excited the hell out of my 12 year old self. Sheena Easton for Bally’s Fitness.

Chanel No. 5 with Estella Warren

C Miller Chevrolet

Red Barn

You go, or Sohio pays your two!

This came on during afterschool kids’ programming when I was in kindergarten.

DON’T BE A DRAGON LADY!!

If you really wanna perm get a Toni.

Nobody bodders me eader!!

I think this is a local DC metro area commercial. You should watch it.

Fabergé Organic Shampoo. I told two friends. They told two friends. And so on. And so on.

Iron Eyes Cody

Ultra Brite gives your mouth - WHOO - sex appeal!

Another Alka-Seltzwe ad from the 70's: the cartoon in which a guy is arguing with his stomach about the guy's mother's cooking.

The one where Aunt Bluebell and Rosie fight over paper towels and Mr Whipple, says you can't wipe your ass with those

It's amazing how many times you can squeeze the word "panty" into thirty seconds.

Diarrhea is like a storm raging inside of you....

r62/r63 - there are a slew of ABC “Still The One” promo commercials on YT each with different celebrities from the late 70s .

Then there was this cranky bitch.

Levis always had great ads -

Another good one -

Feast your eyes on this one!

Then there's THIS -

I liked DataLounge so much, I bought the company!

I remember when the wife said, "We need more Calgon"

And the customer was like, "Ancient Chinese secret huh? I'll post this lie on Facebook and ruin your business."

And the lady customer was never seen again, nor was the business ruining bitch of a wife.

The owner later became the guy who stood in front of the Tank in Tiananmen Square.

Why I never carry illegal drugs when traveling internationally.

"Nice luggage"

The very popular Alka Seltzer commercial with Alice Playten and Terry Kiser as newlyweds.

R97 "Plop Plop, Fizz Fizz, Oh What a Relief It Is!"

And, of course, the Alka Seltzer spicy meatball commercial.

Those coffee commercials from 2 great old Stars Vivian Vance and Margaret Hamilton.

Mrs. Olson wasn't as famous as Margaret Hamilton or Vivian Vance, of course, but the actress who played her, Virginia Christine, was in a bunch of movies and has a chilling scene in the original "Invaders of the Body Snatchers."

David Naughton should have had a bigger career.

Here's a few

David Naughton got a huge break when he starred in "An American Werewolf in London" but fell off the radar not too long afterward.

Two of the best Levis ads ever done

R102 “Wouldn’t you like to be a pepper, too?” I totally remember that.

Doublemint 1979

Doublemint 1985

Doublemint 1983

I knew a guy who did a Dr. Pepper commercial. he said it paid four all four years of college.

Um, this one didn’t play where I grew up...

Part 2

R111 wtf?! Who is the POC at the ending? Wtf? Love it! Is that the colored love child/half brother?

Yeah it plays like a SNL parody!

Like the utter moron klutz guy. A lot of good jabs here

I can’t believe no one has put this up yet... thought the glamour length nails belonged to Freddy Krueger

[quote] ABC’s “Still The One” promos from 1979 (featuring the late Penny Marshall and America’s TV Sweetheart)!

Before "Still the One" and the hot air balloons, there was "We're the One" in 1978, with the ABC stars getting funky! I'll bet the actors hated having to do these network promos.

R114 here - never mind. Based on the comments it was a fake commercial 🤤

I've gone over this whole thread and didn't see this. You guys are slipping....

I can't understand why Katie Winters isn't a DL Icon.....

^Katy

I adored Katy Winters as a child. She reminded me of the actress who played Miss Landers on "Leave It to Beaver."

😂 found my childhood doppelganger at 2:22. In 2 years the hair went to "mousey brown", started napping up and the eyes shifted to green. Parents bewildered as they lost their aryan child😂 and source of narcissistic supply. Those were the days.

I remember the Jake from State Farm commercials. Everyone in my school was copying it. The transphobia in that wouldn’t fly today.

the waiter Jean Luc!!

[quote]Mrs. Olson wasn't as famous as Margaret Hamilton or Vivian Vance, of course, but the actress who played her, Virginia Christine, was in a bunch of movies and has a chilling scene in the original "Invaders of the Body Snatchers."

Does anybody remember the rumor that Mrs. Olson was blind? No Internet then, of course, so the ridiculous story stayed out there for a while. I remember people saying you could tell if you closely watched her commercials.

[quote]Does anybody remember the rumor that Mrs. Olson was blind?

