The 1950s were arguably the golden age of television and many people of a certain age look back fondly at some of the shows of the time - "The Lone Ranger", "I Love Lucy" and "Gunsmoke". These shows were in black and white and were watched on a set that got its signal from a huge antenna on the roof, but they were loved just the same.
Almost as compelling as the TV shows themselves, were some of the commercials of the time. TV was still a novelty during the 1950s and companies were anxious to cash in on the new craze. Particularly popular were commercials for cigarettes, cars and state of the art kitchen appliances. And the average length of TV advertisements was around a minute - compared to the 30 seconds or less today.
Beer was also one of the products widely advertised on TV during the 1950s. At first, it was only late at night and never on a Sunday, so as not to offend anyone. During the early part of the decade, Blatz Beer became one of the beer industry's biggest advertisers, partly due to the company's sponsorship of the popular "Amos 'n' Andy" show.
One of the most instantly recognizable characters in television advertising at the time was Mabel. Mabel was a chirpy blond waitress who appeared on screen with a tray of Carling Black Label beer. Almost every Carling commercial featured the phrase that became famous - "Hey, Mabel, Black Label!"
Cigarette advertisements were commonplace during the 1950s - a big change from television today. Some of the biggest tobacco manufacturers of the time spent a lot of money trying to convince us that smoking was sophisticated and fun, including Lucky Strike, Tareyton and Winston.
One famous Lucky Strike ad featured a clever combination of cartoon and live action, featuring the singer Gisele McKenzie. Tareytown had an ad that featured what appeared to be two children dancing around a giant pack of cigarettes. And who can possibly forget the Fontane Sisters singing the praises of Chesterfield cigarettes?
Car manufacturers went to great lengths to advertise the latest models on television during the 1950s despite the loss of aesthetic effect on a black and white screen. The Ford Edsel was advertised at great length as the most beautiful convertible in the world, complete with such wonderful and innovative features as "teletouch" driving and air suspension.
It wasn't all just cars, beer and tobacco. Some healthier products were advertised as well. One of the most well known ads of the era was for Pepsodent toothpaste. The TV ad featured a cute cartoon couple kissing after having brushed their teeth, and the catchy and unforgettable slogan - "You'll wonder where the yellow went, when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent!"
TV advertisements for kitchen appliances pointed out features that we now take for granted. A General Electric ad from the time for a new refrigerator consisted of a proud couple explaining the features of their sleek new fridge which included shelves that slid out, storage space behind the door and a separate freezer compartment.
And some things don't seem to have changed much over the years. Tupperware ran a series of TV ads during the 1950s which featured an exciting Tupperware evening at a typical suburban home, organized by a "hostess". Almost as much emphasis was placed on the social aspect, as on the actual features of the product.
One of the most prolific TV advertisers during the 1950s and subsequent decades was Pepsi. Their advertisements captured the feeling of the times like few others. One of the company's earliest featured the actress and singer Polly Bergen enjoying a barn dance and a refreshing glass of Pepsi-Cola.
Not to be outdone, Coca-Cola was just as prolific with their ads and came up with several memorable slogans, such as "There's nothing like a Coke". Coca-Cola also went after the young crowd, with an ad featuring people at diners and drive-in movie theaters and a jingle that claimed "Zing! What a feeling!"
Many television viewers firmly maintain that the advertisements are just as good as the actual shows themselves! It seems as though that was especially true back in the 1950s. And if you just can't get enough of those old commercials, you can enjoy some of them on DVD or online.
~ Ben Anton, 2008
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
On the television show "So You Think You Can Dance ...
By: angco813 | 10-07-2008
On the television show "So You Think You Can Dance" several people had on shirts with IV REAL on them. What does this stand for?
Lost ARG
By: rasta | 10-07-2008
I am looking for information about the first lost arg ( tv show) started in late 2003. it was mainly on the abc message boards but was much deeper than what the public saw. Thanks
Help?
By: jasmania | 10-07-2008
Where can I watch full episodes of television shows online?
Old television shows
By: jasmania | 09-07-2008
Where can I watch old television shows online?
Hells Kicthen Season 5???
By: deirbilldeir | 09-07-2008
I'd like audition, when do Hell's Kitchen auditions for season 5 begin? qt=q
The Bachelorette
By: BellaX | 09-07-2008
In the last show of the Bachelorette, Mat and Shane came back, do you think they looked happy? Do you think they are going to get married or break up?
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Art and Entertainment Articles
Take Care of Your Gold Watches
By: Tiraton Athiwat | 19/07/2008
The luster and warm tone of gold never appears to go off out of fashion and style. Rather with the years, it has become more appealing choice for the jewelry buyers and designers. Gold is the softest metal and if kept with proper care, it lasts forever. This is the reason that there has been much demand for the gold watches too.
