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Thanks, Easter Bunny (Bawk Bawk)

Screenshot of commercial

In honor of this Easter Sunday, I wanted to share my all-time favorite Easter TV commercial. This M&M’s ad spot ran in 1984.   Ah, the memories… Related Posts10 Retro Easter Crafts Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas Thanksgiving Leftovers: Turkey Soup & Stew Thanksgiving Turkey: My Favorite Recipe & Tips French Fashion Perfume Ads

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St. Patrick’s Day Ice Cream (Ten-B-Low)

Ten-B-Low Ice Cream Ad

From Ten-B-Low Concentrated Real Ice Cream comes this 1950s ad for a minty, green frozen treat to celebrate March 17th. Ten-B-Low was a trademarked brand that started in 1941, producing a condensed milk product that was used as a base in making any flavor ice cream at home. It was sold in cans that yielded [...]

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Why, This Mixor is Marvelous

Retro pink Waring Mixor ad from 1955

In 1937, Fred Waring introduced the first blender – the Miracle Mixer – at the National Restaurant Show. Waring was a well-known musician and band leader during the 1930s to the 1950s, and frequently appeared on the radio. Soon after its introduction, the kitchen appliance name was changed to the Waring Blendor. Later, the Waring [...]

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Vintage Whitman’s Valentine’s Day Ads

Whitman's Sampler Box Ad

In the beginning (nearly 2,000 years ago), consumption of chocolate drinks and the like were reserved for special occasions. Its labeling as an aphrodisiac increased chocolate’s popularity.  For some time, the elite enjoyed the benefits of the cocoa bean, while others used it as currency. Chocolate was a true luxury – some believed it even [...]

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Deliciously Retro: The Layer Cake

Betty Crocker cake mix ad

Cakes themselves have a long history, well before the introduction of the cupcake (which dates back at least to the 1800s). For centuries we’ve been weighing (or measuring) fats, solids, liquids and flavorings and baking them until they rise to perfection. The layered cake, though, is much more modern – one of the first recipes [...]

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Armstrong Vinyl Corlon (1950s)

1959 Armstrong Corlon Ad

From May 1959 comes this ad for Armstrong Vinyl Corlon. Trademarked in 1946 and introduced in the late ’50s, Corlon became a popular “luxury” material. It was pricey, but was built to last. > View Larger Image of this Ad This vintage ad represents the pride companies took in their products, and the appealing designs [...]

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Frigidaire’s Pull ‘N Clean Oven

Pull 'N Clean Oven Ad

Forget kneeling, bending and reaching. This oven features a slide-out insert that simplifies the task. Frigidaire introduced the Pull ‘N Clean oven in 1958, and continued producing it through the mid-60s. Those wanting wall-ovens found simplicity, too, with a drop-leaf door that opened fully. Related PostsNo More Twinkies? Retro Brand Hostess Closes Shop Retro Candy: [...]

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Rubbermaid’s New Sink Fashions (1950s)

1950s Rubbermaid Sink Fashions

Following suit of total color coordination, Rubbermaid created matching dish drainers, sink mats and countertop drainer trays. Many retro colors were available. This late ’50s ad shows a turquoise/pastel. Other colors included sunshine yellow, green, red and deep blue. This entire set could be had for under $10 (ad shows “as little as $7.96″). Related [...]

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Woolworth’s Gumdrop Goody Tree (Ad)

Woolworth's Gumdrop Goody Tree Ad

This ad from the early ’50s features Woolworth’s Gumdrop Goody Tree. The plastic tree was available in two sizes: 13″ and 7″, and was marketed not just for Christmas, but also birthdays and other holidays. Did you have one of these unique trees? Related PostsDIY Sweets: Christmas Lightbulb Candy Weekend DIY: Snow Globes Retro Planet [...]

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1950s Ford Dealership Promotional Thermometer

Ford Sales Promo Thermometer

In the 1950s it was popular for businesses to promote constant and word-of-mouth advertising by giving away useful items. Among the most common promotional items were desk and wall calendars, matchbooks, shoe horns and writing instruments. It was also common for business to offer more elaborate tools and household items with significant purchases, like this [...]

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Early 1950s Reynolds Thanksgiving Ad

Reynolds Foil Ad

For many of us, Thanksgiving brings back lots of fond memories. So do the vintage ads that graced magazine and newspaper pages. Many Thanksgiving ads included recipes and tips on making the best turkey, cranberry sauce or unique side dishes. Here’s an early 1950s ad for Reynolds Aluminum Foil. From the ad copy: Don’t let [...]

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Josephine the Plumber

Image of Josephine the Plumber for Comet

By the mid-1960s an American actress became a household name, despite the fact that it wasn’t her own. Josephine the Plumber was a popular character for Comet cleanser, appearing in scores of television commercials and print ads. Jane Withers started her acting career at age three, and was a popular child film star of the [...]

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The Edsel Show

The Edsel Show

By the mid- to late-1950s television was dominating the American living room. Sponsorship was a networks’ key form of programming support, and there were plenty of big companies willing to spend the money to get their names out there. Texaco, Colgate, Kraft, and many other corporations, sponsored entire programs that came with naming rights. Texaco [...]

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1950s Colors: Cannon Towels & Toilet Paper

Cannon Towels Ad 1955

In the 1950s bathroom, color was everything. Often the powder room used one primary color from the pastel palette, and one or two accent colors. It didn’t stop with the walls, fixtures and decor items, either. Manufacturers of all kinds of products recognized the ’50s color palette and used it to offer a plethora of [...]

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