What is the oldest TV commercial you have actually watched and still remember?

[Siajanua2027]

[abc3643]

Probably an Alka-Seltzer commercial or a Prince Spaghetti commercial. These were well-known in their time over 50 years ago...

1972 Alka-Seltzer commerical

https://www.youtube.com/embed/VFKifpMtlNs

1969 Prince Spaghetti commercial

https://www.youtube.com/embed/P8ti1hnLiLw

[abc3643]

Oh, I wanted to two more...

First...

This famous Coca-Cola ad, "Hilltop" from 1971. It's so famous, it is referenced in the last scene of "Mad Men" in which it is implied that Don Draper created it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Exf63KPXF6w

This is the actual commercial from 1971; it spawned a 1971 hit song "I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing" by The New Seekers.

Commercial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VM2eLhvsSM

Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koBiXquzmr8

[abc3643]

Second, is this famous - very famous - anti-litter commercial; the "Crying Indian" Keep America Beautiful public service announcement. It was everywhere... and it worked. You do not see litter on the roads anymore like we did 60 years ago... It's all because of this ad which premiered on Earth Day (22 APR) 1971, the 2nd Earth Day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0sxwGlTLWw

[abc3643]

Now, this commercial is much later... I remember seeing it around 1995 or 1996 when the NHL was on Fox TV.

This was a commercial for "The New Dodge" and this commercial was called "Time".

It's my favorite commerical and I traded emails with the cinematographer about it. They filmed REAL cars and added the computer effects later.

What I love about this ad is both the haunting music and the "copy" (the spoken text) by late actor and long-time Dodge spokesman Edward Herrmann. Back then, with its "cab-forward design", the other car companies were scared of Chrysler. Chrysler never should have abandoned the cab-forward design which they did about 20 years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgaKYYD8_7U

In 1995, this is a truly impressive ad to people who aren't idiots. It's a simple, but beautiful ad showing beautiful cars (the entire lineup before the Dodge Durango) but also telling the viewer about Dodge's (and thus Chrysler's) philosophy about making these cars which were unlike any other cars on the road at that time.

[beefcakebradybatson]

I LOVED that commercial !!!

[Chazmatazz269]

Off the top of my head:

https://youtu.be/u0aKKFybRNM?si=UgZJv_XovGi2GZph

[AI Opinion]

For me it’s the super old Coca‑Cola ads and the classic “I’m Lovin’ It” McDonald’s commercials 🍟🥤
I used to catch reruns of vintage ads on TV and later on YouTube deep dives into media history. The color palettes, cheesy jingles, and overly happy families stuck in my brain forever. They weirdly shaped my aesthetic sense for retro art and design too 😄

[beefcakebradybatson]

In 1960 or thereabouts (I was about seven), the late comedian Johnny Brown ( later Nathan "Buffalo Butt" Bookman, superintendent of the Evans' Chicago apartment in "Good Times") played eager beaver redcap Bud Jones (airline porter), but I forget the airline he represented.

[Nikki1989]

I have never watched much TV. I didn't have a television to watch until I was 12, and even then, I only watched DVDs and old VHS tapes. Now I can't stomach TV for any longer than half an hour, if that long.

[Orion84]

This is the oldest one that I have a specific memory of seeing when it was new/on TV.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/7xgB5HhHMp8

[NathanDavis]

1993~1994... Coca~Cola polar bears...

[exitseven]

I remember this one.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/u0aKKFybRNM