W.C. Handy, the Quintessential Memphis Musician
By: Phoenix Delray | 19/07/2008
This article tells about some of the musicians in Memphis
The History of Memphis Blues Music
By: Phoenix Delray | 18/07/2008
This article discusses about the origin of the blues music in Memphis
Meet The Famous Musicians From Memphis
By: Phoenix Delray | 18/07/2008
This article tells more about the Memphis musicians.
7 Beatrix Potter Quotes to Celebrate a Childhood Favorite
By: Noel Jameson | 18/07/2008
Beatrix Potter wrote her way into the hearts of millions of children with her Peter Rabbit tales. While her body left us decades ago, her spirit and her legacy still live on. Let's commemorate this year's anniversary of her birth with these seven Beatrix Potter quotes.
Cigars: A Great Bachelorette Party Gift
By: Ann Knapp | 18/07/2008
Unlike many wedding customs, it's not so hard to get to the bottom of the origin of the bachelorette party. It's a fairly recent innovation, the result of the cross-breeding of the traditional bachelorette's tea
with the idea of the bachelor party, with a bit of the even-more-traditional bridal shower mixed in.
Get Going With Race Games
By: Ajeet Khurana | 17/07/2008
When you play racing games you probably feel happier because you really enjoy them. Physiologically playing a game can make us feel better because of the effects on the brain. It is amazing that people become addicted to these games because after all they are just entertainment option. However, when...
Online and Offline Car Race Games
By: Ajeet Khurana | 17/07/2008
If you want to play race car games then the best way to do so is to play online. The Internet is chock full of websites that have such sports so your best option is to search different websites and find the ones that you would love. Of course, there...
More from Ben Anton
LED Headlamps: The Top 3 Industries Benefiting From New LED Technology
By: Ben Anton | 10/07/2008 | Careers
Headlamp technology has come a long way since it was first introduced, with LED lights sources now replacing the candles and light bulbs of previous decades. LED headlamps are used in a number of different industries but there are three specific industries which have gotten the most use out of...
Building Your Natural Disaster Preparation Kits
By: Ben Anton | 10/07/2008 | Home Improvement
The recent flooding in the Midwest has the strength and devastation of natural disasters on everyone's mind. The sad fact is that families seem to just be coming to understanding that natural disasters can happen to anyone, anywhere. Thankfully, more people are trying to educate themselves on what...
How to Properly Maintain Your Golf Cart
By: Ben Anton | 10/07/2008 | Sports and Fitness
Summer is here and that means many men and women will be spending more time out on the links exploring new as well as familiar courses and improving their game along the way. Just as golfers get a workout each day of play, so does their golf cart. Golf carts...
Disaster Recovery: Mold Damage Clean-up
By: Ben Anton | 05/07/2008 | Business
Indoor and outdoor molds and fungi are present at harmless levels nearly everywhere we go. Mold growth levels can rise to unsafe and harmful amounts after a water-related disaster. Nearly all building materials, documents, appliances and furniture are susceptible to mold growth. The longer they are allowed to linger, the...
Disaster Recovery Services: Types of Water Damage
By: Ben Anton | 05/07/2008 | Business
Water damage is caused by a number of things including flooding, burst or leaky pipes, fire hoses, and regular humidity. Water damage is typically very severe because it impacts every aspect of your home. It can rots the wood in your floors, furniture and walls. It can rust the steel...
Flat Panel Screens: Camouflaging Your TV
By: Ben Anton | 01/07/2008 | Art and Entertainment
For many families, the television has become the focal point for the activity in the family room or home theater room. This means it tends to take up a large portion of the room and is what much of the furniture and lighting is developed around. But that looks all...
Sellwood: Charm and Eccentricity in the Heart of Portland
By: Ben Anton | 29/06/2008 | Real Estate
Portland is home to a number of distinct, eclectic neighborhoods. The Pearl offers ritzy, high-class boutiques and restaurants. Downtown is great for bar hopping. Northeast Alberta and Mississippi are home to a flourishing arts scene. The Hawthorne district overflows with funky shops and colorful characters. But if you are looking...
Eulogy Writing: The Origins of Funeral Eulogy Poems
By: Ben Anton | 28/06/2008 | Home and Family
People almost exclusively associate a funeral eulogy or elegy with the passing of a friend or loved one. While it is true that the modern versions are indeed most often used to lament someone's death, the two distinct literary styles have a long and surprising history.
A Eulogy is used to...
Art and Entertainment 
