The Duke University Libraries, well known for its digital collections, has released thousands of historic TV commercials for free through a new resource called AdViews. The collection features ads for over 70 products and is neatly arranged into albums on iTunes U, the section of the iTunes Store full of free educational materials. This fantastic collection continues to grow and will eventually contain ads through the 1980's.
For now, ads range from the bizarre 1960's Crest campaign in which Bill Cosby stars as "Mr. Tooth Decay" and pals around, amid a pair of humongous teeth, with a karate master named "Bac Teria"; to the classic "Weebles wobble but they don't fall down!"; to the ridiculous Hardees ads from the 1970's, in which a boy and a girl voraciously devour hamburgers, get highly gendered toys from a "Fun Machine" (girl gets ring, boy gets plastic spider, both are thrilled!) , and barely notice that a cape-wearing, burger-loving villain named "Super Mouth" is on the loose and plotting to eat all of the juicy burgers.
If you enjoy vintage ads, you will easily become addicted to AdViews. You'll also probably enjoy geeking out with The Advertising Age Encyclopedia of Advertising and The Encyclopedia of Major Marketing Campaigns, both of which are available in the Library's Reference collection.
Comments (1)
Thanks for letting us know about this great new resource from Duke for checking out classic TV ads. I've had some luck finding some oldies but goodies on YouTube but I'm sure this will be more comprehensive. The old gender toy ads reminded me of an interesting post I just read about gender, toys and TV characters today.
Posted by Graduate Research | August 17, 2009 4:44 PM
Posted on August 17, 2009 16:44