I like Ronald McDonald.  I wish they still showed commercials with him, and the whole McDonalds gang.  When I was a kid, I used to go to McDonalds and get what was called a "Treat of the Week", a weekly toy that was given out free to kids

I still have one .. it's a little cardboard wheel thingy with a blank Ronald face and a bunch of other blank faces.  On top are two plastic wheels with eyes and mouths.  You spin the wheels to mix and match the faces ;D

Ronald McDonald and Grimace used to scare the crap out of me when I was little!! ;D ;D ;D

Ronald McDonald and Grimace used to scare the crap out of me when I was little!! ;D ;D ;D


http://www.palomar.edu/kksm/onairs/grimace.jpg

;D

Thanks Jason!
I am sure to have nightmares for the next week!!! ;D

Seriously, I have no idea why they scared me - look at him. He ispurple and rolly pollie! All innocent and stuff ;D

I like Ronald McDonald.  I wish they still showed commercials with him, and the whole McDonalds gang.  When I was a kid, I used to go to McDonalds and get what was called a "Treat of the Week", a weekly toy that was given out free to kids

I still have one .. it's a little cardboard wheel thingy with a blank Ronald face and a bunch of other blank faces.  On top are two plastic wheels with eyes and mouths.  You spin the wheels to mix and match the faces ;D



I used to LOVE those commercials with the whole McDonald's Gang.  We've had many b-day parties at McDonalds....they used to have this caboose out back of the restaurant, that they would host parties in...it was so cool 8)

I remember getting these cheapy little plastic puppets when I was little and we thought that was a big deal. Now, the toys are way cooler!  :) Do they still have the Mcdonaldland characters in any of the commercials?  Mayor McCheese, Grimace, The Hamburgler? I really never paid much attention, but if not, they need to bring them back.

I remember getting these cheapy little plastic puppets when I was little and we thought that was a big deal. Now, the toys are way cooler!  :) Do they still have the Mcdonaldland characters in any of the commercials?  Mayor McCheese, Grimace, The Hamburgler? I really never paid much attention, but if not, they need to bring them back.



I haven't seen those characters in their commercials in a long time. I LOVED those characters!! Just look at them...I miss seeing all of them!

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/616/mcdonaldsrn2.jpg

I remember getting these cheapy little plastic puppets when I was little and we thought that was a big deal. Now, the toys are way cooler!  :) Do they still have the Mcdonaldland characters in any of the commercials?  Mayor McCheese, Grimace, The Hamburgler? I really never paid much attention, but if not, they need to bring them back.


In the 90s, they were down to just Ronald, Grimmace, Birdy and the Hamburglar.  Slowly, they faded each one out, and nowadays, Ronald is the only one to appear in McDonalds commercials, and it's somewhat of a rare sight to even see him in a commercial

McDonalds sure isn't as great as it used to be.  Those commercials were always fun :)

I used to LOVE those commercials with the whole McDonald's Gang.  We've had many b-day parties at McDonalds....they used to have this caboose out back of the restaurant, that they would host parties in...it was so cool 8)


I used to love having my B-Day parties at McDonalds.  When I was like 5 or 6, I remember one of my parties, I invited this kid from my class who was somewhat large, and ended up eating 3 Big Mac's ;D

In the 90s, they were down to just Ronald, Grimmace, Birdy and the Hamburglar.  Slowly, they faded each one out, and nowadays, Ronald is the only one to appear in McDonalds commercials, and it's somewhat of a rare sight to even see him in a commercial

McDonalds sure isn't as great as it used to be.  Those commercials were always fun :)

Jason - remember the Sports Memories McDonald's on Bath Rd?
Well, we have one down here that is similar, but not.
It has all of the characters in mylar on the windows, and inside it has all kinds of the old Happy Meal toys, and cardboard happy meal boxes. Has a painting on one wall of car delivery with a female on roller skates, and another painting of a big Cookie I think... I rarely go in there but the place is amazing!

I used to love having my B-Day parties at McDonalds.  When I was like 5 or 6, I remember one of my parties, I invited this kid from my class who was somewhat large, and ended up eating 3 Big Mac's ;D



I remember one year, my sister and I had a combined b-day party in the caboose at McDonalds..it was in the middle of January and we had this huge snow blizzard....yet, most of our friends still made it out to the party. There we were...sitting cozily in the little caboose, while outside it was a winter wonderland!! :D

Ok, ok. I know I have told this story a few times before but I HAVE to repeat it. When I was student teaching, Ronald McDonald came to the school to do a presentation. I was "volunteered" to join in. I did a "Vanna White" type thing (revealing letters) and I was having fun and hamming it up. Ronald made a comment about the way I was doing it and then said, "We should go for coffee sometime". Now, I have been asked out by a bunch of clowns before but this one definately took the cake.




