Bionic Disco

70s Commercials: Wisk ‘Ring Around The Collar,’ Walmart, Ragu, Paper-Mate (1979)

Posted on May 20, 2026 by David Moore

“Those dirty rings!”

Hi there. I was out of town last week on a road trip from California to Texas. It certainly was an exciting adventure speeding down the 10 highway for days on end. Now that I’ve returned to my humble abode, I’ve posted up some fresh 1979-era goodies for you.

First up, a Wisk detergent ad in the long-running “Ring around the collar” campaign. Warning: if ventriloquist dummies creep you out, you may want to skip this one. Following that, we have commercials for Walmart, Ragu Italian Cooking Sauce, and Paper-Mate Eraser-Mate pens.

I had forgotten about erasable pens. They actually seemed like cutting-edge technology at the time. Ain’t that quaint?

WISK ‘RING AROUND THE COLLAR!’ COMMERCIAL (1979)

_{Wisk Detergent ‘Ring around the collar’ commercial featuring a completely normal couple and their puppet. Spot aired circa 1979.}

VINTAGE WALMART ‘INFLATION BUSTER’ COMMERCIAL (1979)

_{Wal-Mart ‘Super Inflation Buster’ sale commercial. Spot aired February 1979.}

RAGU ITALIAN COOKING SAUCE COMMERCIAL (1979)

_{Ragu Italian Cooking Sauce commercial featuring Traditional, Delicate Wine, Savory Peppers, and Mild Herbs varieties. Spot aired December 1979.}

PAPER-MATE ‘ONLY PEN THAT ERASES’ COMMERCIAL (1979)

_{Paper-Mate Eraser-Mate pen commercial featuring a father, a daughter, and ‘the only pen that erases.’ Spot aired April 1979.}

Previously on 70s Commercials: Pia Zadora For Dubonnet, ABC Soaps, Soft & Dri, Kinney Shoes (1977-78)

More Wisk: 70s Commercials: Cheetos, Triscuit, Grape-Nuts, Wisk (1979)

More Walmart: 70s Commercials: Dodge Diplomat, Tender Vittles, Walmart, BOnz (1979)

More Ragu: Daily 70s Spot: Ragu Spaghetti Sauce (1974)

More Paper-Mate: 70s Spots (Holidays): Paper Mate Gift Gallery (Xmas, 1971)

70s Commercials: Pia Zadora For Dubonnet, ABC Soaps, Soft & Dri, Kinney Shoes (1977-78)

Posted on May 9, 2026 by David Moore

“The French idea of a cocktail.”

Today, we linger in 1977 and ’78 for a new collection of vintage advertisements. Our star is Pia Zadora for French aperitif Dubonnet.

Following that sultry 30 seconds, you’ll spy spots for ABC’s “Love in the Afternoon” soap opera line-up, Soft & Dri antiperspirant (with Charlene Tilton and P.J. Soles) and Kinney Shoes (with Ken Berry).

DUBONNET COCKTAIL COMMERCIAL (PIA ZADORA, 1978)

_{Dubonnet aperitif commercial featuring singer-actor Pia Zadora. Spot aired July 1978.}

ABC SOAPS: ‘LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON’ PROMO (1978)

_{ABC television promo featuring new, one-hour episode formats for ‘One Life To Live’ and ‘General Hospital.’ Narration by Ernie Anderson. Spot aired January 1978.}

SOFT & DRI ‘NERVOUS’ COMMERCIAL (CHARLENE TILTON, 1977)

_{Soft & Dri roll-on antiperspirant commercial featuring actors Charlene Tilton (‘Dallas’) and P.J. Soles (‘Halloween’). Spot aired circa 1977.}

KINNEY SHOES ‘NBA SONG’ COMMERCIAL (KEN BERRY, 1977)

_{Kinney Shoes commercial featuring actor Ken Berry (‘F Troop’) and NBA-themed footwear. Spot aired May 1977.}

Previously on 70s Commercials: Blue Bonnet, KFC, Toyota Celica, Polaroid Pronto (1976)