It's a miracle she didn't burn herself or another actor while pouring hot coffee.

Here's a photo of Walking Dead Mrs. Olsen.

Mrs Olsen was lez.

Miss Houghton told Kate that Mrs. Olsen was a bitch in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.

However, r130, Miss Christine was married (to a man) for 53 years....

I look like a squirrel!

And again I look like a squirrel! (For the ladies of DL).

Poor Geoffrey!

Not a commercial but I figured this was still appropriate - before TBS all Bond movies were on ABC (I was like 5 or 6) and nothing beat this star tunnel intro with legend Ernie Anderson. Enjoy!

Interesting how Sabrina appears to be their favorite.

Thanks r137 - that brought back memories!

The McDonalds jingle.

Mcdonald's First National TV Ad 1967

The Spotmaker

McDs Arch Deluxe, 1996

Those K-Tel commercials were a riot. Why would you want to slice your mouth open with a "drinking glass" sanded down from a bottle??

Benson & Hedges 100

Farrah cream pies Joe Namath

"Joe From Canada"

I AM CANADIAN! And it IS pronounced ZED not ZEE.

Sometimes you feel like you nut

Playtex Living Bra

Hoover Constellation from 1962

Cigar Cigarette Tiparillo

For beautiful people - Tab (Tab)!

Billy Mays original OxiClean commercial

Milford Plaza - once a week during SNL

Here's another one from NYC!

The Neville (nev-ill-ee) radio jingle an earworm now.

There's hotels and there's.....

The Growing Up Skipper doll - I alway loved how she grew ... taller?

The Australian Grim Reaper AIDS commercial. Truly bizarre.

R160 just GAVE me life!♡

Would a gentleman offer a Tiparillo to a lady?

I lived for this PSA - this isn’t the the whole thing but the best I could find.

The best part though which isn’t on here is: “crack...makes you insane. Crack is wack and it kills your brain.”

Oh well. Looking at this now I guess this aired only on NBC, and only on the NY metro affiliate stations? It’s a good one though.

You've got perspiration odor!

These were a huge craze when I was in grade school but they seemed to vanish just as quickly but true to the commercials they were really powerful.

My mom bought me a bunch of these when I was really little but then I got older and more destructive(I had anger issues as a kid)and sadly destroyed them all. Turns out they were weighted with lead so they came out before product safety regulations apparently.

Fisher-Price really invested in the Weebles.

I do still have this, he's a bit banged up but still in surprisingly good condition.

I still have this jingle stuck in my head from the 72 Olympics

Emmanuel Lewis at Burger King

Naomi Watts Tom Cruise commercial

R171 "You can go out with him any night."

Seriously, WTF?

Hand warming at McDonald's. They don't make 'em like they used to.

One of the oldest that I recall was this one below with character actress Ruth McDevitt. Must've aired in the mid-60s, so I was about 3,4,5 but I recall finding it very funny whenever it aired.

"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..."

Another I recall was this one with voice over provided by George Sanders for a hair dye called FOR BRUNETTES ONLY, circa 1969

S-T-R-A-T-E-G-O

What kid didn't want to play OPERATION ?

"Take out wretched ankle................"

Alka Seltzer

"Hey, good lookin', we'll be back to pick you up later!"

Can't believe no ones posted this yet! I, like many, insisted on being called Michael from then on.

For anyone who grew up in the New York metropolitan area in the 70s and 80s:

“I am stuck on Band-Aid ‘cause Band-Aid’s stuck on me…”. (This was one of many very famous jingles written by Barry Manilow)

This commercial just really makes ya wanna flash yer panties!

That reminds me, R183... back in the late 70's, on his "Live" album, Manilow had a song called V.S.M. (Very Strange Medley) that was a bunch of his jingle hits. In addition to Band Aid, he did jingles for McDonalds, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, State Farm, etc.

Thanks, r185. I’ll be sure to miss that!

Louie the Fly.

Off topic but did anyone else kind of feel bad for the cartoon bugs in those Raid commercials as a kid?

[quote]Shelley Hack and the sophisticated “Charlie” perfume commercials. Those TV ads had such glamor and style.

They were so popular that Carol Burnett did a spoof of them on her show.

One of the few cases where a full song was created based on a commercial jingle.

The original, from 1971.

The Christmas version from the 70s

The 1990s reunion commercial. They can probably reshoot this again with the grandkids of the original cast.