Cat

Jason - remember the Sports Memories McDonald's on Bath Rd?
Well, we have one down here that is similar, but not.
It has all of the characters in mylar on the windows, and inside it has all kinds of the old Happy Meal toys, and cardboard happy meal boxes. Has a painting on one wall of car delivery with a female on roller skates, and another painting of a big Cookie I think... I rarely go in there but the place is amazing!


I remember the Sports McDonalds.  I miss that one big time.  It was neat to go in there and see all the sports memorabilia.  It's a "Pizza Pizza" now

Ok, ok. I know I have told this story a few times before but I HAVE to repeat it. When I was student teaching, Ronald McDonald came to the school to do a presentation. I was "volunteered" to join in. I did a "Vanna White" type thing (revealing letters) and I was having fun and hamming it up. Ronald made a comment about the way I was doing it and then said, "We should go for coffee sometime". Now, I have been asked out by a bunch of clowns before but this one definately took the cake.




Cat



karma for making me laugh!! :D ;D

Ok, ok. I know I have told this story a few times before but I HAVE to repeat it. When I was student teaching, Ronald McDonald came to the school to do a presentation. I was "volunteered" to join in. I did a "Vanna White" type thing (revealing letters) and I was having fun and hamming it up. Ronald made a comment about the way I was doing it and then said, "We should go for coffee sometime". Now, I have been asked out by a bunch of clowns before but this one definately took the cake.




Cat


Was Carlos jealous?

Was Carlos jealous?



We were only dating at the time. When I told him, he did laugh and said, "Who knows, he could be really handsome under all that make-up." Trust me, Carlos had nothing to fear that I would have left him for Ronald McDonald.  :D :D




Cat

I wanna do the next Retro Icon ...

I don't know much about this one, and info on the net seems hard to come by, but here is Mr. Mini-Wheat


In the USA, Mr. Mini-Wheat had a face on two sides, and they would often argue which was better: The frosted side or the wheat side.  He now has a face on just the one side ...

http://www2.kelloggs.com/uploadedImages/Kellogg/Featured_Content/Mini-Wheats_button.jpg


In Canada, Mr. Mini-Wheat has a face on one side, and in his early days, he would contemplate his Frosted side, and in several commercials in the 80s and 90s, he was seen sitting in a psychiatrist's office discussing the matter.  At the end of the commercials, he would yell "Stupendous!" ...

http://www.kelloggs.ca/french/whoweare/images/char_mw.gif



Here's some of the latest commercials featuring Mr. Mini-Wheat:

Frosted Mini-Wheats - 3 commercials (America)
http://www.mini-wheats.com/advertising.shtml

Vanilla Frosted Mini-Wheats (Canada)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHWpGb3zYnM

Strawberry Frosted Mini-Wheats (Canada)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGqlXBx_bBc

hey...thanks Jason!! Karma to you for the good idea for this week's retro icon. :)

Is he really a retro icon? I've only seen him fairly recently.

Is he really a retro icon? I've only seen him fairly recently.



no, he's not really an older icon, to the best of my knowledge....unless he's more of a Canadian thing and been around longer there! ;)

Is he really a retro icon? I've only seen him fairly recently.



no, he's not really an older icon, to the best of my knowledge....unless he's more of a Canadian thing and been around longer there! ;)


It might be more of a Canadian thing, but I can't really find much info on him.  I know he's been around since the 80s, cause I used to watch the ads when I was a kid lol

I know I've been slacking a bit, but now I'm back. Anyway, Cat gave me a wonderful idea for the new retro icon of the week...and I had forgotten that Doms requested it awhile back, so thanks to both of them...here it is!! :)


This week's icon:


Smokey Bear

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/1734/only20youev4.jpg




Smokey Bear and Fire Prevention

"Remember -- Only You...."...Can Prevent Wild Fires!"
Smokey Bear has warned people about the ravages of wild fire for so long that few people remember how this famous bear first captured our nation's attention.

Dressed in a Ranger’s hat and blue jeans, often sporting a shovel, his famous slogan is one of the most recognized advertising phrases in the world, and is protected by federal law.


http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/9102/firstsmokeyposterja5.gif

In 1937 President Roosevelt kicked off a national campaign to reduce the number of fires caused by people. With approximately forty million acres lost to fire each year across the nation, this campaign featured Uncle Sam as a forest ranger. The message spoke to human element of fire, emphasizing people’s responsibility in protecting the forest. The message- “Your Forests – Your Fault – Your Loss” was a powerful message for the public.

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/7581/unclesamposterzh1.jpg

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor during WWII, the Japanese also attacked an oil field near the Los Padros National Forest in California. With so many men in the military and only a skeleton staff of firefighters remaining, the potential for wild fires struck terror across the country. Americans feared that a fire could destroy our forest resources when wood products were greatly needed for the war effort. As the prevention of wild fires came into focus, the Wartime Advertising Council developed fire prevention posters with slogans such as, "Forest Fires Aid the Enemy," and “Careless Matches Aid the Axis.”