More Dubonnet: 70s Spots: Farrah Fawcett & Tom Selleck For Dubonnet & More (1972)

More ABC TV: Saturday 70s Spots: ABC TV Promos & Mario Andretti (1978)

More Soft & Dri: Sunday 70s Spots: Wizard Air Freshener & Soft & Dri Deodorant (1979)

More Kinney Shoes: 70s Spots: Fotomat (Animated) & Kinney Shoes (Ken Berry, 1976)

70s Commercials: Blue Bonnet, KFC, Toyota Celica, Polaroid Pronto (1976)

Posted on May 3, 2026 by David Moore

“An improvement over butter and margarine.”

Just below, you’ll find a batch of commercials celebrating 50 years since originally airing. Do commercials celebrate anniversaries? Let’s not overthink it!

Enjoy spots for Blue Bonnet Spread, Kentucky Fried Chicken’s Country Crust, Toyota Celica (“You asked for it – you got it!”), and the Polaroid Pronto camera (with spokesperson Alan Alda).

BLUE BONNET SPREAD COMMERCIAL (1976)

_{Blue Bonnet Spread commercial featuring food shaped like the United States. Spot aired October 1976.}

KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN ‘NEW COUNTRY CRUST’ COMMERCIAL (1976)

_{Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) commercial featuring a County Fair Recipe with Country Crust and Colonel Sanders at a Fried Chicken Contest. Spot aired October 1976.}

TOYOTA CELICA ‘YOU ASKED FOR IT!” COMMERCIAL (1976)

_{Toyota Celica commercial touting ‘Import Car Of The Year’ status. Spot aired May 1976.}

POLAROID PRONTO CAMERA COMMERCIAL (ALAN ALDA, 1976)

_{Polaroid Pronto Instamatic SX-70 Land Camera commercial starring actor Alan Alda (‘M*A*S*H’). Actor Vernee Watson can also be briefly spotted. Spot aired April 1976.}

Previously on 70s Commercials: Pizza Hut, Life Savers, Western Airlines, VW Beetle (1974-75)

More Kentucky Fried Chicken: 70s Spots: Kentucky Fried Chicken ‘Colonel Talks’ (1971)

More Toyota: Daily 70s Ad: Toyota Celica ST (1971)

More Polaroid: 70s Spots: Polaroid, Kodak, Ford, Bounty (1978)

More Alan Alda: Daily 70s Spot #422: ‘M*A*S*H’/’One Day At A Time’ Promo (1977)

70s Commercials: Pizza Hut, Life Savers, Western Airlines, VW Beetle (1974-75)

Posted on April 26, 2026 by David Moore

“Our people make it better.”

Hi there, ‘Disco dilettantes. I hope you are having a nice, relaxing Sunday with feet up and beverage in hand. Seeing as you’re surely dropping by for some vintage entertainment, I’ll do my best not to disappoint.

Snap the video clickers below and enjoy commercials for Pizza Hut, Life Savers, Western Airlines, and the Volkswagen Beetle. Hope the memories come flooding back. See you again soon.

PIZZA HUT COMMERCIAL (1975)

_{Pizza Hut commercial featuring employees preparing to open and manager, Seth Adams. Spot aired August 1975.}

CLASSIC LIFE SAVERS ‘JINGLE’ COMMERCIAL (1975)

_{Life Savers roll candy commercial featuring Leslie choosing Tangerine flavor and a famous jingle. Spot aired August 1975.}

WESTERN AIRLINES ‘ONLY WAY TO FLY’ COMMERCIAL (1974)

_{Animated, music-themed, Western Airlines commercial featuring the Wally Bird mascot (VO by Shep Menken) and service to Hawaii & Mexico. Spot aired April 1974.}

VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE ‘AIRTIGHT!’ COMMERCIAL (1974)

_{Volkswagen Beetle commercial featuring a floating, water-based demonstration. Spot aired April 1974.}

Previously on 70s Commercials: Safeguard Soap, Betty Crocker Snackin’ Cake, Gillette Dry Look, Timex (1970-73)

