1950s Television Advertising - by Vincent Terrace (Paperback)

About the Book

"In the wake of the first TV commercial-a July 1, 1941, ten-second spot for Bulova Watch on WNBT, New York City's NBC affiliate-came a deluge of advertising on 1950s television. "Winston tastes good like a cigarette should" and "You'll wonder where the yellow went when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent" were two of the many TV advertising slogans of the era. Celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Barbara Eden, and Peter Lorre performed in commercials; shows were built around a single product (e.g., The Colgate Comedy Hour); and numerous premiums attracted children (e.g., The Sky King Detecto Microscope; "Win a Wagon Train Pony"). This unique, nostalgic, and trivia-filled history presents details on the programs and commercials of the 1950s, including rare television theme songs featuring sponsor products"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

"Winston tastes good like a cigarette should" and "You'll wonder where the yellow went when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent" are only two of the many slogans associated with advertising on television in the 1950s. There were celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Barbara Eden, and Peter Lorre who performed in commercials; there were shows built around a single product (e.g., The Texaco Star Theater and The Colgate Comedy Hour); there were numerous premiums offered to children (e.g., The Sky King Detecto Microscope, The Mickey Mouse Club Magazine), and gimmicks used by sponsors to attract viewers to their shows (e.g., "Win a Wagon Train Pony" and "The Howdy Doody Smile Contest").

This is the first and only book of its kind; it is a nostalgic, trivia-filled history presented through the actual programs and commercials of the 1950s. In addition to two extensively detailed sections, which have never been released online or in any other book ("Sponsor and Program" and "Program and Sponsor"), rare television theme songs with their original sponsor tags (products mentioned in the theme songs) are also presented. It all began on July 1, 1941 when WNBT (the NBC affiliate in New York City) televised the first commercial, a ten second spot for Bulova Watches.

Review Quotes

"Both the sponsors and programs that filled the airways are spotlighted. Lists of TV shows, their spokespersons, advertising tag lines and the duration of the shows are listed along with plethora of photographs. Look for product jingles, slogans and a complete programs and sponsors list. This book brought back so many pleasant memories of a more innocent time when America's economy was booming and consumerism reigned."--Boyce McClain's Consumers' Collectors' Corner

"Fans of classic TV will love 1950s Television Advertising TV researcher Vincent Terrace's colorful, richly detailed encyclopedia of commercials--the lifeblood of television programming--for household products, breakfast cereal, jewelry, cigarettes, housekeeping items and other products, with wide-ranging gimmicks and all-star pitch people, including Marilyn Monroe, Barbara Eden and Peter Lorre. Full of trivia, jingle, lyrics, and other goodies, it's a TV-dinner feast for anyone whose retro taste buds perk up when you hear 'and now, a word from our sponsors.'"--The Media Tourist

About the Author

Vincent Terrace has been a researcher for ABC television and is the television historian for BPOLIN Productions. He has written more than 50 books about television and radio.