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/1356/ww2jappostergh0.jpg

In 1944, Walt Disney released the movie “Bambi,” and allowed the Forest Service to use the deer on their campaign posters for one year. This proved effective and showed that a forest animal helped get the message across. The Forest Service decided to continue using an animal and chose a bear for their fire safety mascot.
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/4701/bambiposterdh6.gif

The Forest Service chose the name to be Smokey Bear, after “Smokey” Joe Martin, who had been the Assistant Chief of the New York City Fire Department. On August 9, 1944, the first poster of Smokey Bear was produced, drawn by Albert Staehle.

The poster depicted a bear pouring a bucket of water on a campfire. The next year Rudy Wedelin became Smokey’s official artist. Smokey Bear soon became popular, so popular that he was given his own zip code because he received such a large amount of fan mail.

His image has been seen in stuffed toys, records, pens, sports items, clothing, and books, and he has become one of the most recognized characters worldwide.


The Story of the Real Bear.

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/7729/smokeyvetpz8.jpg

In 1950, some careless person started the terrible Capitan Gap wild fire on the Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico. When a strong wind suddenly swept the fire toward a group of courageous firefighters, 24 of them had to run to a rock slide, lay face down, and cover their faces with handkerchiefs to escape the deadly flames. They emptied their canteens over their clothes and swatted their burning clothes. After an hour, the fire moved on. All 24 survived. When the smoke cleared and they caught their breath, they saw a scorched hillside where once a great forest stood. 

Amongst the smoldering ashes was a tiny black bear cub, burnt and afraid, clinging to a tree. The cub was nicknamed “Hotfoot Teddy.” They searched for the cub’s mother, but could not find her. The cub needed veterinary aid for the burns on his paws and hindquarters, so he was flown to Santa Fe to receive professional treatment. While his wounds were healing, he stayed at the home of Ray Bell, the game warden who flew him to Santa Fe. Ray's daughter Judy befriended the little bear and helped nurse him back to health.
The little bear had gained nationwide attention and was soon renamed Smokey after the symbol for fire prevention. Smokey was presented by the New Mexico State Game Warden to the the Chief of the Forest Service to be used to aid the fire prevention program.

Now the question was, “Where will Smokey live?” Little cubs grow up very fast, and Ray Bell’s house was no longer an option as the bear’s home. It was decided that Smokey’s permanent home would be the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Smokey became the most popular exhibit at the Zoo. Two other bears, both from New Mexico, eventually joined Smokey in Washington. Goldie, a female black bear, was introduced in 1962 as a possible mate for Smokey. However, no cubs were born of the two so Smokey II was introduced to carry on for Smokey in his old age. The original Smokey retired from the public display in 1975, after 25 years of service. He passed away later that year. His adopted son carried on for him until 1990. The character of Smokey lives on, a reminder to people across the world of the dangers of fire.

Smokey was the first individual animal to ever be honored on a postage stamp. This stamp commemorated Smokey's 40th birthday in 1984.

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/9788/40thannivstampiq6.gif

Thanks Quirk.


I was at the National Zoo sometime in the 70s. I went to see Smokey but he was in his "cave" (he was old at the time) but I did see Smokey Jr. (who was just a cub).  Shortly after that, I heard that Smokey died.  :\'( :\'( So, I missed seeing him.




Cat

Thanks Quirk.


I was at the National Zoo sometime in the 70s. I went to see Smokey but he was in his "cave" (he was old at the time) but I did see Smokey Jr. (who was just a cub).  Shortly after that, I heard that Smokey died.  :\'( :\'( So, I missed seeing him.




Cat



aww, that's a shame you didn't get to see him.  I always liked Smokey the Bear...he was along the lines of McGruff the Dog....those kind of safety icons were always neato.  Speaking of safety icons, an idea just popped into my head of another one for next week's icon! ;D

I used to love seeing those Smokey the Bear commercials on TV! :)
I always wondered what would ever happen if Smokey the Bear and Yogi the Bear ever came face to face? ;D

I used to love seeing those Smokey the Bear commercials on TV! :)
I always wondered what would ever happen if Smokey the Bear and Yogi the Bear ever came face to face? ;D



Just as long as Yogi doesn't have to start a fire to heat up his picnic basket, I think it will be fine.  :D ;D ;D




Cat

I really want some of this riht now.

Kool-Aid Man is awesome!  I used to love the commercials when I was a kid!

There was a Kool-Aid Man game for the Atari 2600.  Never had it, but always wanted to play it lol

I really want some of this riht now.