Corey Feldman and Carly’s “Anticipation’

Studio Line from L'Oreal

Slinky Commercial from the 1960s

Zayre Department Store '81

R189, was Carol Burnett still on TV at that time?

Prell Hair Shampoo 1960s

Juicy Fruit

This commercial use to scare the hell out of me

Reese's Pieces

"He's here! My Mystery Date!"

Son of a bitch, I went through the whole thread to see if someone posted Mystery Date and it was fucking posted just a few minutes ago.

This ad is for Sugar Free Dr. Pepper from 1974, with a woman as the lead. Can someone confirm for me that there was also a male version from the same time? I've been singing this jingle for over 40 years: "I asked the waitress for a diet soft drink, she brought me a glass as you see. I took one sip, it tasted so good, I thought, oh no, this just can't be. This just can't be a diet soft drink, it tastes too good to be true..." It had a broadway style dance routine in it which piqued my young interest.

Ummm, Wanda the Witch with a solution.

Oh my!

Nivea! Nivea! Niv-e-a!

From your fingers to your toes,

You've got just one set of permanent clothes,

And with a little daily care (daily care!)

It will last for years of wear (years of wear!)

Picture it, Bethlehem, PA, 1972, a 6 year old me used to prance around the kitchen, holding a bottle of Fantastik, while singing this jingle....do you think that's when my mom knew?

Very young child and remember only a partial line/segment of a commercial in the 60s (b&w) that had these be line therein:

"tease, tease, tease, no, feather, feather, feather"

I didn't know what the terms meant then, but this woman was tangling her hair, one way, then another. It looked perplexing for a child to see.

I don't recall what product was being sold. It had to have been a hair product for women such as hairspray.

Any older DLers remember the product in the commercial?

This guy still haunts my mind on occasion.

Before they were renamed themselves as Druther's the restaurants were called Burger Queen...and their commercials featured this nightmare inducing creature. I could only find a photo but trust me the actual commercial was truly disturbing.

A Star Wars toys commercial with Christian Slater and Ralphie from "A Christmas Story." (Peter Billingsley)

R185, that's terrific - Manilow really did a lot of work before he became famous... I doubt a biography or autobiography about him would really delve into his personal life, but musically, it would be a fascinating read. I've heard interviews with him and he knows music. He can explain how he writes music.

It doesn’t pay to be a cunt!

(plus bonus 🍪 & 🐺 👦)

90s Mentos Commercial

I HAVE A THERAGRAM...FOR YOU!

R217 That's Michael Jeter delivering the Theragram.

Funny me, I never think about commercials at all, let alone 45 yr old ones.

Smell you, r219.

The teen me could watch this commercial on a loop.

James Garner and Mariette Hartley did a series of Polaroid commercials in the early 80s. Many people at the time thought they were married.

Don’t hate me if this has already been posted.

Cybill shows off her beef curtains.

My sisters and I loved Rice Krispies, so every time we ran out, we started singing......

This commercial ruined my appreciation of opera for many, many years.

I can see myself!

Ditto, R1. I remember being mesmerized by it every time it came on. To this day I remember that jazzy tune.

R30, That Alan Suess Peter Pan commercial is hysterical. I forgot he played Pan in commercials. There were a couple of them as I recall.

Whatchamacallit.

I wanted to drink coffee because of these cups . . .

Better link for a better cup of coffee.

"We've got taste!"

Pass it along, I'm gonna pass it along!

Always my favorite because of the father's furious facial expression at :06.

Larry Mathews, Tony Dow, Edie McClurg... and Adorably Sexless Asian-American Teenage Cheerleader in Ponytails!

I always liked the 1980s-era TWA jingle. It's played during the last few seconds of this commercial. "You're gonna like us....TWA (you're gonna like us)"

Remember the whiny Jordache Basics commercials? They seemed to be influenced by the "Breakfast Club".

Remember Herb the Burger King guy? If you spotted him in a Burger King restaurant, you'd win cash.

This is a late 80s ad for what was at the time a very big bank in Boston. Strapless dresses--pastel casual clothes--mirrored sunglasses--big hair--and lots of sax in the soundtrack! Could it be more 80s?

Confident, confident, dry and secure, raise your hand, raise your hand if you're sure.

Why don't commercials have memorable jingles anymore? The most prominent jingle today consists of a Charmin bear singing "my hiney's clean, my hiney's clean!"

[quote]Look for the union label.

I remember it; I wish we still had commercials like that.

