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

“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)

“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)

“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)

“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)

Carnation Breakfast Bar commercial featuring a school basketball coach. Spot aired March 1979.

‘BILLY’ TV SERIES PROMO (STEVE GUTTENBERG, 1979)

CBS television series ‘Billy’ promo starring actor Steve Guttenberg. Spot aired March 1979.

Previously on 70s Commercials: Tumblin Weebles, Diet Pepsi, Mazda GLC, Sunbeam Ranch Bread (1978)

More Folger’s Coffee: 70s Spots: Folger’s Coffee ‘Three Spoon Test’ (1974)

More Banquet: 70s Spots: Pillsbury Bundt Cakes & Banquet Fried Chicken (1973)

More Carnation: 70s Spots: Lipton Tea & Carnation Breakfast (1972)

More Steve Guttenberg: Daily 70s Spot: Honda Moped With Steve Guttenberg (1978)

70s Commercials: Tumblin Weebles, Diet Pepsi, Mazda GLC, Sunbeam Ranch Bread (1978)

“Tumble and wobble all around!”

Good day, time-trippers. We’re back to the usual Seventies era with this post and 1978 is our precise destination.

This quartet of old timey advertisements starts of with the Tumblin Weebles Fun House and flips and rolls its way to Diet Pepsi, the Mazda GLC Hatchback (with James Houghton), and Sunbeam Ranch Bread. Have a late Seventies look-see.

TUMBLIN WEEBLES FUN HOUSE TOY COMMERCIAL (1978)

Hasbro-Romper Room Tumblin Weebles Fun House toy commercial. Spot aired circa 1978.

DIET PEPSI COMMERCIAL (1978)

Diet Pepsi Sugar Free soft drink commercial featuring a sing-along jingle. Narrator sounds like Hal Linden. Spot aired March 1978.

MAZDA GLC HATCHBACK CAR COMMERCIAL (1978)

Mazda GLC Hatchback car commercial featuring a comparison to competitor hatchbacks. The actor appears to be James Houghton (‘Knot’s Landing’). Spot aired September 1978.

SUNBEAM RANCH BREAD COMMERCIAL (1978)

Sunbeam Stroehmann Ranch Bread commercial. Spot aired September 1978 in the New York area.

Previously on 70s Commercials: Jell-O, Polaroid With Morgan Freeman, Arrid, VW Bus (1974-77)

More Weebles: 70s Commercials: Alpha-Bits, YWCA, Virgin Islands, Tumblin’ Weebles (1978-79)

More Diet Pepsi: 70s Commercials: Diet Pepsi, Charmin, G.I. Joe, Glade (1970-71)

More Mazda: 70s Spots: ’80 Thunderbird & Mazda GLC, Kinney Shoes, & Natural Light Beer (1979)

More Sunbeam: 70s Spots: Wonder Bread & Sunbeam Bread (1970)

80s Commercials: Chef Boyardee, Today’s Girl, Western Airlines, Pabst, A1, Hidden Valley Ranch, Nature Valley, Hardee’s (1980-83)

“It’s everything you like all rolled up into one!”

All right, Bionic time travelers – Now that we’ve had our fill of the Sixties, lets dive into 80s Week!

From the top of the decade in 1980, we’ve got commercials for Chef Boyardee Cannelloni, Today’s Girl Pantyhose, Western Airlines, and Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.

From 1981, you can spy spots for A1 Steak Sauce (with James Murtaugh), Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing (with Helen Kleeb), and Nature Valley Light & Crunchy Granola Snack.

And, last but not least, from 1983, a spot for Hardee’s featuring Marvel Comics superheroes. Have a look-see!

CHEF BOYARDEE CANNELLONI COMMERCIAL (1980)

Chef Boyardee Cannelloni In Meat Sauce commercial featuring a mom cooking for her family. Spot aired September 1980.

TODAY’S GIRL PANTYHOSE COMMERCIAL (1980)

Hanes Hosiery Today’s Girl Pantyhose commercial featuring a $1.19 price point. Spot aired September 1980.

WESTERN AIRLINES COMMERCIAL (1980)

Western Airlines commercial featuring new flights to London. Spot aired October 1980.

PABST BLUE RIBBON BEER COMMERCIAL (1980)

Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer commercial featuring a ‘spirit’ theme. Spot aired October 1980.

A1 STEAK SAUCE COMMERCIAL (1981)

A1 Steak Sauce commercial featuring actor James Murtaugh. Spot aired October 1981.

HIDDEN VALLEY RANCH DRESSING COMMERCIAL (1981)

Hidden Valley Ranch Salad Dressing commercial featuring Original and Vintage Herb flavors and a secretive grandmother (Helen Kleeb). Spot aired October 1981.

NATURE VALLEY LIGHT & CRUNCHY GRANOLA SNACK COMMERCIAL (1981)

General Mills Nature Valley Light & Crunchy Granola Snack commercial featuring blond Californians at the beach. Spot aired October 1981.

HARDEE’S ‘3-D THEATRE MEAL’ COMMERCIAL (1983)

Hardee’s fast food restaurant commercial featuring 3-D Theatre Meals and animated Marvel characters; Spider-Man, The Hulk, Captain America, Spider-Woman, and more. Spot aired in 1983.

Previously on 80s Commercials: Pabst Beer (Daniels & Washington), L’eggs, Jell-O, ‘Fame,’ Lysol, Meow Mix, IBM, Crispix (1980-83)

More Chef Boyardee: Eighties Week: Chef Boyardee, Kal Kan, Kraft Mac & Cheese, CBS Promos (1980-81)

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

More Pabst: Daily70s Spot: Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer ‘Gay ’90s’ (1973)

More A1 Steak Sauce: 70s Commercials: Andy Griffith For A1, Max-Pax Coffee, Recipe Dog Food, Valvoline (1973)

More Hidden Valley Dressing: Daily 70s Spot: Hidden Valley Ranch Salad Dressing (late 1970s)

More Nature Valley: 70s Spots: Nature Valley Granola Bars (Moosie Drier, 1976)

More Hardee’s: 70s Commercials: Triumph Spitfire, Freedent Gum, Nice ‘N Easy, Hardee’s (1977-78)