Oh Yeah!! Kool aid man!  :D  Kool aid was the only thing I could drink the morning after a long night of drinking lots and lots of beer!  ;D

Thanks again for another great retro icon idea...Kool Aid Man it is!!! :D ;D


Kool-Aid Man is the mascot for Kool-Aid, a popular drink. The character has appeared in television and print advertising as a fun-loving and avuncular beverage provider, bursting through walls and yelling "Oh yeah!" to share the drink with kids. He is a gigantic anthropomorphic pitcher, filled with Kool-Aid (usually cherry, though other flavors have been used) and marked with a fingerprinted smiley face.

http://img470.imageshack.us/img470/9994/180pxkoolaidmanau0.jpg


HISTORY

The smiling Kool-Aid pitcher first appeared in 1954, a year after Kool-Aid was purchased by General Foods. It was designed by Marvin Potts, an art director at the New York office of the Foote, Cone & Belding advertising agency. He was asked to illustrate the ad slogan "A five-cent package makes 2 quarts". Apparently inspired by his son drawing on a frosty windowpane, he produced three different frosted pitcher designs: one had 5¢ drawn in the frost, one had a heart-and-arrow, and one had the smiling face.

Kool-Aid Man was introduced in 1975 by adding arms and legs to "Pitcher Man." The name Pitcher Man was conceived as a pun on the idea of the corporate "pitch man.'

Already well-known from its company's advertising campaign, Kool-Aid Man starred in a comic book in the 1980s, originally published by Marvel and later Archie Comics. In these comics, he battled long-tongued aliens known as the Thirstees, and later a pyromaniac named Scorch. Also in the 1980s, two video games created by M Networks, and based on the comic books out, were made for the Atari 2600 and Intellivision systems. Both involved Kool-Aid Man having to prevent the Thirstees from stealing all the Kool-Aid from the kids.

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/8938/koolaidig2.jpg

The voice of the Kool-Aid Man in television commercials — known for the catch phrase "Oh yeah!" — is currently Frank Simms, who sings back-up for singers David Bowie, Madonna, Billy Joel, Carly Simon, Al Green, Chaka Khan, Elvis Costello, and many others. The current character has been modernized, sometimes wearing clothing, or talking with kids in their own slang.

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/6071/kool2600ww9.jpg

This thread is turning into a "retro icon:"

http://www.inthe00s.com/index.php?topic=9314.435

;) ;) ;)

This week's retro icon is:

Woodsy Owl
http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/346/woodsy2520owlkv8.jpg

Woodsy Owl is an owl mascot for the United States Forest Service most famous for the motto "Give a hoot — don't pollute!" Woodsy's current motto is "Lend a hand — care for the land!" Woodsy's target audience are children 5 to 8 years old and was designed to be seen as a mentor to children, providing them with information and advice to help them appreciate nature. In 2006 a "New" Woodsy Owl mascot was introduced.

The "Give a Hoot, don't Pollute" slogan was created in 1970 by US Forest ranger Chuck Williams, who was the Forest Service's technical consultant for the "Lassie" TV show which featured a Forest Service ranger and his family. Williams, along with Glenn Kovar, also of the US Forest Service, and Harold Bell of Western Publishing (producer of Smokey Bear and Lassie TV show) then brainstormed the idea for the Woodsy motif.

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/4962/150pxwoodsyowloriginalul0.jpg

Several songs have been used in conjunction with the Woodsy Owl environmental campaign, including "The Ballad of Woodsy Owl" and "Help Woodsy Spread the Word".

Several other environmentalism, conservation or outdoor themed comics have appeared over the years including Mark Trail and Smokey Bear. Woodsy Owl appeared as a comic by Gold Key Comics from 1973 to 1976.

OMG!! LOL I had forgotten all about that one!! Thanks for the flashback!  :)

This week's retro icon is:

Woodsy Owl
http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/346/woodsy2520owlkv8.jpg




I have a great woodsy the owl tshirt that i've had for about 5 years.  i love it.  he's the ma-....owl.

haha I remember him.

I remember Woodsy.  He was great.  If I remember, the rest of the jingle went "Give a hoot, don't pollute! Never be a dirty bird"

I remember Woodsy.  He was great.  If I remember, the rest of the jingle went "Give a hoot, don't pollute! Never be a dirty bird"


Yep...that was totally it! :)

check this out!

check this out!


Check what out? 

Check what out? 



Rats. I forgot the link. I posted this days ago. now i'll have to go thru my history and find the page.
devil!

This week's retro icon:

Colonel Sanders

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9iby55.G49GxoYAfxSjzbkF/SIG=12f4vfr9s/EXP=1183870206/**http%3A//www.thebestlinks.com/images/thumb/4/47/200px-KFC.png

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9iby4AgG49GQGMAdDKjzbkF/SIG=122n65pvr/EXP=1183870112/**http%3A//www.agelesslifestyles.com/colonel01.jpg

Harland David Sanders, better known as Colonel Sanders (September 9, 1890 – December 16, 1980) was the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).

Early life and career

Sanders was born in Henryville, Indiana. His father died when he was five years old, and since his mother worked, he was required to cook for his family. He dropped out of school in seventh grade. During his teen years, Sanders worked many jobs, including firefighter, steamboat driver, insurance salesman, railroad worker, farmer, and enlisted in the Army as a private in 1907 in Cuba. Also was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha international fraternity.

