online community focused on sharing and reminiscing about video, audio, and images that stir our memories of the past – old television, theme songs, commercials, print advertisements, the sights and sounds you remember
There was nothing more magical than taking your kids to ToysRUs where there were toys as far as the eye could see. Watching them dart from one end of the aisle to the next in sheer excitement was such a joy to witness. Somehow I don’t see how online shopping can be as magical.
At its peak in 2000 ToysRUs had over 1,600 stores worldwide. ToysRUs failed to capitalize with an online prescience which accelerated its demise. The company also faced financial difficulties due to high debt levels resulting from a leveraged buyout in 2005. n 2017, Toys “R” Us filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States and Canada. Despite efforts to reorganize Toys “R” Us announced in March 2018 that it would liquidate its U.S. operations and close all of its stores. There is a ToysRUs.com now, but somehow it’s not the same as seeing the magic in your kids’ eyes at the store.
As answering machines became increasingly integrated into everyday life, some individuals sought to go beyond the standard outgoing message of “Hi, I’m not home, but leave a message and I’ll call you back.” These nonconformist answering machine users desired outgoing messages that better reflected their personalities. For those aiming for a detached coolness, a deadpan “You know what to do” was often sufficient. Those with a mischievous sense of humor commonly employed the timeless trick of answering with a simple “Hello?” followed by a deliberate pause, tricking incoming callers into thinking they were speaking to a live person before the “I’m not here” message resumed. Zing! Many others took it a step further by creating their own humorous skits or songs, much like George Costanza from Seinfeld.
But what about those who wanted to elevate their outgoing message game without putting in the creative effort themselves? In the mid-1980s, a range of pre-recorded cassettes featuring mildly funny bits, including songs in various music styles, became readily available to fill this market gap.
Among the selection, one cassette tape stood out from the rest: Crazy Calls. If you were an avid TV viewer in the mid to late ’80s, you probably recall the commercials for Crazy Calls—a 7-track cassette tape that sold for $14.95, plus $3 for postage and handling. To make a purchase, you could either call an 800 number with a credit card or, with a bit more patience, send a check or money order to a P.O. box in New York City.
The commercials seemed to air incessantly, resulting in snippets of the songs and gags on the tape etching themselves permanently into the memories of numerous TV enthusiasts of that era. Consequently, Crazy Calls has become a frequent reference in ’80s nostalgia within popular culture. It has been mentioned on shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy, and even the 1980s-themed sitcom The Goldbergs dedicated an entire episode titled “Crazy Calls” in 2016, paying homage to the cassette.
The creators of Crazy Calls, Mitch and Ira Yuspeh, are still active in the music industry. They offer recording services and more through their recording studio and production company based in New York City. They also maintain a website dedicated to Crazy Calls, proudly noting that the cassette sold over a million copies through its television campaign.
Founded in in 1921 by 2 brothers RadioShack grew into a prominent retailer with thousands of stores across the United States. During its heyday in the 1970s and 1980s, RadioShack was a go-to destination for electronics hobbyists, providing a wide range of electronic parts, kits, and components. However, starting in the late 1990s, RadioShack faced several challenges that eventually led to its demise like online shopping. Practically everything on your smartphone replaced the products from Radio Shack.
Understanding the need for change, the employees in this commercial embark on a comedic mission to transform the store into a modern and up-to-date retail space. In 2015, RadioShack filed for bankruptcy and announced the closure of over 2,000 stores. In 2017, RadioShack filed for bankruptcy for the second time and announced the closure of over 1,000 stores. Since then, the brand has made occasional attempts to re-emerge as an online-only retailer, focusing primarily on e-commerce sales.
ABC Sunday Night Movie was a TV staple from 1962 to 2004
The program presented theatrical feature films airing on TV for the first time, often edited for time.
It provided viewers with the opportunity to watch a wide variety of movies from different genres.
The exact movie lineup varied from week to week, so viewers could expect to see a mix of new releases, beloved classics, and occasional made-for-television movies.
The advent of such cable television networks as HBO, Cinemax along with VCRs led to the decline of theatrical films regularly airing
The Bic Banana pen was a writing instrument introduced by Bic Corporation in the 1970s. The pen was distinctive for its shape, which resembled a banana, and its bright yellow color. The concept behind the Bic Banana pen was to create a fun and unique writing tool that would appeal to both children and young adults.
The Bic Banana pen was marketed as a fun and playful writing instrument. The marketing campaign featured bright and colorful advertisements that showcased the unique shape and design of the pen. The advertisements also emphasized the durability and reliability of the pen, highlighting Bic’s reputation for quality writing instruments.
The Bic Banana pen was a popular item in the 1970s and 1980s. However, its popularity began to decline in the 1990s the novelty of the Bic Banana pen began to wear off, and it became less appealing to consumers.
