Bionic Disco

70s Spots: Volkswagen & Kodak (1972), Tums & Quasar (1973)

Posted on April 16, 2021 by David Moore

_{Look out!!!}

Welcome one and all to the latest batch of seventies commercials. Today, you’ll find spots for the 1973 Volkswagen 412 wagon and sedan, Kodak, Tums, and Quasar. I hope your journey back in time is a pleasant one. Have a wonderful weekend!

(Check out the Bionic Disco YouTube channel for thousands more 70s commercials.)

’73 VOLKSWAGEN ‘412 SEDAN & WAGON’ COMMERCIAL (1972)

_{Volkswagen commercial featuring the new 412 sedan and wagon aired November 1972.}

CLASSIC KODAK ANIMATED COMMERCIAL (1972)

_{Animated Kodak commercial featuring a film cartridge and Prepaid Processing Mailer aired November 1972. Narrator sounds like Sterling Holloway.}

TUMS ‘FLAVORS’ COMMERCIAL (1973)

_{Tums antacid tablets commercial featuring peppermint, lemon, orange, wintergreen, and cherry flavors aired October 1973.}

QUASAR TV ‘WORKS-IN-A-DRAWER’ COMMERCIAL (1973)

_{Motorola Quasar television set commercial featuring Works-in-a-Drawer technology aired October 1973.}

Previously on 70s Spots: Vicks NyQuil (Sherman Hemsley, 1972) & Big Wally (Cathryn Damon, 1974)

More Volkswagen: Daily 70s Spot: Volkswagen Rabbit (1976)

More Kodak: Rad Ads: Kodak ‘Voter’s Choice’ Watch (1972)

More Tums: Saturday 70s Spots: Joe Namath & ‘Mother Tums’ (1977)

More Quasar: Saturday 70s Spots: GE & Motorola TVs (1972)

From The Vault: Rare McDonald’s ‘McDonaldland’ Industrial Film (1972)

Posted on April 15, 2021 by David Moore

**Time to pull a classic post from the Bionic Disco vault. The following originally appeared April 3, 2013**

_{Hangin’ with Mayor McCheese. (‘McDonald’s Setmakers,’ 1972)}

Here’s a rare and delightful time warp back to your childhood – when a visit to McDonald’s was still something to look forward to. In this 11-minute industrial film from 1972, Setmakers shows off the large line of park-like attractions they can build and install to attract customers to McDonald’s.

Why not vote for your McDonaldland favorite? Will it be the ‘Captain Crook Spiral Slide,’ ‘Mayor McCheese Roundabout,’ ‘Big Mac Climber’ or the ‘Pond with Filet o’ Fish Fountain’? Me, I’m going with the ‘Apple Pie Tree.’ Oh, yes.

_{Huge crowds at the first McDonaldland opening. (‘McDonald’s Setmakers,’ 1972)}

_{The ‘Apple Pie Tree.’ I need this in my dining room. (‘McDonald’s Setmakers,’ 1972)}

MCDONALD’S ‘MCDONALDLAND’ SETMAKERS INDUSTRIAL FILM, 1972

Thanks, to YouTube poster, Panafelx. Visit his channel.

Classic 70s Ads: Aretha Franklin, ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ (1971)

Posted on April 14, 2021 by David Moore

_{50-Years-Ago This Week: Aretha Franklin, ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ ad via Record World, April 10, 1971}

Aretha Franklin’s version of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” appeared on two of her 1971 LPs; Live At Fillmore West and Aretha’s Greatest Hits. Franklin’s take on this #1 hit made it to #6 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the R&B chart. If you’re weary, pull up a pew and have a listen.

ARETHA FRANKLIN, ‘BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER’ (LIVE, 1971)

Previously on Classic 70s Ads: Michael Nesmith, ‘Nevada Fighter’ (1971)

More Aretha: Hot Songs – Feb. 22, 1971: George Harrison, Aretha Franklin

70s Spots: Vicks NyQuil (Sherman Hemsley, 1972) & Big Wally (Cathryn Damon, 1974)

Posted on April 13, 2021 by David Moore

There’s a pair of future TV stars in today’s batch of seventies commercials. You’ll spy Sherman Hemsley from The Jeffersons in a spot for NyQuil and Cathryn Damon from Soap in one for Big Wally. You can also take in commercials for Kraft and Budweiser. Let ’em roll.

KRAFT CARAMEL APPLES COMMERCIAL (1971)

_{Kraft Caramels candy commercial featuring candied apples aired November 1971. Narration by Ed Herlihy.}

VICKS NYQUIL COMMERCIAL (SHERMAN HEMSLEY, 1972)

_{Vicks Nyquil commercial starring actor Sherman Hemsley (‘The Jeffersons’) aired in 1972.}

BIG WALLY SPRAY CLEANER COMMERCIAL (CATHRYN DAMON, 1974)

_{Johnson Wax Big Wally spray-on cleaning product commercial starring actor Cathryn Damon (‘Soap’) aired March 1974.}

BUDWEISER BEER ‘BICENTENNIAL’ COMMERCIAL (1976)

_{Anheuser-Busch Budweiser beer commercial featuring an American Revolution theme. Spot aired during the “Bicentennial Fever” era 1975-1976.}

Previously on 70s Spots: AMF Sporting Gear, Ford Pickups, Wish-Bone & Marx Toys

More Kraft: 70s Spots: Kraft Golden Caesar Salad Dressing (1972)

More Vicks: Saturday 70s Spots: Halls ‘Vapor Action’ & Vicks (1973 & ’74)

More Sherman Hemsley: Passings: Sherman Hensley, Tom Davis, Ginny Tyler, Simon Ward, Frank Pierson, Chad Everett

More Soap: 70s Spots: ABC Promos – ‘Charlie’s Angels,’ Vegas,’ ‘Soap’ (1978)

More Budweiser: Saturday 70s Spot: Budweiser Half Pint With Ed McMahon (1978)

Classic 70s Ads: Michael Nesmith, ‘Nevada Fighter’ (1971)

Posted on April 12, 2021 by David Moore

_{Michael Nesmith & The First National Band, ‘Nevada Fighter’ ad via Record World April 10, 1971}

50-years-ago this week, Michael Nesmith & The First National Band’s “Nevada Fighter” single was released as a teaser for the album of the same name. The track was written and produced by Nesmith and made it to #70 on Billboard‘s Hot 100. Lend an ear.

MICHAEL NESMITH & THE FIRST NATIONAL BAND, “NEVADA FIGHTER” (1971)

Previously on Classic 70s Ads: Jeff Beck, ‘Blow By Blow’ (1975)

70s Spots: AMF Sporting Gear, Ford Pickups, Wish-Bone & Marx Toys

Posted on April 9, 2021 by David Moore

I’ve got an eclectic collection of ancient seventies commercials for you today. Click the ol’ play buttons for spots from AMF, Ford, Wish-Bone, and Marx. Have a wonderful weekend, Bionic friends!

(Visit and subscribe: The Bionic Disco YouTube channel – for thousands more 70s commercials.)

’80 FORD PICKUP TRUCK COMMERCIAL (1979)