At the age of 40, Sanders cooked chicken dishes for people who stopped at his service station in Corbin, Kentucky. Since he didn't have a restaurant, he served customers in his living quarters in the service station. Eventually, his local popularity grew, and Sanders moved to a motel and restaurant that seated 142 people and worked as the chef. Over the next nine years, he perfected his method of cooking chicken that used the same eleven herbs and spices that are used today at KFC. Furthermore, he made use of a pressure cooker that enhanced the flavor and allowed the chicken to be cooked much faster than pan-frying. He was given the honorary title "Kentucky colonel" in 1935 by Governor Ruby Laffoon. Unusually, Sanders chose to call himself "Colonel" and to dress in a stereotypical "southern gentleman" costume as a way of self-promotion. Sanders sold his franchise in 1964, although he remained their corporate spokesman until his death.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/179/456985156_181d51c3be.jpg?v=0

Death and legacy

Sanders died at age 90, on December 16, 1980, of leukemia. He was buried in his characteristic white suit and black bow tie in Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky, after lying in state in the rotunda of the Kentucky State Capitol. A later cartoon version of Colonel Sanders (voiced by actor Randy Quaid) has appeared in more recent KFC commercials, and he has an almost-identical impersonator, Thomas Rost, to the considerable consternation of many in the Sanders family.

To this day, the Colonel's secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices remains one of the best-kept trade secrets in business. According to a profile of KFC done by the Food Network television show Unwrapped, portions of the secret spice mix are made at different locations in the United States, and the only copy of the recipe is kept in a vault in corporate headquarters. In 1985, investigative journalist William Poundstone wrote a book, Big Secrets, which analyzed and revealed (among other things) the secret recipe for Kentucky Fried Chicken (lab tests found only traces of salt, black pepper, and MSG, not eleven herbs and spices), and provided readers several methods for duplicating the product.

Col. Sanders is cool!  Within the last few years, they changed his look to showcase him wearing an apron.  I was shocked the day I noticed this; I thought he looked cool.  He looks more modern now

http://web.mit.edu/cms/bcc/blogpics/colonel_sanders.gif


Wanna see a shocker?  Based on the American menu, Canadian locations of KFC do NOT serve the following ...

- Honey BBQ Sandwich
- Tender Roast Sandwich
- Oven Roasted Twister
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Home Style Biscuits
- Mashed Potatoes
- Mac and Cheese
- Corn on the Cob
- Baked Beans
- Green Beans
- Potato Wedges
- Seasoned Rice
- Mashed Potato Bowl
- Rice Bowl
- Chicken and Biscuit Bowl
- Chocolate Chip Cake
- Smores Granola Bar
- Apple Pie Minis
- Parfaits


Based on the Canadian menu, American locations of KFC do NOT serve ...

- Poutine
- Zesty Bacon Melt Sandwich
- McCain Chocolate Cake
- Brownies
- Apple Turnover

Col. Sanders is cool!  Within the last few years, they changed his look to showcase him wearing an apron.  I was shocked the day I noticed this; I thought he looked cool.  He looks more modern now

http://web.mit.edu/cms/bcc/blogpics/colonel_sanders.gif


Wanna see a shocker?  Based on the American menu, Canadian locations of KFC do NOT serve the following ...

- Honey BBQ Sandwich
- Tender Roast Sandwich
- Oven Roasted Twister
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Home Style Biscuits
- Mashed Potatoes
- Mac and Cheese
- Corn on the Cob
- Baked Beans
- Green Beans
- Potato Wedges
- Seasoned Rice
- Mashed Potato Bowl
- Rice Bowl
- Chicken and Biscuit Bowl
- Chocolate Chip Cake
- Smores Granola Bar
- Apple Pie Minis
- Parfaits


Based on the Canadian menu, American locations of KFC do NOT serve ...

- Poutine
- Zesty Bacon Melt Sandwich
- McCain Chocolate Cake
- Brownies
- Apple Turnover




I'm not surprised. It's an American institution that appeals to American tastes. So when such companies go into other countries they have to go with the tastes of the culture. In this case, damn what do Canadians like. I've seen Poutine and ew.

I heard that KFC changed to the initials rather than the old name, Kentucky Fried Chicken.
the did this because there actually is littl 'chicken' in the product.
i personally think that was bunk.


i wish i were a retro icon.


here's a good one:
i love to old guinness ads.
but why th toucan?

I heard that KFC changed to the initials rather than the old name, Kentucky Fried Chicken.
the did this because there actually is littl 'chicken' in the product.
i personally think that was bunk.


i wish i were a retro icon.


here's a good one:
i love to old guinness ads.
but why th toucan?



oh, that's a cool ad. Retro icons are cool..I think I'd like to be one also! ;)

here's a good one:
i love to old guinness ads.
but why th toucan?


