Blast from the Past: Foodstuffs (and Food-like Stuff) of the 70s and 80s!

We, as a country, are fat. Big and fat. I myself am finding myself 10 pounds heavier that what used to be my "fat weight." Ugh. How did this happen? Well, of course, the food manufacturers have been combining products (Taco Bell and Velveeta salad dressing?), creating multiple versions of products (3-D Doritos?), and just doing everything they can to make us want to eat their products. Some of them sound insanely good (Bischoff cookie spread?), and others just end up at Big Lots because they sound weird. But few of them will help you stay thin.

Still, it's not like Madison Avenue just thought up marketing. Since the 50s and 60s, food companies have been making all kinds of processed foods and food-like edible products. And by the 70s and 80s, they were firmly in the pop culture consciousness. So why weren't we all fat then? Something to ponder. And while you do, here are some of the items you might have had in your fridge, freezer or pantry back in the 70s and 80s. Most are still around today, but their image was molded (pressed and extruded) there!

1. Chef Boy-Ar-Dee Beefaroni/Beef-O-getti (1970)
2. Kraft Macaroni & Cheese (1986) - with William "Refrigerator" Perry
 

3. Swanson Hungry Man Dinners (1973) - with Jeff Conaway
4. Banquet Pre-cooked Fried Chicken (1976)
 

5. Franco-American Spaghetti-Os (1973)
6. Roast 'n Boast Oven Cooking Bag Seasoning Mix (1972) - with Eve Arden. This product was a little known cousin to #7.
 

7. Shake 'n Bake (early 1980s) - with Ann B. Davis of The Brady Bunch
8. Pillsbury "Fun-fetti" Cake Mix and Icing (early 80s) - with the Pillsbury Dough Boy
 

And now, I'm hungry. Oh well, have a great week everyone. Happy Monday!

Blast from the Past: Fabulous Appliances of Yesteryear

Last week, I brought you gadgets of yesteryear. This week, I thought I'd go bigger. The kind of thing you got at an appliance store, something that used to be a lot more common before big-box stores became the norm. See how many you remember, and if you're too young, see how it used to be.

1. Amana Radarange microwave oven (1976) - With Barbara Hale of Perry Mason fame.
2. Maytag (1967) - This is the first of the "lonely repairman" spots, for all of Maytags appliances.
 

3. RCA ColorTrak TV (1979) - Sadly, not the one with Rula Lenska
4. Magnavox LaserDisc (1980s) - Not a commercial, but a demonstration, with Leonard Nimoy!
 

5. GE Dishwasher (1983)
6. Sears Appliances (1983) - Several appliances here, from a microwave to a VCR, a washer, a projection TV, and more.
 

7. Sharp Carousel microwave (1986)
8. Westinghouse Refrigerators (1968) - Here's a weird promo (longer than a commercial) for "Match Your Mood" customized fridges.
 

And we'll leave it there for this week, since this was a harder topic than I realized! It'll do for now though, and I'll see you back here next week. Meanwhile, have a great week. Happy Monday!

Blast from the Past: One More Vintage Commercial

OK, I promise to lay off the vintage commercials after this post (for a while, anyway). While looking for the classic, "Step Aside" commercial from Wendy's (no such luck), I found:

Parts Is Parts

50 Greatest Commercials of the 80s

Image from source, GiantMag.com

Hat-tip to KennethInThe212.blogspot.com, who posted a link to this post, which as you know if you've read this blog before, hits my pop-culture sweet-spot. It's from late last year, so it isn't new, but I thought it was worth posting.

If you're from the MTV Generation, take a trip down memory lane. If you're younger than that, check out what you missed.

GiantMag.com's 50 Greatest Commercials of the 80s

Blast from the Past: Vintage Commercials

It's amazing how pop-culture can infiltrate your brain. Haven't you ever caught yourself singing a ditty, only to realize it's a commercial? Some of these commercials can be just as powerful in our memories as any TV show or movie or classic rock tune.

Here are some of the ones that litter my brain. First up, the Oscar Meyer bologna kid. Next, a classic Diet Pepsi ad, you probably don't remember that you remember. Then we have two classic 80s Wendy's commercials--they must have had a great advertising agency. Enjoy

UPDATE: For some reason, the Diet Pepsi ad ("Now You See It, Now You Don't"), arguably the best ad in the bunch, is no longer available. In it's place, I have substituted "Me and My RC."