More Pizza Hut: Sunday 70s Spots: Pizza Hut (’76 & ’78)

More Life Savers: 70s Commercials: Air Devils, Jack Webb, Life Savers, Tyco & More! (1972-78)

More Western Airlines: Daily 70s Spot: Western Airlines ‘Lion Tamer’ commercial (1975)

More Volkswagen: 70s Commercials: VW Beetle, Snowy Bleach, Hefty, Maxwell House (1970-71)

70s Commercials: Safeguard Soap, Betty Crocker Snackin’ Cake, Gillette Dry Look, Timex (1970-73)

Posted on April 19, 2026 by David Moore

“Twice the lather.”

How’s everything, Bionic buddies? Are you ready for some vintage commercials from the Seventies? Can I get a “Heck, ya!”? Alrighty, we’ll start off with a spot from 1973 for Safeguard soap.

Following on, you’ll find commercials for Betty Crocker Snackin’ Cake (with Hal England, Molly Dodd, and Lynnette Mettey), Gillette’s The Dry Look, and Timex Fashion Watches. This last one may just blow your mind. Groovy!

SAFEGUARD SOAP COMMERCIAL (1973)

_{Safeguard Soap commercial featuring the Beige variety and deodorant antibacterial lather. Spot aired Fall 1973.}

BETTY CROCKER SNACKIN’ CAKE COMMERCIAL (1972)

_{Betty Crocker Snackin’ Cake Mix commercial featuring a family gathering. Actors appear to include Hal England, Molly Dodd, and Lynnette Mettey. Spot aired September 1972.}

GILLETTE ‘WET HEAD IS DEAD!’ COMMERCIAL (1971)

_{Gillette The Dry Look hairspray commercial featuring styled hair, a gravestone, and a jingle. Narrator sounds like Len Gochman. Spot aired July 1971.}

TIMEX FASHION WATCHES ‘GROOVY MANNEQUINS’ COMMERCIAL (1970)

_{Timex Fashion Watches commercial featuring dancing hippie mannequins. Narration by Bob Landers.} _{Spot aired November 1970.}

Previously on 70s Commercials: Folger’s Crystals, Banquet Fried Chicken, Carnation Breakfast Bar, ‘Billy’ (1979)

More Safeguard: Daily 70s Spot #472, 473: Safeguard & Sure (1976)

More Betty Crocker: 70s Commercials: Betty Crocker Potatoes, Clairol Hair-Painting, Scout Truck, ‘Grizzly Adams’ (1975)

More Gillette: Saturday 70s Spots: Gillette’s ‘Dry Look’ (1972 & ’75)

More Timex: 70s Commercials: Burger King, Charms Pop, Chevy Nova, Timex (1970-71)

70s Commercials: Folger’s Crystals, Banquet Fried Chicken, Carnation Breakfast Bar, ‘Billy’ (1979)

Posted on April 12, 2026 by David Moore

“Tastes as rich as it looks.”

After a successful re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, we’ve safely-landed the Wayback Machine in the waters of 1979.

The late-Seventies commercials on display feature Folger’s Crystals instant coffee, Banquet Fried Chicken, Carnation Breakfast Bar, and CBS’ Billy TV series (starring Steve Guttenberg). Billy only graced television screens for seven weeks. Was that long enough for it to reside in your memories? I vaguely remember it being a thing, but I don’t believe I ever saw an episode. Take a gander below.

FOLGER’S CRYSTALS INSTANT COFFEE COMMERCIAL (1979)

_{Folger’s Crystals Instant Coffee commercial featuring a 3-spoon test with Wyna Brown. Narrator may be Alan Kalter. Spot aired December 1979.}

BANQUET FRIED CHICKEN ‘TASTE TEST’ COMMERCIAL (1979)

_{Banquet Frozen Fried Chicken commercial featuring Mrs. Mary Knoerr and a taste test comparison to Kentucky Fried Chicken. Spot aired February 1979.}

CARNATION BREAKFAST BAR COMMERCIAL (1979)