I always assumed it was because the colours were the same.  but apparently not.  The original idea was to use a pelican

This week's retro icon:


The Campbell's Soup Kids

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/4037/campbell2ly5.jpg

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/8912/150823af7.jpg


http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/5893/55campbellskidwo3.jpg
The chubby, cherub-faced twins created by Philadelphia illustrator, Grace Wiederseim Drayton in 1904 for a series of streetcar advertisements have been the Campbell Soup Company mascots for nearly a century. Their images have appeared in print ads, TV commercials and a myriad of promotional products such as postcards, lapel buttons, and dolls etc. In the 1950s Campbell soup twins appeared on commercials produced for such highly rated shows as LASSIE and promoted their wholesomeness in  ads touting the slogan "M'm! M'm! Good! M'm! M'm! Good!, That's what Campbell's soups are, M'm! M'm! Good!" (introduced in the 1930s on the CAMPBELL PLAYHOUSE radio series). In January, 1990 with the record production of some 20 billion cans of Campbell's condensed tomato soup, the company sponsored a new television commercial featuring Campbell Kids singing a rap song about the benefits of their fine soups. This marked the first time since 1958 that the Campbell Soup Twin voices had been heard. In 1998, the company updated their traditional "M'm! M'm! Good!" advertising slogan with "Good for the Body, Good for the Soul." The Campbell twins were also made a bite more slender to reflect the prevailing health conscious culture. For a history of the Campbell company log onto their website at http://www.campbellsoup.com or you can visit the Campbell Museum (opened in 1970) located in Camden, New Jersey that showcases the company's soup tureen collection.

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/9158/4073gr6.jpg

"Mmmm Good! Mmmm Good!  That's why Campbell's Soups are Mmmm Good!"  When I was a kid, my mom used to sing this jingle when she would yawn ;D

reminds me of...

reminds me of...




awww...the Gerber baby is SO cute!

This week's retro icon (special thanks to Cat for the great suggestion of this one ;)):


The Morton Salt Umbrella Girl

The Morton Umbrella Girl has been an enduring icon since she first appeared on our table salt packaging in 1914.
In 1911, Morton’s first advertising campaign for a series of ads in Good Housekeeping created the idea for the girl and her slogan, "When it Rains it Pours."

One of the concepts presented to Morton was an image of a little girl holding an umbrella in one hand to ward off falling rain and a package of salt in the other hand that was tilted back with the spout open and salt running out.

Morton loved the picture that expressed the Morton message — that salt would run even in damp weather. But the copy that went with it, "Even in rainy weather, it flows freely," was too long. Morton felt it needed to be shorter and snappier.

So the advertising agency came up with: "Flows Freely," "Runs Freely," "Pours" and finally, an old proverb, "It never rains, but it pours." The adage was rejected for being too negative. A more positive spin on it resulted in the now famous slogan, "When it Rains it Pours."

The Umbrella Girl remains ageless, but she has continued to changed with the times. Makeovers to modernize her looks began in 1921 and continued in 1933, 1941, 1956 and 1968.


The Umbrella Girl through the Years


1914
The original Morton Salt Umbrella Girl appeared in 1914 with the now familiar slogan 'When It Rains It Pours".
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/5470/umbgirl1914xv0.jpg

1921
The second Morton Salt Umbrella Girl danced on the scene 1921. The twenties were roaring and the little Morton girl was still pouring.
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/527/umbgirl1921ac0.jpg

1933
In the post-Depression years from 1933 to 1941, jazz was king. And as it reigned, our little girl kept pouring.
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/7638/umbgirl1933it2.jpg

1941
The fourth Morton Salt Umbrella Girl was introduced to America in 1941. While our boys were off to war, our little girl was serving at home.
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/3286/umbgirl1941ve4.jpg


1956
Rock and roll was starting to shake things up in 1956 and our little girl was still filling salt shakers.
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/1724/umbgirl1956ys2.jpg

1968-Today
Since her most recent makeover in 1968, the current Umbrella Girl has been with us through moon launches, hip-hop and the growth of the Internet.
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/8377/umbgirl1968ol3.jpg

Awww, cute! I've always loved that one.  :) 

Hey Erin, I found this neat site of advertising icons, I think you'll like it.
http://www.advertisingiconmuseum.com/  Just click on gallery to see 'em.

