Many remember this song from the musical War Of The Worlds written by Jeff Wayne. The original melody was actually written for the Lego company in 1969. Justin Hayward was selected because Jeff Wayne wanted the voice that sang Knights In White Satin.
Category: 1970’s
Ajax Dishwasher Man
Actor Eugene Roche was the dishwasher man in the 1970’s
Colgate-Palmolive Ajax for dishes and as he would say “Squeaky Clean”
dishes.
This was probably Roche’s most famous role even though he
was well known on Broadway and many roles in movies. In TV he appeared
in Night Court as Christine Sullivan’s father as well as other shows like Webster and Perfect Strangers.
Sadly Roche passed on July 28, 2004 of a heart attack. He was 75.
Small Shots 1971 with Jodi Foster
Before Jodi Foster hit the big screen she was a frequent visitor to
the TV in commercials. Here she is in 1971 advertising Mattel’s Small
Shots. Small Shots were a version of Hot Wheels. The three-inch skaters
were mounted on a 4 wheel base and were boxed with a jump ramp. Skate ‘N
Race Sets sets had additional characters like Hot Red and Sillie Millie
and Breezy Bridgit was sold separately. Red Hot Red and Sillie Millie
were sold in the in the Skate ‘N Race Sets.
Small shots were
also able to run on Hot Wheel Tracks including to super charger! They
were manufactured until 1973. Today individual characters can fetch $30
to $40 if in good condition and the Skate ‘N Race Sets will get you $200
to $300.
Meco-Close Encounters Of The Third Kind
Meco’s theme from Close Encounters was track 5 of side two of the album Close Encounters Of Every Kind in 1978. Meco’s real name is Domenico Monardo. He became famous for disco-izing movie soundtracks starting with Star Wars in 1977.
Noxema Joe Namath
Joe Namath aka Broadway Joe was still advertiser’s darling in 1973. Gunilla Knudson, Miss Sweeden and Miss Universe runner-up in 1961 teamed up with Namath in this ad campaign. Joe Namath quarterbacked the New York Jets to win Super Bowl III on January 12, 1969, The New York Jet’s only Super Bowl win.
Pop Tarts With Milton The Toaster
Doritos with Avery Schreiber
Avery Schreiber stars in this Doritos commercial from the 1970’s. The
chips were introduced at the time by Frito-Lay in 1964 (now owned by
Pepsico). The phrase at the time was that they “taste as good as they
crunch”. Doritos actually originated n a restaurant in Disneyland.
Avery
was known for his bushy mustache and funny reactions in comedic
situations.Schreiber starred in his own special for ABC in 1973 called
The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour. He was also a frequent guest in
Chico and the Man, Match Game, and the Muppet Show. He also played the
role of Captain Manzini in the short-lived sitcom My Mother The Car.
Avery
died in 1994 from a heart attack from complications of diabetes. He did
survive a triple bypass surgery, he then had another heart attack and
died. He was 66.
Sears Paints – Great American Homes Series
The Great American Home Series was an advertising campaign for Sears featuring historical homes they would paint for the ads.
Life Cereal Mikey
Mikey was a played by John Gilchrist for Quaker Oat’s Life cereal. The ad campaign was so successful it ran for 12 years starting in 1972. The ad won a Clio Award in 1974 and was rated number ten of the most remembered commercials by TV Guide. John Gilchrist has no memory of recording the commercial, he was three years old when it was recorded. He is now the director of media sales for MSG Network. Do you remember the urban legend that he died after eating Pop Rocks and drinking a carbonated soft drink. The TV show Mythbusters debunked the story. They tried to contact John Gilchrist but he never returned their calls.
Old Spice Lime
After shave was always a safe gift to get dad.