Cynthia Meyers

The Golden Age of 1980s TV Commercials

Were the 1980s a "golden age" for TV commercials? High budgets, cinematic style, catchy jingles, huge audiences--maybe so. Hear me discuss on the Everything 80s podcast open.spotify.com/episode/6A3r...

The Golden Age of 1980s TV Commercials Podcast Episode · Everything 80s · 24/09/2025 · 53m

also here or wherever you get your podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/xk/podcast/t...

New podcast interview just dropped: I talk about 1980s TV comemrcials, including "Where's the Beef?" Apple's 1984 ad, and Michael Jackson changing his lyrics for Pepsi
open.spotify.com/episode/6A3r...

"The automobile has grown from a rich man's luxury and a mechanic's toy to the finest and most dependable personal transportation ever known to mankind." (1941)

"See these latest furniture groups, in captivating color harmony, just as they will look in your home. All the many styles, which include modern and authentic period designs, can be used together -in same room if you wish." (1941)

"Here's a truly gentle, truly feminine soap that leaves you alluringly scented... and daily use stops all body odor! Try it and see..." (1943)

"And because it is our aim to make your postwar home-no matter how modest a home it may be— a marvel of comfort and convenience through the use of electricity." (1944)

"Stockings of glamour" (1941)

This is much sexier ad, IMO--amazed it passed muster for LIFE magazine

"She INSISTS on playing all love scenes with him — since he started using MENNEN SKIN BRACER!" (1941)

This is an ad from a 1944 LIFE magazine: not an adult magazine but a magazine read by families! LIFE ran many ads by underwear companies--they were not considered to be too racy for their readers.

"It's designed for action, shaped to the body in the knitting." (1944)

"All the world likes the man with the clean chin." (1944)

"Next to wives, sweethearts and letters from home, among things our soldiers mention most is Coca-Cola." (1943)

"HOLLYWOOD Maxwell BRASSIERES Used Exclusively in Paramount Pictures" (1941)

"Then let this gift of gifts be one of true beautility--lovely to look at, and rich in promise of pleasant service through the years--perhaps one of these sets by Toastmaster." (1941)

Long Before 'Serial,' a Serial Machine The ad couple who invented the format everyone loved to hate: the soap opera.

I didn't intend this post to be so ironically timely, but it's about the power couple that stamped audio (and arguably TV) writing with advertising's "reason why" ethos, and anonymity too. continuous-wave.beehiiv.com/p/long-befor...

"THE minute Grandma Snider smells spring in the air, she starts hustlin' and bustlin' us Snider Folks out into the garden to start plantin'." (1944)

"Special Coaches for women traveling alone or accompanied by children." (1941 Union Pacific railroad ad)