Awww, cute! I've always loved that one.  :) 

Hey Erin, I found this neat site of advertising icons, I think you'll like it.
http://www.advertisingiconmuseum.com/  Just click on gallery to see 'em.



hehe!! I found that awhile ago..and that's where I get a lot of my ideas for the thread from. Wouldn't it be divine to visit there? :)

This is one I don't know, partly because in Canada, Morton Salt is known as Windsor Salt

http://www.designedgecanada.com/images/windsorsalt.gif

This is one I don't know, partly because in Canada, Morton Salt is known as Windsor Salt

http://www.designedgecanada.com/images/windsorsalt.gif



well, that's a funky retro design, now...isn't it? :D

has anyone mentioned the lovely coppertone girl?
and the monopoly guy!

well, that's a funky retro design, now...isn't it? :D


I still get Windsor Salt just for the awesome box it comes in 8)

This is one I don't know, partly because in Canada, Morton Salt is known as Windsor Salt

http://www.designedgecanada.com/images/windsorsalt.gif


Ooooh, I love that packaging!  :)

I haven't bought Windsor Salt in a long time, but I notice they changed the packaging for a more modern look ...

http://www.windsorsalt.com/images/food_salt_images/1and2kg.gif

I just love those blue and gold spheres 8)

Awww, cute! I've always loved that one.  :) 

Hey Erin, I found this neat site of advertising icons, I think you'll like it.
http://www.advertisingiconmuseum.com/  Just click on gallery to see 'em.



That looks like it could be either two of my sisters' rooms. One collects fast food toys (who knows how many she has) and the other collects dolls (again, who knows how many). The one who collects the toys used to have them all in her bedroom (until the toys took over and she had to move out  :D ;D ;D ). One time, my niece brought home her boyfriend for the first and my sister was thinking about asking him, "Do you want to come into my bedroom and see my toys?" My niece looked at her and said, "DON'T YOU DARE!!!!"  :D ;D ;D ;D ;D Yeah, my sister was a good girl and didn't embarrassed her daughter-that time.  :D ;D ;D



Cat

I haven't bought Windsor Salt in a long time, but I notice they changed the packaging for a more modern look ...

http://www.windsorsalt.com/images/food_salt_images/1and2kg.gif

I just love those blue and gold spheres 8)



Man, they always have to go and ruin a good thing. ::)

This week's retro icon is:

Alfred E. Neumann

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/89/Alfred.jpg



Alfred E. Neuman is the fictional mascot of EC Publications' Mad magazine. The face had drifted through American pictography for decades before being claimed by Mad editor Harvey Kurtzman after he spotted it on the bulletin board in the office of Ballantine Books editor Bernard Shir-Cliff, later a contributor to various magazines created by Kurtzman.

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/3088/auroramadsd7.jpg


History

Since his debut in Mad, Neuman's likeness, distinguished by jug ears, a missing front tooth, and one eye disquietingly lower than the other, has graced the cover of all but a handful of the magazine's 450+ issues. His face does not translate well to profile, and thus he has almost always been shown in full frontal view or in silhouette.

The first use of this face by Kurtzman came November 1954 on the back cover of Ballantine's The Mad Reader, a paperback collection of reprints from the first two years of Mad. The character's first appearance in the comic book was on the cover of Mad 21 (March 1955), barely visible as part of a mock ad: a rubber mask bearing his likeness with "idiot" written underneath was offered for $1.29. Kurtzman began to introduce other running gags at this time, notably the word Potrzebie.

His third appearance was in the border of the first magazine version of Mad 24 (July 1955) with his now-familiar signature phrase "What, me worry?" written underneath. Initially, the phrase was rendered "What? Me worry?". This border would be used on the cover of every issue up until Mad 30 (December 1956) and thereafter appear on the table of contents page of the reprint series More Trash from Mad from 1958 to 1960 and The Worst from Mad from 1958 to 1961. Neuman also appeared, by name only, in an early Don Martin feature, "Alfred E. Neuman Answers Your Questions." In it, Neuman answered a letter from a suicidal reader by giving "expert advice" on the best technique for tying a hangman's knot.

The character was also briefly known as Mel Haney. In Mad 25, the face and name were brought together as Alfred E. Neuman, but in that same issue, the face appears with the name Mel Haney.

In late 1956, Neuman's identity became fixed, when he appeared on the cover of Mad #30 as a write-in candidate for the Presidency. His features, which had first been rendered in black-and-white by Bill Elder, were fine-tuned and recreated in color by Norman Mingo. It was this image that appeared on the cover of issue 30, and which became the character's defining portrait. Beginning with issue 30, and continuing to the present day, Neuman has appeared on the cover of every issue of Mad and its spinoffs, in one form or another, with the exception of a small handful of issues. One such exception was Mad 233 (September 1982) which replaced Neuman's image with that of Pac-Man.

Mingo painted seven more Neuman covers through 1957 and later became the magazine's signature cover artist throughout the 1960s and 1970s, although Kelly Freas rendered Neuman for Mad from 1958 to 1962. A female version of Alfred, named Moxie Cowznofski and occasionally described in editorial text as Alfred's "girlfriend," appeared briefly during the late 1950s. Alfred and Moxie were sometimes depicted side-by-side, defeating any speculation that Moxie was possibly Alfred in female guise. Her name was inspired by Moxie, a soft drink manufactured in Portland, Maine which was sold nationwide in the '50s and mentioned almost obsessively (usually as the butt of a joke) in early issues of Mad.

