It’s 1977 and “people who love to drive” will want a new Chevy Camaro. That’s just science. This fine advertisement ran in the January 24, 1977 issue of New York magazine. “Driving gloves are optional.”
Previously on Super 70s Ads: New Year’s Eve With Wayland & Madame And Tavares (1979)
We’re lingering in 1979 with four vintage commercials. First, take in Vlasic Pickles and their stork mascot. The mascot, also known as Jovny, is likely voiced by Pat Harrington Jr.
As mentioned previously, since animated spots were basically 30-second cartoons, the young me enjoyed them more than the live-action stuff. The commercial below was on quite a bit and I can remember saying “You call that a pickle?” for humorous effect. Hey, it worked for my fellow 12-year-olds.
Following Vlasic, it’s Cheerios with a jingle that’s probably still living in the recesses of your mind, Toyota Tercel, and Stockard Channing‘s short-lived sitcom Just Friends.
VLASIC PICKLES ‘STORK MASCOT’ COMMERCIAL (1979)
Animated Vlasic Pickles commercial featuring Jovny, the Vlasic Stork mascot. Stork likely voiced by Pat Harrington. Narrator may be Ralph Bell. Spot aired March 1979.
CHEERIOS CEREAL JINGLE COMMERCIAL (1979)
General Mills Cheerios cereal commercial featuring a famous jingle and a family skiing. Spot aired March 1979.
TOYOTA TERCEL ‘OH, WHAT A FEELING!’ COMMERCIAL (1979)
’80 model Toyota Corolla Tercel commercial featuring a weight-lifting team and a famous jingle. Narration by George Coe. Spot aired November 1979.
STOCKARD CHANNING IN ‘JUST FRIENDS’ TV PROMO (CBS, 1979)
CBS promo for the premiere of the ‘Just Friends’ television series starring Stockard Channing. Spot aired February 1979.
Previously on 70s Commercials: JCPenney Stereo, Birds Eye SF Style, Johnson’s Baby Oil, Hasbro Terron (1978)
More Cheerios: Daily 70s Spot: Cheerios Animated Blackboard Stick Figure #1 (1978)
More Toyota: 70s Spots: Toyota Celica ‘You Asked For It – You Got It!’ (1978)
More Stockard Channing: Trailer Tuesday: ‘The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh’ (1979)
A very good Martin Luther King Jr. Day to you. Today’s tune has no connection to the holiday, but a short & sweet Philly Soul tune is always worthy of our time.
The Intruders‘ “(Win, Place Or Show) She’s A Winner” released in 1972. During this period, the lead singer was Bobby Starr. Original singer Sam Brown had departed the group, but returned in 1973. “(Win, Place Or Show) She’s A Winner” did not crack the Hot 100, however it grabbed #12 on Billboard‘s R&B chart and #14 on the UK pop singles chart. Let’s look & listen.
THE INTRUDERS, ‘(WIN, PLACE OR SHOW) SHE’S A WINNER’ (‘SOUL TRAIN,’ 1972)
Previously on Music for Monday: David Bowie, ‘Sound And Vision’ (1977)
More Intruders: Music For Monday: The Intruders, ‘I’ll Always Love My Mama’ (1973)
We’re lingering in 1978 on this fine Friday. In this batch of vintage commercials you’ll find the JCPenney MCS stereo system (“only $600”), Birds Eye San Francisco Style vegetables, Johnson’s Baby Oil, and Hasbro’s Super Joe Commander Terron toy. Enjoy the long weekend.
(Visit the Bionic Disco YouTube channel for thousands more 70s commercials.)
MCS STEREO SYSTEM COMMERCIAL (JCPENNEY, 1978)
JCPenney MCS Series 33-watt stereo system commercial. Spot aired September 1978.
BIRDS EYE SAN FRANCISCO STYLE VEGETABLES COMMERCIAL (1978)
Birds Eye San Francisco Style frozen vegetables commercial featuring a couple at the dinner table. Spot aired November 1978.
JOHNSON’S BABY OIL COMMERCIAL (1978)
Johnson’s Baby Oil commercial aimed at adult beauty applications. Spot aired May 1978.
SUPER JOE COMMANDER ‘TERRON’ TOY COMMERCIAL (HASBRO, 1978)
Hasbro Super Joe Commander Terron with Command Laser toy commercial. Narrator is Joe Sirola. Spot aired in 1978 (possibly ’77 as well).
Previously on 70s Commercials: Pillsbury Figurines, ‘Rhoda’ Promo, Banquet Pot Pies, Ford Maverick (1976-77)
More JCPenney Electronics: Daily 70s Spot: JCPenney Portable Color TV (1972)
More Birds Eye: Daily 70s Ad: Birds Eye ‘Awake’ Beverage (1970)
More Johnson & Johnson: Saturday 70s Spots: Johnson’s Shampoo & Lectric Shave (1976)
More Hasbro: 70s Spots: Ricochet Racers (1976), Cool Whip & More
The above ad for the band WAR appeared in the August, 1974 issue of Ebony magazine. 11 million records sold at that point? Not too shabby.
WAR did not release a new LP in ’74, but their single “Ballero,” issued that year (from ’72’s WAR Live) hit #33 on the Billboard Hot 100. Let’s have a listen and watch the Soul Train dancers do their thing.
WAR, ‘BALLERO’ (‘SOUL TRAIN,’ 1974)
Previously on Classic 70s Music Ads: Joe Simon, ‘Your Time To Cry’ (1971)
More WAR: Music For Monday: WAR, ‘Galaxy’ (‘Soul Train’ Line, 1977)
*Time for more “Buried Treasure” commercials that appeared on the Bionic Disco YouTube channel but not here on the website.*
From 1971, we have spots for Fab “Lemon Freshened” detergent and Schlitz beer. From 1976, it’s the Polaroid SX-70 camera (with Candice Bergen) and United Airlines. Please enjoy responsibly.
FAB DETERGENT COMMERCIAL (1971)
Fab laundry detergent commercial featuring a football-playing child and his mother. Spot aired August 1971.
SCHLITZ BEER ‘TREASURE DIVE’ COMMERCIAL (1971)
Schlitz beer commercial featuring a team diving for sunken treasures. Spot aired January1971 (produced in 1970).
POLAROID SX-70 COMMERCIAL (CANDICE BERGEN, 1976)
Polaroid SX-70 Alpha 1 camera commercial featuring actor Candice Bergen (‘Murphy Brown’). Spot aired December 1976.
UNITED AIRLINES ‘THE BOSS’ COMMERCIAL (1976)
United Airlines commercial in ‘The Boss’ campaign. Spot aired November 1976.
Previously on 70s Commercials (Buried Treasures): Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, Chrysler Newport, Brylcreem, Lincoln Continental (1976-78)
More Schlitz: 70s Spots: Schlitz Beer ‘Australia’ (1972) & Miller Beer ‘Lumberjacks’ (1973)
More Polaroid: 70s Spots: Coast Soap, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Miller Beer, Polaroid (1979)
More United Airlines: 70s Spots: United Airlines ‘Friendship Service’ (1974)