| The 1950s were arguably the golden age of television | | | | as the most beautiful convertible in the world, complete |
| and many people of a certain age look back fondly at | | | | with such wonderful and innovative features as |
| some of the shows of the time - "The Lone Ranger", "I | | | | "teletouch" driving and air suspension. |
| Love Lucy" and "Gunsmoke". These shows were in | | | | It wasn't all just cars, beer and tobacco. Some healthier |
| black and white and were watched on a set that got | | | | products were advertised as well. One of the most |
| its signal from a huge antenna on the roof, but they | | | | well known ads of the era was for Pepsodent |
| were loved just the same. | | | | toothpaste. The TV ad featured a cute cartoon couple |
| Almost as compelling as the TV shows themselves, | | | | kissing after having brushed their teeth, and the catchy |
| were some of the commercials of the time. TV was | | | | and unforgettable slogan - "You'll wonder where the |
| still a novelty during the 1950s and companies were | | | | yellow went, when you brush your teeth with |
| anxious to cash in on the new craze. Particularly | | | | Pepsodent!" |
| popular were commercials for cigarettes, cars and | | | | TV advertisements for kitchen appliances pointed out |
| state of the art kitchen appliances. And the average | | | | features that we now take for granted. A General |
| length of TV advertisements was around a minute - | | | | Electric ad from the time for a new refrigerator |
| compared to the 30 seconds or less today. | | | | consisted of a proud couple explaining the features of |
| Beer was also one of the products widely advertised | | | | their sleek new fridge which included shelves that slid |
| on TV during the 1950s. At first, it was only late at night | | | | out, storage space behind the door and a separate |
| and never on a Sunday, so as not to offend anyone. | | | | freezer compartment. |
| During the early part of the decade, Blatz Beer | | | | And some things don't seem to have changed much |
| became one of the beer industry's biggest advertisers, | | | | over the years. Tupperware ran a series of TV ads |
| partly due to the company's sponsorship of the popular | | | | during the 1950s which featured an exciting |
| "Amos 'n' Andy" show. | | | | Tupperware evening at a typical suburban home, |
| One of the most instantly recognizable characters in | | | | organized by a "hostess". Almost as much emphasis |
| television advertising at the time was Mabel. Mabel | | | | was placed on the social aspect, as on the actual |
| was a chirpy blond waitress who appeared on screen | | | | features of the product. |
| with a tray of Carling Black Label beer. Almost every | | | | One of the most prolific TV advertisers during the |
| Carling commercial featured the phrase that became | | | | 1950s and subsequent decades was Pepsi. Their |
| famous - "Hey, Mabel, Black Label!" | | | | advertisements captured the feeling of the times like |
| Cigarette advertisements were commonplace during | | | | few others. One of the company's earliest featured |
| the 1950s - a big change from television today. Some | | | | the actress and singer Polly Bergen enjoying a barn |
| of the biggest tobacco manufacturers of the time | | | | dance and a refreshing glass of Pepsi-Cola. |
| spent a lot of money trying to convince us that | | | | Not to be outdone, Coca-Cola was just as prolific with |
| smoking was sophisticated and fun, including Lucky | | | | their ads and came up with several memorable |
| Strike, Tareyton and Winston. | | | | slogans, such as "There's nothing like a Coke". |
| One famous Lucky Strike ad featured a clever | | | | Coca-Cola also went after the young crowd, with an |
| combination of cartoon and live action, featuring the | | | | ad featuring people at diners and drive-in movie |
| singer Gisele McKenzie. Tareytown had an ad that | | | | theaters and a jingle that claimed "Zing! What a |
| featured what appeared to be two children dancing | | | | feeling!" |
| around a giant pack of cigarettes. And who can | | | | Many television viewers firmly maintain that the |
| possibly forget the Fontane Sisters singing the praises | | | | advertisements are just as good as the actual shows |
| of Chesterfield cigarettes? | | | | themselves! It seems as though that was especially |
| Car manufacturers went to great lengths to advertise | | | | true back in the 1950s. And if you just can't get enough |
| the latest models on television during the 1950s despite | | | | of those old commercials, you can enjoy some of |
| the loss of aesthetic effect on a black and white | | | | them on DVD or online. |
| screen. The Ford Edsel was advertised at great length | | | | |