From The "Are You Kiddin' ?" Department

If you've got the hot cigarette habit, why not switch to Kool?


This is an ad from the 1950s.

After Roughly Half-A-Century, Trix Are STILL For Kids!

Silly Rabbit.





Mort Marshall, who lated did the voice of frustrated zookeeper Stanley Livingston on the old Tennesse Tuxedo television show (sponsored by General Mills, which made and still makes Trix cereal), voiced the rabbit on this commercial from around 1960. That old slogan is STILL used today in Trix commercials.

Time For Bucky

Here, in an ancient commercial for Ipana Toothpaste, is Bucky Beaver, doing battle in outer space against his archenemy, Decay Germ.






Brusha! Brusha! Brusha!

Hey, What's Goin' On There?

Let's go back to the December 31, 1956 telecast of Lawrence Welk's Top Tunes and New Talent (ABC) and give a listen to Bob Lido as he wonders what's going on behind "The Green Door."

R. I. P. Taco Bell Chihuahua

Gidget, the Taco Bell Chihuahua who delighted millions of television viewers, while at the same time, helped to make fast food tacos adorable, passed away Tuesday night from a stroke at age 15.

And That's the Way It Was

Veteran newsman Walter Cronkite, the long-time (1962-81) anchorman of the CBS Evening News, as well as chief anchorman for CBS News coverage of many major news events, passed away on Friday at age 92.

Oregon Caves Centennial Celebration

This past Saturday, my sister and myself traveled to the Oregon Caves National Mounument.

She took some interesting and fascinating photographs.

State Of Origin: Consolation Win For NSW

At Brisbane, Queensland, Australia:

Ben Creagh scored two tries (19', 66') as New South Wales salvaged one win in their fourth consecutive losing State of Origin Rugby League series, downing Queensland ( who took the series two games to one) 28-16.

From The People Are No Damned Good Department

This guy certainly has made his last trip to the Grand Canyon.

Hey Folks, Remember This?

Remember, kids, not to take presents or rides from strangers.







This is a 1949 educational film from producer-director Sid Davis entitled "The Dangerous Stranger."

And Now, A Word From Our Alternate Sponsor

Here's a commercial from many moons ago for King-Sized Chesterfield Cigarettes.

Yes, that's the legendary Daws Butler doing all the voices on this animated television commercial.

Here's Yogi!

Here is Hanna-Barbera cartoon star Yogi Bear, in an early 1960s commercial, plugging Kellogg's OKs cereal.



Yes, that's Daws Butler as Yogi's voice.

Time For Another Cartoon, Boys and Girls

Here is a Columbia cartoon from 1944 entitled "The Case of the Screaming Bishop." This is a takeoff on Sherlock Holmes produced in black-and-white in 1944. This was part of Columbia's "Phantasy" series.

Personnel:

Direction: Howard Swift

Story: John McLeish

Animation: Jim Armstrong, Grant Simmons

Music: Eddie Kilfeather










Produced by the Screen Gems cartoon studio in Los Angeles and released by Columbia Pictures.

R. I. P. Karl Malden

Academy Award-winning actor Karl Malden, who was also one of the stars of the 1970s TV series, The Streets of San Francisco, as well as long-time commercial spokesman for American Express Travelers Cheques, passed away on Wednesday at age 97.

Jiminy Christmas, Still Another?!

Fred Travalena, a talented comedian and impressionist, lost his seven-year battle Sunday against cancer at age 66. He was a perennial guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and during his 40-year career, delighted audiences with his impersonations of such show biz figures as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Bob Hope.

Not Another?!

Actress/Singer Gale Storm, best remembered for starring in two television sitcoms and recording a cover version of "I Hear You Knocking," passed away on Saturday at age 87.

Ken Roberts, R. I. P.

Perhaps best remembered as the long-time announcer for such television Soap Operas as Love of Life and The Secret Storm, Ken Roberts, who was the father of Broadway and motion picture actor Tony Roberts, passed away on June 19 at age 99 from pneumonia.

Mr. Roberts was also in demand for radio and TV commercials. Here is a 1955 ABC telecast of Dollar A Second, hosted by Jan Murray. On this show, Ken was not only the announcer but also on-camera commercial pitchman for Mogen David wine.









To a generation of TV viewers, he was the announcer of Love of Life and The Secret Storm.

Here is the conclusion of a 1966 CBS telecast of The Secret Storm.

Music performed by Charles Paul.

Death Of A Salesman

This was a rough week for cultural icons, with the recent passings of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson.

Now comes news of the passing of a television commercial and infomercial icon of recent years.

Here's one his commercials:




Billy Mays was 50 years old.

Not Everyone

It appears not everyone misses the recently-deceased "King of Pop."

Red Letter Day For Obits As "Jacko" and Farrah Pass On

As you may have known by now, entertainer and "King of Pop" (as well as cultural icon) Michael Jackson passed away on Thursday in Los Angeles at age 50. Family members suspect that Mr. Jackson passed away from cardiac arrest. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday.

Actress and former Charlie's Angel Farrah Fawcett lost her battle with cancer at age 62, also on Thursday. Miss Fawcett went from emerging as somewhat of a cultural icon from the swimsuit poster she posed for and as being one of the stars of the ABC television series Charlie's Angels in its first season (1976-77) to gaining positive reviews for serious roles in movies and TV, beginning with her performance in "The Burning Bed."