This iconic Coke commercial:

I feel like Chicken Tonight! (Also known as Kevin Spacey's theme song)

R243, see posts R190 - R192 for the commercial, the Christmas version a few years later, and the early 90s reunion starring several of the original singers and their kids. In the reunion, the returnees are timed to appear on screen at the same time they appeared in the original commercial. The most obvious ones are the singers who appear at the first few seconds, plus the woman who appears last. (She lost those chubby cheeks.)

England, '67

Funny Faces hey hey hey

Gurl, puhlayze!

Bea the cougar...

Justin’s mom did a few of these over the years.

R241 same reason TV shows don’t have good themes anymore - whatever reason that would be.

Cinzano

A classic series of ads for Eldergay Brits

Infamous 'chocolate blowjob' Cadbury's Flake advert (UK)

R197 Thanks for that Zayre commercial. I haven't seen that since it first ran.

Does anyone remember Bucky Beaver selling Ipana toothpaste?

Airlines used to go out of their way to court customers. “Delta....is ready....when you are!” Do any of them even advertise anymore?

[quote][R241] same reason TV shows don’t have good themes anymore - whatever reason that would be.

People don't write good tunes/melodies period.

When was the last time you heard a hummable new song?

Tiki Port

So fast your fat ass never touches the peacock chair

R256 those melodies usually went with family shows. Family shows are mostly dead now.

The Britney Spears Pepsi commercial. This was such a big deal.

Britney Spears, Beyoncé and Pink Pepsi commercial

Britney Spears Pepsi “Generations” commercial

R231, I have some of these cups. Nescafe' used to sell them. Can probably find them on ebay.

Rocky Point

I haven’t heard this song for years, but it’s so ingrained in my head that it feels like it could have been yesterday. What a weird feeling.

The infamous Cindy Crawford Pepsi commercial

r259, it was such a big deal i never saw it before now.

R265 it was a big deal before it aired and aired as a Super Bowl commercial. Pepsi paid almost $50 million to use Spears in hopes the ad would bring in more sales for them how it did when they had Michael Jackson.

thanks, r266. nobody cares.

r266, everybody remembers Michael Jackson's commercial. Very few (outside of you) remember that shitty Britney commercial.

I loved this commercial but it also scared the crap out of me.

In 1972 - Katie went to America!!

She taught them a thing or two about hamburgers!

Your skin! It's like porcelain!

I still ove this. The 80s really were the era of the great jingle.

Fab - UK advert, 1970.

Carnaby Street and cigarettes.

Uk based mortgage brokers Cheltenham and Gloucester

Complete collection of Burger Chef commercials.

They were good burgers back in the day.

The chain was eventually taken over by Hardee's Corp.

A hunka cheese

R272 Back then they actually wrote theme songs and jingles. Today most things are licensed.

If you don't look good, we don't look good!

Mancunian humour at it's finest

Diet Coke break!

Take the Nestea, Nestea plunge!

The garden of earthly delights -

Why do they call them breakfast treats?!

Sandra Dee recommends Lustre Cream Shampoo!

Lemons mean love!

Ultra Brite commercial with Farrah!

r285

"I ate all the Frusen Gladje. And I'd do it again."

That's hilarious R288.

Remember "ouchless"?

"Eat More" -- a good chew, and peanuts too

I spent half of Grade Two drawing those winged lips and rainbows

Funny Face, a Kool-Aid knockoff, made with the (later-banned) calcium cyclamate, and marketed as better for kids because it didn't have sugar.

Two of the flavors, Injun Orange and Chinese Cherry were later thought to be racist and were rebranded as Jolly Olly Orange and Choo Choo Cherry

Monica Quartermaine for Pearl Drops.

Revlon's Jontue! Sensual, but not too far from innocence!

R297 My mom always loved that commercial. She thought the horses were beautiful.

"Mama's got the magic of Clorox 2."

Call her Suzy Chapstick!

A favourite from my youth : Does anyone remember the commercial in which the actor's bare torso muscles "dance" to the beat of the background music ? I'm pretty certain is was for Absorbine Junior. I was sure I'd find it on Youtube but so far my search has failed.

Imperial Leather

I remember the one where Rose Marie was trying to clean something with Tide XK and the XK fell off and she said, "What the? This is just Tide with an XK pasted on it." Then she puts the laundry in the machine and says "I wish I got residuals."

All my men wear English leather

Thank you for your support.

Be a Solo Man.

Jhirmack bounce back beautiful hair!

Sara Lee. Layer upon layer upon layer.