Remember when TV commercials were actually entertaining? Back in the 1960s, advertising wasn’t just about selling products – it was an art form that created lasting memories and catchy jingles we can still sing today. Let’s take a nostalgic trip down memory lane and revisit some of the most unforgettable commercials that defined our generation.
Table of Contents
- 1 1. The Iconic “Things Go Better With Coke” Campaign
- 2 2. The Unforgettable Alka-Seltzer “Plop Plop, Fizz Fizz”
- 3 3. The Green Giant’s “Ho Ho Ho”
- 4 4. The Original Ronald McDonald
- 5 5. The “See the USA in Your Chevrolet” Campaign
- 6 6. Winston Tastes Good “Like a Cigarette Should”
- 7 7. The Unforgettable Mr. Clean Jingle
- 8 8. The Rice-A-Roni San Francisco Treat
- 9 9. The Marlboro Man’s Silent Appeal
- 10 10. The Volkswagen “Think Small” Revolution
- 11 11. Shake N Bake’s “And I Helped!”
- 12 12. The Timex “Takes a Licking and Keeps on Ticking”
- 13 13. The Memorable Maxwell House “Good to the Last Drop”
- 14 14. The Memorable Maytag Lonely Repairman
1. The Iconic “Things Go Better With Coke” Campaign
In 1963, Coca-Cola launched what would become one of the most successful advertising campaigns of the decade. The “Things Go Better With Coke” spots featured popular musicians of the day performing the catchy jingle in their own style. Ray Charles’s version particularly stood out, with his soulful rendition becoming an instant classic that had us all reaching for an ice-cold Coke.
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2. The Unforgettable Alka-Seltzer “Plop Plop, Fizz Fizz”
Who could forget the “plop plop, fizz fizz, oh what a relief it is” jingle? Launched in 1967, this Alka-Seltzer campaign was pure genius in its simplicity. The animated Speedy Alka-Seltzer character became a household name, and the sound of those tablets dropping into water became permanently etched in our collective memory.
3. The Green Giant’s “Ho Ho Ho”
The Jolly Green Giant became a cultural icon in the 1960s with his deep “Ho Ho Ho” and “Valley of the Jolly Green Giant” jingle. The massive green figure towering over the valley of vegetables made frozen and canned vegetables seem almost magical to us kids, and our mothers couldn’t keep enough of those kitchen staples in stock.
4. The Original Ronald McDonald
In 1963, Willard Scott debuted as the original Ronald McDonald, wearing a food tray for a hat and a cup for a nose. The early commercials were quite different from today’s polished productions, with a certain raw charm that made them memorable. That first version of Ronald might look a bit frightening by today’s standards, but back then, he had us begging our parents for those 15-cent hamburgers.
5. The “See the USA in Your Chevrolet” Campaign
Dinah Shore’s iconic Chevrolet commercials continued into the 1960s, capturing the optimistic spirit of the era. The way she sang “See the USA in your Chevrolet” while throwing that kiss became part of Americana. These ads perfectly captured the romance of the open road and the American dream of family road trips across this great nation.
6. Winston Tastes Good “Like a Cigarette Should”
While we know better now about smoking, the Winston cigarette commercials were everywhere in the 1960s. The grammatically controversial slogan “Winston tastes good like a cigarette should” sparked national debate among English teachers and editors, while the catchy jingle played on every channel. It was one of the last great cigarette advertising campaigns before they were banned from television.
7. The Unforgettable Mr. Clean Jingle
The muscular, bald Mr. Clean character became a household name in the 1960s with his catchy jingle: “Mr. Clean gets rid of dirt and grime and grease in just a minute.” The animated character’s knowing smile and magical cleaning abilities made housework seem almost fun, and our mothers couldn’t resist his promise of effortless cleaning.
8. The Rice-A-Roni San Francisco Treat
The Rice-A-Roni commercials featuring San Francisco’s cable cars and that infectious “The San Francisco Treat” jingle debuted in 1960. Those ads, with their shots of cable cars climbing the city’s hills and that memorable tune, made Rice-A-Roni seem like an exotic dish straight from the streets of San Francisco, even though it was just rice and pasta in a box.
9. The Marlboro Man’s Silent Appeal
The Marlboro Man commercials of the 1960s rarely needed words – just sweeping vistas of the American West and a rugged cowboy. These wordless mini-dramas were revolutionary in their simplicity, letting the stunning cinematography and the iconic image of the cowboy speak for themselves. They transformed Marlboro from a women’s cigarette to a symbol of American masculinity.
10. The Volkswagen “Think Small” Revolution
While not known for catchy jingles, Volkswagen’s revolutionary “Think Small” campaign changed advertising forever. These commercials were honest, self-deprecating, and intelligent – a complete departure from the oversized, oversold American cars of the era. They made the tiny Beetle cool in a way that still influences advertising today.
11. Shake N Bake’s “And I Helped!”
Launched in 1965, Shake N Bake’s commercials featured proud children proclaiming “And I helped!” after assisting their mothers with dinner preparation. These ads perfectly captured the family dynamics of the era, making cooking seem like a fun family activity rather than a chore. The catchphrase became so popular that people still quote it today, even if they’re too young to remember the original commercials.
12. The Timex “Takes a Licking and Keeps on Ticking”
John Cameron Swayze’s Timex commercials were must-see TV in the 1960s. Each spot featured an increasingly outrageous torture test for a Timex watch – strapped to boat propellers, dropped from buildings, or worn while water skiing. The dramatic demonstrations, followed by Swayze’s signature line “It takes a licking and keeps on ticking,” proved irresistible to viewers.
13. The Memorable Maxwell House “Good to the Last Drop”
Maxwell House’s 1960s commercials brought their famous slogan to life with a series of warm, inviting scenarios featuring the “cup and a half” flavor test. The ads showed real families discovering that Maxwell House coffee was indeed “Good to the Last Drop,” as President Theodore Roosevelt had declared decades earlier. These commercials masterfully tapped into the era’s focus on family gatherings and morning rituals, making Maxwell House a staple in American households.
14. The Memorable Maytag Lonely Repairman
In 1967, Maytag introduced Jesse White as the lonely Maytag repairman, creating one of television’s longest-running advertising characters. The premise was simple but brilliant: Maytag appliances were so reliable that their repairman was bored, lonely, and desperate for service calls. Those commercials perfectly balanced humor with a powerful message about reliability that resonated with homemakers across America.
