Looking at this old Hush Puppies commercial, I had to wonder — are they even still around?
Turns out they certainly are.
This commercial comes from Hush Puppies’ 1964 campaign, “We’re making the sidewalks softer this year.” And they didn’t just say it. They actually had people walking across sidewalks that seemed to sink under their feet.
I found out they created the effect by painting and scoring pieces of foam rubber so they looked like real sidewalk. Pretty clever for 1964. World Radio History
Hush Puppies had only been introduced in 1958, but they caught on incredibly fast. By 1963, an estimated one in ten American adults owned a pair. The whole idea was comfort — soft brushed pigskin, cushiony soles and a casual shoe you didn’t mind keeping on after work. TTABVUE
And of course there was that basset hound. Even if you never owned Hush Puppies, chances are you knew the dog.
The brand faded from the spotlight for a while, then had another surprising moment in the 1990s when Hush Puppies suddenly became fashionable again and even received a CFDA fashion award in 1995. The Washington Post
And yes, you can still buy them today. Wolverine Worldwide still lists Hush Puppies among its brands, with about 8 million pairs sold annually across 120 countries. Wolverine Worldwide
Not bad for a shoe that once promised to make the sidewalk softer.
Did you or your parents ever own a pair of Hush Puppies?