Mad routinely combines Neuman with another character for its cover images. Neuman has appeared in a slew of guises, including Santa Claus, Darth Vader, George Washington, King Kong, Baby New Year, Lawrence of Arabia, Batman, Robin, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Rosemary's Baby, George S. Patton, the Fiddler on the Roof, Alex from A Clockwork Orange, Barbra Streisand, Mr. T, Indiana Jones, Radar O'Reilly, Bruce Springsteen, Mr. Spock, Pee Wee Herman, Michael Jackson, a California Raisin, Don King, Robin Hood, Abraham Lincoln, Guns N' Roses' Slash, the Man in the Moon, an Oscar statuette, Jabba the Hutt, Wolverine, Gollum, Spongebob Squarepants, Agent Smith from The Matrix,Kurt Cobain Shrek, Dr. Octopus, The Incredibles' Jack-Jack, George W. Bush, Justin Timberlake, Harry Potter, Barry Bonds, the Mona Lisa, and Uncle Sam ("Who Needs You?") among many other familiar faces. Since his unsuccessful run in 1956, he has periodically been re-offered as a candidate for President with the slogan, "You could do worse... and always have!"

Considering Neuman's ubiquity as a cover boy, it is perhaps ironic that the single highest-selling issue of Mad depicted only his feet. The cover image, spoofing the 1973 film The Poseidon Adventure, showed Neuman floating upside-down inside a life preserver.

Along with his face, Mad also includes a short humorous quotation credited to Neuman with every issue's table of contents. Some of these quotations were collected in the book, Mad: The Half-Wit and Wisdom of Alfred E. Neuman (Warner Treasures, 1997), illustrated by Sergio Aragonés.

Neuman is now used exclusively as a mascot and iconic symbol of the magazine, but before this status was codified, he was referenced in several early articles. In one, he gave "advice" to supposed letters; in one of his replies, a suicidal reader was instructed on the best way to tie a knot. Other articles featured the school newspaper of "Neuman High School," and a bulletin from "Alfred E. Neuman University." An article entitled "Alfred E. Neuman's Family Tree" depicted historical versions of Neuman from various eras. Since then, Neuman has appeared only occasionally inside the magazine's articles. A recurring feature titled "Poor Alfred's Almanac" showed his face atop the page, but otherwise the character had no involvement. In an issue in 1968, Alfred's face was assembled, feature by feature, from parts of photographs of well-known politicos, including then-President Lyndon B. Johnson (left ear), Richard Nixon (nose), Oregon Governor Mark Hatfield (eyes), and Ronald Reagan (hair). The gap in his teeth (using the grin of Dwight D. Eisenhower,) came from "The 'Credibility Gap' Created by Practically All Politicians."

Neuman's famous catch phrase is the intellectually uncurious "What, me worry?" This was changed for one issue to "Yes, me worry!" after the Three Mile Island nuclear meltdown in 1979. On the cover of current printings of the paperback The Ides of MAD, as rendered by long-time cover artist Norman Mingo, Alfred is portrayed as a Roman bust with his catch phrase engraved on the base, rendered, of course, into Latin-- Quid, Me Vexari?

Over the decades, Neuman has often appeared in political cartoons as a shorthand for unquestioning stupidity. In recent years, Alfred E. Neuman's features have frequently been merged with those of George W. Bush by editorial cartoonists such as Mike Luckovich and Tom Tomorrow. The image has also appeared on magazine covers, notably The Nation, ) and in numerous Photoshop images and GIF files in which Neuman's face morphs into Bush's. A large Bush/Neuman poster was part of the Washington protests that accompanied Bush's 2001 inauguration. The alleged resemblance between the two has been noted more than once by Hillary Clinton. On July 10, 2005, speaking at the Aspen Institute's Ideas Festival, she said, "I sometimes feel that Alfred E. Neuman is in charge in Washington," referring to Bush's purported "What, me worry?" attitude. Neuman's features have also been compared to others in the public eye, including Prince Charles, Ted Koppel, Oliver North and David Letterman.

Alfred E. Neuman's surname is very frequently misspelled as "Newman."

Alfred E. Neuman's most prominent feature is his gap-toothed grin, which has appeared on nearly every issue of Mad. A notable exception was the November 2001 issue, the first to be produced following the 9-11 terrorist attacks in the United States. The cover showed a close up of Neuman's mouth, but his gap was now filled with a red, white and blue tooth in the pattern of an American flag.

In 1983, Neuman was featured with E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The cover showed E.T. preparing to board his spaceship, using his famous "healing finger" to touch Alfred E. Neuman's mouth and make a new 32nd tooth appear, giving him a full smile.

Neuman also appeared as himself in a political cartoon, after Newsweek had been criticized for using computer graphics to retouch the teeth of the mother of the McCaughey septuplets. The cartoon had a split-screen comparison, where Alfred E. Neuman was featured on the cover of Mad with his usual gap-toothed grin, then also featured on the cover of Newsweek, but with a perfect smile.