Now really, aren't nut biting squirrels always funny? From my little stash of great commercials comes this gem from Trident. Really quite amusing for a gum, I must say. I have to admit, I'd have liked to have been in the room when that idea was being pitched. How do you find any way to connect carnivorous squirrels and sugarless gum? I guess that's why they're there, and I'm here, eh?

The horror. The horror. Since I skipped New Years Day, I thought I would start the new year the next day on a rather extraordinary note. I have a rather strong stomach, but even I had to go "EEWWWWW" after reading what this ad had to say. I mean, why wouldn't a girl want to swim at that time of the------OH! Ick! Ick! Ick! Ick! Ick!
Click on the picture for a larger version. To add insult to injury, in the little box, the last item is "no odor". I guess there's something to be said for the soft sell.

Oh my. Oh my oh my! I worked long and hard to find the proper note upon which to end the year. After browsing, perusing, and studying my current collection, I decided on this little gem. The Waldorf is long gone, even though Scott is still around. What that would seem to mean is that the recommendation of a toilet paper by a child too young to use it just doesn't work. I am a bit concerned about this ad for a number of reasons, though. This child appears to be making a great effort to recommend this product to his mother. Had he taken the time to potty train himself? How long has he been talking? Are his parents about to be sued for child neglect? I'm telling you, Mother- It's Wonderful! Mother? Mother! Listen to me, damn you! This toilet paper is wonderful! Don't you see? Look as I wipe my little bottom! Mother! Look here, mother!Blast!
Hm. Apparently all talking babies sound like Stewie Griffin. Whoda thunkit?

Are you ready? I'll bet you not only didn't know about this daily jury, I'll bet you weren't aware of those pesky B.O. issues, either!
This ad raises several questions for me. Who was it that ultimately intimated to Betty that she had these B.O. issues? Is she aware that her aroma is the talk of the town? Will she go for the man who could go for her in a big way now that she doesn't stink?
Find out for yourself! Lifebuoy, believe it or not, is actually available from a limited number of online outlets. Try it and see if your B.O. is knocked out. Don't be guilty of B.O. Yeah. You won't find taglines like that anymore, kids. That's a long way from Zestfully clean, I'll tell ya what!

Curses! How on earth can I reinvent this blog, and then completely ignore one of the ads that served as my inspiration?

One of my favorite types of ads are those that go to great lengths to explain your illness away. Back in '42, people were cursed with lazy livers! Get that bile function going, people! Put those bowels in high gear!

I've never known anyone to be diagnosed with lazy liver, nor do I expect anyone to be. Maybe old Dr. Edwards ideas never caught on. If they had, we'd surely have heard about other ailments such as lazy pancreas, bitchy spleen, or upset colon.

Anyway, that ad was my inspiration for this site. I think it is a great example of vintage advertising, and really just quite silly.

What better way to end 2008 than to choose a new direction? That direction will be geared towards vintage ads. I'm not spinnin' the tunes at FHB anymore, and I have this wonderful space just sitting here. Let's get to it!

So here is an interesting start. From 1942 we have Bon Ami cleanser. Their little chickie mascot is cute enough, and has gone a long way towards keeping this brand around.
There is something terribly terribly wrong with this picture, though. The woman doing the cleaning is raving about how much she loves Bon Ami, and look who she's talking to. Her friend who stands idly by doing her nails while her friend toils to scrub daddy's sweat stains out of the tub. She may be openly raving about how wonderful the cleanser is, but the look on her face says it all. Once she's done, she's going to stab her friend to death with that emery board, and then clean up the mess with Bon Ami!