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1967 Dash Detergent and One-A-Day Vitamins

It’s a two-fer Saturday here on Golden Oldie Ads…

1967 Dash Laundry Detergent

There are several things about this advert that get ones attention.

Firstly, the hairstyle is to die for. Geometry all the way. The photo just screams 1960s. I’m also stunned at the text which indicates that most laundry detergents require over a cup of detergent per load. Even a large box wouldn’t last more than a couple of weeks. Perhaps people just didn’t wash their clothes as frequently 50 years ago?

It’s also noted that unlike other detergents, Dash is for laundry only. This was apparently a novel idea in the day. Oh, and keep in mind that you can’t use Dash with your tub and wringer. It’s only for automatic washers. Yeesh.

From Classic Ads – Household Misc

1967 One-A-Day Vitamins

This ad makes me want to get on a soapbox in about 10 different ways. Firstly, I’m vastly unimpressed at the picture this paints of women. Apparently they’re vain and shallow creatures who go to ridiculous lengths for something as vaguely defined as ‘beauty’. It’s always been my long-held belief that the cosmetic industry is self-perpetuating. Just leave your faces alone and they’ll be just fine.

Apparently too the average woman in 1967 was dieting and found nothing more exciting than trying on a new shade of lipstick. *grumble* At least the advertisers are trying to emphasize health in some vaguely selfish way.

From Classic Ads – Misc Personal Items

Advertisement

1967 Campbell’s Soup – Mighty Mousse!

The year is 1967. Food is in short supply so humans have turned to making Jell-o from human vomit. And I used to think there was NO way to mess up a green olive. *pout*

From Classic Ads – Food And Drink

1967 Wonder Bread – Hostess

1967 Advert for Wonder Bread and Hostess Fruit Pies. But honestly, who would let their kids walk on top of a fence in this day and age?

From Classic Ads – Food And Drink

1965 RCA Color Television – Jack Benny and Johnny Carson

Today’s advert isn’t so much about the product as it is the people selling it. As an aficionado of all things archaic, for me Benny was the icon of an a full half-century of entertainment. While never the most politically correct nor a friend to those who appreciated the violin, Benny was telling the same jokes you laugh at today back in the 1920s. To me Carson was always a much dimmer light in the world of entertainment but he’s OK here too.

1965 RCA Color Televisions - Jack Benny, Johnny Carson

Switching gears a bit, I’d like some feedback and opinions here. There seems to be a fair amount of interest in this blog and for that I thank you. You’re all appreciated and welcomed. I would like to hear your thoughts on the general selection for ads. Anything you want more of or less of? More content and analysis or less blather? Prefer a certain genre of products? I’ve been withholding dozens of automotive ads on the principal that it’s fairly redundant and dull. Is it? Anyway, all thoughts appreciated. Help me steer this thing!

Holiday Inns announce The Great American Escape… restaurant style [1960s]

Mmmmm, Holiday Inn, offering two “guest-tested” favorites: “Chick’n Dinner” and “Apple Cheddar Pie”.  I’m hopeful that whenever I go out everything I order is “guest-tested”.  I’d sure hate to be the guy who got something no guest has ever tried before. You can even pay with your Gulf Travel Card, American Express or Diners Club Card.

Anyway, take a gander at that huge pile of “Chick’n” for a family of three and the sides with about quarter stick of butter each. It’s no wonder dad had a heart attack. Of course given his hairstyle and those glasses, maybe it was for the best. This was also apparently a time when kids wore suit and tie all over the place.

Holiday Inn, 1960s (Click to view a version you can zoom)

Oh, and the password… is “Mmmmm!” they say.

The Boob Tube – RCA Televisions, 1965

As I sit here with my laptop computer and my iPhone next to me and my Kindle in the other room that can all show me video with crystal clarity, it’s hard to think that there was a time, not all that long ago, when all that was fairly complicated. Do you think that if you’d told people in 1965 that some day their TV would stream magically through the air that they would have believed you?

The Compact Option

For those wanting really high fidelity, you have the option of the console model. The ad is worth a closer look. Click to view the circuit board size comparison with various satellites. They’re very clearly bragging that their television set has a circuit board that’s similar in size (and design) with those in use by NASA in 1965!

The TV wall

Who’s drinking all that Diet-Rite Cola? 1965

The answer to the title question seems to be….

• a woman on a boat who looks like she just got done doing a cigarette ad.
• a guy who was cut out of some other ad and pasted sloppily over a picture of a cornfield
• a boy at a baseball game who’s way too happy to be drinking a diet drink
• another woman who’s wearing a dress made from set of really ugly drapes

Ad Text:

Diet-Rite is the new family favorite of millions – the best-tasting cola you can buy. Better-tasting than old-time favorites… or their low-calorie offshoots. No sugar at all. Less than 1 calorie per bottle. Bring home a carton of Diet-Rite Cola for your family…today!

One must admit that this ad certainly wins the prize for most hyphens and unnecessary ellipsis in a paragraph. But then it was 1965, an age when the U.S. had tons and tons of extra punctuation just laying around not being used for anything.  Also, I can’t help but be shocked at their low-blow pot-shots… at old-time favorites…