I suppose young people rarely watch free to air commercial tv and nor do I aside from one evening news broadcast to see the local car crash stories. So they are not exposed to local tv ads it in a way it is shame because some tv ads from the past entered into our almost daily speaking.
"Not happy Jan" was one such phrase used widely. The Yellow Pages was a telephone number directory book for businesses.
The final one is by Madge with "You're soaking in it"; using Palmolive dishwashing liquid as a hand care treatment.
Most Aussies my age will remember these ads but I can see overseas readers rolling their eyes or being puzzled.
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I remember them well - though had forgotten them until this post. Not Happy Jan is a classic.
ReplyDeleteIt was EC, and it is a pity there isn't a better recording on YT.
DeleteNot Happy Jan comes out of my mouth now and again.
ReplyDeleteI remember the other two but maybe toothpaste and washing up liquid catch phrases didn’t have the catchiness (?word) that the yellow pages did
Quite true Cathy. Not Happy Jan is suitable for daily use.
DeleteCertainly, wiser with Australian commercial history now :)
ReplyDeleteThere will be more to come Roentare to continue your edjicashun.
DeleteAnd you would be no mess Charlie?
ReplyDeleteSpoiler alert. Caro failed to notice Pt I in the subject line and has divulged future content, if I can find the ad.
DeleteI was trying to think of the more obscure ones.
DeleteI noticed that there was a boy called Andrew in the Colgate ad.! Could it have been, may it have been in fact was it - you! He was a cute little fellow so perhaps not!
ReplyDeleteOh gosh YP. I didn't think anyone would notice. I'll have you know I was a very cute buy with Mother's spit smoothing down a kiss curl on my forehead, especially cute in my sailor suit. I didn't like the sticking out bits at the sides of my jodhpurs though. What are they for?
DeleteCatching farts.
DeleteMadge the manicurist aired here as did 'not happy, jan'. What about 'i can't believe I ate the whole thing...' Or plop plop fizz fizz'
ReplyDeleteDebby, obviously though not the Australian versions. I suspect Australia may have copied. I have some misty memory of 'I ate the whole thing', but not the final one.
DeleteYes! When the grandchidren were young, we often called them Happy Little Vegemites and always told them to Slip, Slop, Slap on the sun protection cream 😀
ReplyDeleteOh Hels, another spoiler alert for Slip, Slop, Slap.
DeleteI remember all of those ads and probably several more if my mind was jogged.
ReplyDelete"I can't believe it's not butter" and "where's the cheese?"
ReplyDeleteRiver, I keep remembering more, and yes to the butter one but not to the cheese one.
DeletePeter Russell-Clarke advertising Australian cheese.
DeleteHighriser History?? Went there to Trove, interesting and how did you end up there?
ReplyDeleteMy sons don't watch TV only Netflix and such, no news they read it on their phone or tablets, their children never see the news on TV or any shows for that matter therefore no adds.
I remember the adds you have posted and I don't usually watch adds.
Margaret, I was seen worthy of being archived back in those early days. I see some clever ones now but they haven't become part of our lingo.
DeleteMargaret even if you didn't watch commercial TV, the expressions went into the language. I never ate meat, but I still say "Is Don, is good".
ReplyDeleteHels, another good one. If anyone is puzzled, Don was a small goods maker, such as ham, salami etc.
DeleteI am that old that all of these commercials (American form) are familiar. The funny thing now is no more yellow pages. Computers have rendered them useless.
ReplyDeleteI use a special toothpaste now which is a super floride. Yes, again, I am that old!
Maribeth, that's interesting that the ads were similar. I bet we imported the ideas from you. I don't know if White Pages is still printed.
DeleteFunny! I never knew there was an Australian version of Madge the Manicurist. We had Madge in the states too, played by veteran character actress Jan Miner. I've never seen the other two, but I must say, everyone in the Colgate ad has very good teeth. (I do vaguely remember that bit about the chalk -- they must have used that in American ads.)
ReplyDeleteOur Madge was also a well known actor. It seems the ideas for the ads came from the US.
DeleteYou're soaking in it! Remember that one too well.
ReplyDeleteHere at least Strayer, the line was delivered so well.
DeleteWe had our own Madge here, more of a bitter looking and quite smug woman.
ReplyDeleteAlso the offensive "ring around the collar" and I would always scream at the TV: "Wash your neck you filthy man".
Ah memories.
XO
WWW
M, I have some recall of dirty shirt collars in advertising but I can't really remember. Yes, wash your neck.
DeleteI will have to use Not Happy Jen as a gif!!! We record everything so never see ads.
ReplyDeleteJackie, that was perhaps the strongest of all ads.
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