70s Commercials (Buried Treasures): Aurora Skittle-Pool, Ford Galaxie & More

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From March 2019 to January 2021 this website was on hiatus. During that time, I continued posting seventies commercials to the Bionic Disco YouTube channel. Since those worthy spots have not appeared here, I’m occasionally going to post the best ones with a “Buried Treasures” title.

Here’s a first “best of” batch featuring Don Adams for Skittle-Pool, Bob Hope for Ford Galaxie, Red Lobster, and Chevy Monza.

AURORA SKITTLE-POOL COMMERCIAL (DON ADAMS, 1972)

Aurora Skittle-Pool commercial featuring actors Don Adams and Robert Middleton aired November 1972.

FORD GALAXIE 500 COMMERCIAL (BOB HOPE, 1973)

Ford Galaxie 500 commercial featuring actor-comedian Bob Hope aired February 1973.

RED LOBSTER COMMERCIAL (1977)

Red Lobster restaurant commercial featuring an “All the Crab Legs You Can Eat” sale. Actors include Brad Gorman and Stuart Nisbet. Spot aired April 1977.

’77 CHEVY MONZA COMMERCIAL (1976)

Chevrolet Monza commercial featuring three 1977 models; Coupe, 2 + 2, Spyder, and a sing-along jingle aired October 1976.

More Don Adams & Aurora: 70s Spots: Skittle Bingo (Don Adams) & Aurora Xlerators Race Cars (1973)

More Bob Hope: 70s Spots: ‘Have A Coke And A Smile’ (Bob Hope, 1979)

More Red Lobster: 70s Spots: Red Lobster Restaurant & Kool-Aid (1977)

More Monza: Daily 70s Spot #533, 534: ’79 Chevy Chevette & Monza (1978)

Classic 70s Ads: Nilsson, ‘The Point!’ (1971)

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Harry Nilsson, The Point! ad via Cash Box February 20, 1971

Harry Nilsson’s The Point! LP released in December of 1970 and featured the hit single “Me And My Arrow” (US #34). In early February of 1971 the animated TV special of the same name aired and garnered good reviews.

I watched the special numerous times as a wee whippersnapper and loved it. Readers of this site will likely have similar memories. Let us listen to some of that now 50-year-old Nilsson magic.

HARRY NILSSON, ‘ME AND MY ARROW’ (1970)

Previously on Classic 70s Ads: The Impressions, ‘Ain’t Got Time’ (1971)

More “Me And My Arrow”: 70s Spots: Plymouth Volaré & Arrow (1978)

70s Commercials: Underwood Deviled Ham, Don Rickles, Star-Kist (1974-77)

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Here’s a good batch of time capsules ranging from 1974 to 1977. You’ll find child actor Mason Reese in one of his numerous spots for Underwood, Don Rickles for National Car Rental, Charlie the Tuna for Star-Kist, and a trio of cats for Tabby. I don’t remember Tabby, but the other products certainly, and they’re still around today.

UNDERWOOD DEVILED HAM COMMERCIAL (MASON REESE, 1974)

Underwood Deviled Ham commercial starring actor Mason Reese aired March 1974.

DON RICKLES FOR NATIONAL CAR RENTAL (1975)

National Car Rental commercial starring actor-comedian Don Rickles aired October 1975.

STAR-KIST ‘CHARLIE THE TUNA’ COMMERCIAL (1976)

Animated Star-Kist tuna commercial featuring Charlie the Tuna and a monogram scheme aired March 1976. The announcer is Danny Dark. Charlie voiced by Herschel Bernardi.

TABBY CAT FOOD COMMERCIAL (1977)

Bite-size Tabby cat food from Lipton Pet Foods commercial featuring singing kittens aired August 1977.

Previously on 70s Commercials: Funny Face Drink Mix, Dixie Cups & More (1973)

More Don Rickles: A Johnny Carson Moment: Frank Sinatra, Don Rickles (11.12.76)

More Star-Kist: 70s Spots: Charlie The Tuna, Morris The Cat & More

More Cats: 70s Spots: 9-Lives’ Morris & Purina Cat Food (1978 & ’75)

Hidden Gems: The Dramatics – ‘Hey You! Get Off My Mountain’ (1973)

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The Dramatics are best-known for their hits “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” and “In The Rain,” but the group has plenty of other excellent tunes in their seventies repertoire. Have a listen to 1973’s “Hey You! Get Off My Mountain” from the LP A Dramatic Experience.

This Hidden Gem, written by producer Tony Hester, is a real grower and deserves to be discovered or re-discovered. It just missed the US Top 40, climbing to #43 on the Hot 100, faring better on the R&B chart where it grabbed #5. Give it a few spins.

THE DRAMATICS, ‘HEY YOU! GET OFF MY MOUNTAIN’ (1973)

Previously on Hidden Gems: Redbone, ‘When You Got Trouble’ (1971)

70s Commercials: Funny Face Drink Mix, Dixie Cups & More (1973)

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I’m pleased to have an especially fine quartet of seventies commercials to present today. First up, something of a holy grail for me – a spot for Funny Face drink mix. These are hard to come by and really bring back the childhood memories.

You’ll also find commercials for Dinty Moore, Dixie Riddle Cups (another good memory-maker), and Pillsbury Fruit ‘n Snack cakes. What a meal!

FUNNY FACE DRINK MIX COMMERCIAL (1973)

Pillsbury Funny Face drink mix commercial featuring Goofy Grape and Choo Choo Cherry aired in 1973.

DINTY MOORE BEEF STEW ANIMATED COMMERCIAL (1973)

Animated Hormel Dinty Moore Beef Stew commercial featuring a singing lumberjack mascot aired October 1973.

DIXIE RIDDLE CUPS COMMERCIAL (1973)

Dixie Riddle Cups, Plates & Bowls commercial featuring jokes and riddles for little ones aired in 1973.

PILLSBURY FRUIT ‘N CRUNCH CAKE COMMERCIAL (1973)

Pillsbury Fruit ‘n Crunch cake mix commercial featuring cherry, apple, and blueberry flavors aired October 1973.

Previously on 70s Commercials: Fritos ‘Munch-A-Bunch’ & Mercedes-Benz (1979)

More Pillsbury: 70s Spots: Morton Donuts, Pillsbury Cake, Wheaties, Checkerboard Entrées (1971-77)

Classic 70s Ads: The Impressions, ‘Ain’t Got Time’ (1971)

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The Impressions, ‘Ain’t Got Time’ ad via Cash Box February 20, 1971

After Curtis Mayfield departed The Impressions for a solo career in 1970 he continued to work for and promote the band. Here we have an ad for The Impression’s “Ain’t Got Time” single released in late ’70. The tune was written and produced by Mayfield and released on his record label Curtom.

The Impressions’ version of “Ain’t Got Time,” featuring new lead singer Leroy Hutson, did not appear on an LP at the time but did make it to #53 on the US Hot 100. Mayfield released his own take of the song on his 1974 album Sweet Exorcist.

Have a listen to the Impressions below. And pay no attention to the YouTube poster saying this is Mayfield’s version.

THE IMPRESSIONS, ‘AIN’T GOT TIME’ (1970)

Previously on Classic 70s Ads: Benny Bell, ‘Shaving Cream’ (1975)