Despite its decline in popularity, the Bic Banana pen remains a unique and memorable writing instrument. It is often sought after by collectors and enthusiasts who appreciate its playful design and nostalgic appeal. Today, the Bic Corporation continues to produce a wide range of writing instruments, but the Bic Banana pen has been discontinued and is no longer available for sale.
Ragu’s Chicken Tonight was a popular line of cooking sauces that first hit the shelves in the late 1980s. The product quickly gained popularity, thanks to its innovative marketing strategy and catchy jingle that became a cultural phenomenon. In this article, we will explore the history of Ragu’s Chicken Tonight and why it was so successful, despite the challenges it faced in the convenience food market.
The Origins of Ragu’s Chicken Tonight
Ragu is a well-known Italian food company that has been producing pasta sauces since the 1930s. In the late 1980s, the company decided to expand its product line to include convenience foods that catered to busy families. This decision led to the creation of Ragu’s Chicken Tonight line of cooking sauces.
The first flavor to be released was the Original Chicken Tonight sauce, which was quickly followed by a range of other flavors such as Sweet and Sour, Country French, and Mexican. The sauces were designed to be mixed with chicken and served over rice or pasta for a quick and tasty meal.
The Success of Chicken Tonight
The success of Chicken Tonight can be attributed to its innovative marketing strategy. Ragu’s catchy jingle “I feel like Chicken Tonight” was played on television commercials, radio stations, and used in other promotional campaigns. The jingle became so popular that it was even parodied in popular culture and referenced in movies and TV shows.
The jingle was not the only factor that contributed to the success of Chicken Tonight. The product was also convenient, easy to prepare, and tasted great. Busy families appreciated the quick meal solution that did not compromise on taste.
The Decline of Chicken Tonight
After several years of success, Ragu’s Chicken Tonight line began to decline in popularity. The competition in the convenience food market was increasing, and consumers were becoming more health-conscious and focused on natural ingredients.
In the early 2000s, Ragu discontinued the Chicken Tonight line. The end of Chicken Tonight marked the end of an era for many consumers who grew up with the catchy jingle and quick and easy meal solution.
The Legacy of Chicken Tonight
The legacy of Chicken Tonight lives on in pop culture, with references to the jingle still being made in various media. The sauce may no longer be available on store shelves, but it remains a fond memory for many who grew up with it.
Conclusion
Ragu’s Chicken Tonight was a successful line of cooking sauces that became a cultural phenomenon thanks to its innovative marketing strategy and catchy jingle. Despite its eventual decline in popularity, the product remains a fond memory for many consumers who appreciated its convenience and great taste.
John “Motormouth” Moschitta Jr., also known as “The Fast Talking Guy became most popular from the FedEx commercials starting in 1981 which lead to six Cleo awards. Cleo’s celebrate the excellence in advertising. Since then he appeared in over 100 commercials, this FedEx is probably his most remembered ad. Moschitta first appeared in the ABC TV series That’s Incredible. He has been credited in the Guinness Book of World Records as the World’s Faster Talker at 586 words per minute.
John has been on many television shows from Sesame Street, Garfield and Friends, Pinky and the Brain , announcer on Hollywood Squares (2003-2004) and as himself in Family Guy as the FedEx voice guy in the Fox-y-Lady episode in 2009. He is credited in movies like Young Doctors In Love, Starchaser, Transformer Movie and the radio announcer in Dick Tracy.
Oh, the kids today don’t know the struggles. Everything in our day was physical media and subject to all sorts of problems. Photography, video, and even money are now digital/electronic. Sure, it is not without its problems but they are so much less today! But I remember wanting to record on my cassette player the first run of the Brady Bunch off the TV in the 70s. Recording TV was truly revolutionary!
I have over 5,000 songs on my mp3 player from the ’60s through the ’90s. I like putting it on a mix to hear a large variety. It also gives me ideas for this page.
Holdin’ On came on and it had that driving sound from the ’80s but I couldn’t remember who performed. Turns out to Be Tane Cain. At first, I thought that was the band name but that is the performer.
She is the daughter of actor Doug McClure and she first appeared in the TV series The Virginian when she was just 5 years old. In the 1970’s she met and married Journey’s keyboardist Johnathan Cain. Now known as Tané Cain she got a record deal with RCA. The first release Danger Zone failed to chart but his song Holdin’ On made it to number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100. Billboard described her as “an artist to watch” She hated when people compared her to Pat Benatar even though her music was produced to sound like Bentar’s. She prefers the comparison to her idol Grace Slik. RCA never renewed her contract and she never recorded again. She went on to play Elle Woods in the 2001 movie Legally Blonde.
