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calzephyrA cheery number for Pied Pickle Deli and Restaurant. The historic building/stairs the dancers are performing on is historic city hall in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It's one of the few sandstone buildings left and actually recently underwent a four year renovation to restore the sandstone exterior. As far as I can tell, the restaurant(s) closed down around 2006--the last mention I can find is a job ad from that year.
As far as local commercials go, this one has some budget for the locations, music and actors :-)
As far as local commercials go, this one has some budget for the locations, music and actors :-)
calzephyrNot your typical Superbowl ad! Hubs randomly mentioned watching this as a kid and fortunately it wasn't just a mashed up childhood memory :-)
calzephyrMany people are familiar with Showbiz Pizza and Chuck E. Cheese, which served up pizza and fun, but there was a third contender with pizza and an animatronic stage show--Bullwinkle's! Based on the world's only moose and squirrel cartoon team, the restaurants were like a mini indoor theme park for kids with the arcade, restaurant, stage show, and rustic decor. Bullwinkle's was a popular place for birthday parties and for many years Edmonton kids received a coupon for a free pizza with their final report card, much to my dad's consternation.
I don't know if the footage below is from the Edmonton or Calgary location or perhaps another location--those two are long closed. Technically three Bullwinkle's restaurants remain although the original decor has been long retired.
I don't know if the footage below is from the Edmonton or Calgary location or perhaps another location--those two are long closed. Technically three Bullwinkle's restaurants remain although the original decor has been long retired.
Canadian Tire's Albert
Dec. 19th, 2023 10:44 pmcalzephyrA charming story and fond memory for many Canadians, "Albert" is the short story of a boy who doesn't let being picked being last for hockey stop him from doing great things down the road with the support of his older brother and Canadian Tire, of course!
A more contemporary Canadian Tire ad called The Outsider echoes "Albert" although I wonder how many people see the connection.
A more contemporary Canadian Tire ad called The Outsider echoes "Albert" although I wonder how many people see the connection.
Local Love: City Ford
Aug. 24th, 2023 06:03 pmcalzephyrTBT! Today I remember the silly car commercials of City Ford starring a caricature of Edmonton's Ukrainian population, Nicky Fordinski.
The ads usually paired Nicky with spokeswoman Shannon where they pitched great deals and ended with a corny joke, sometimes about Nicky's wife Nellie.
In actuality Nicky was Raymond Johnston who passed away in 2019. I used to think the commercials were funny as a kid; nowadays they're a little cringey. But the character was popular enough to last years and years!
The ads usually paired Nicky with spokeswoman Shannon where they pitched great deals and ended with a corny joke, sometimes about Nicky's wife Nellie.
In actuality Nicky was Raymond Johnston who passed away in 2019. I used to think the commercials were funny as a kid; nowadays they're a little cringey. But the character was popular enough to last years and years!
Local Love: Wild Rapids
May. 15th, 2023 08:26 pmcalzephyrGrowing up in Edmonton, my little child brain was easily tricked by these low-budget commercials for Wild Rapids, a now defunct waterslide park in Sylvan Lake, Alberta. Located halfway between Edmonton and Calgary, Wild Rapids was hugely popular. It opened in 1982 and closed in 2016. According to Wikipedia it was one of five waterslide parks at the time.
I never got to ride the rapids despite it's proximity to home. Probably like most things, it was more work for my parents than it appeared.
Some vintage ads survive!
CW: This ad has a cringey Japanese stereotype as it advertises the Hari Kari slide:
This ad has a cringey use of rap:
This ad has a cringey use of vocal effects :-D
I never got to ride the rapids despite it's proximity to home. Probably like most things, it was more work for my parents than it appeared.
Some vintage ads survive!
CW: This ad has a cringey Japanese stereotype as it advertises the Hari Kari slide:
This ad has a cringey use of rap:
This ad has a cringey use of vocal effects :-D
Local Love: Bonzai Waterslides
May. 14th, 2023 10:55 pmcalzephyrEvery now and then I love me a good, local commercial. The production values may have been budget-friendly or featured a local celebrity, or, as in the case of Bonzai Waterslides, a moment in time!
Bonzai Waterslides is a defunct waterslide park once operated in South Calgary, Alberta, Canada. A rather geographically plucky venture for a winter city, the ad below promised fun and good times!
Today the location at Heritage and Macleod Trail is a weedy lot.
Bonzai Waterslides is a defunct waterslide park once operated in South Calgary, Alberta, Canada. A rather geographically plucky venture for a winter city, the ad below promised fun and good times!
Today the location at Heritage and Macleod Trail is a weedy lot.
Sound Wear (1989)
Mar. 10th, 2023 10:21 pmcalzephyrIf you're bored this weekend or snowed in, you may want to take a deep dive on toy inventor Mel Birnkrant's website where he discusses the ups and downs, joys and pains of bringing an idea to market. There's also a smattering of vintage ads within!
Such was Sound Wear which was possibly a bit ahead of its time. The little speakers plugged into your portable cassette player and you could clip them anywhere. Sounds pretty handy, right? Well...the product is a solid idea, but headphones provide privacy and you probably don't want your parents overhearing verboten music :-D
The commercial is clunky and those kids are just not cool, LOL! Ah well...
Such was Sound Wear which was possibly a bit ahead of its time. The little speakers plugged into your portable cassette player and you could clip them anywhere. Sounds pretty handy, right? Well...the product is a solid idea, but headphones provide privacy and you probably don't want your parents overhearing verboten music :-D
The commercial is clunky and those kids are just not cool, LOL! Ah well...
Weekend Event: Pudding
Jan. 13th, 2023 11:13 amcalzephyrThis ad with bonus recipe appeared in the May, 1983 issue of Canadian Living. Maybe it's a perfect Valentine's treat? I dunno...I wouldn't be able to make it or eat it, LOL.
The key ingredients are gelatin, mini marshmallows, and heavy whipped cream--so while it doesn't have the traditional pudding ingredients, it's definitely something in-between. It does have dairy and sugar, so I guess that counts?
The key ingredients are gelatin, mini marshmallows, and heavy whipped cream--so while it doesn't have the traditional pudding ingredients, it's definitely something in-between. It does have dairy and sugar, so I guess that counts?
Calling All Bea Arthur Fans!
Dec. 28th, 2022 10:55 amcalzephyrHere's seven minutes of Golden Girl Bea Arthur starring in commercials for Canadian drug store Shopper's Drug Mart.
I love the recurring ads with Santa Claus the best :-D Plus, Bea gave it her all even though it they were just commercials!
I love the recurring ads with Santa Claus the best :-D Plus, Bea gave it her all even though it they were just commercials!
Molson Canadian Beer Part 3 of 3
Dec. 27th, 2022 09:44 pmMolson Golden
Dec. 24th, 2022 11:41 amcalzephyrThis oddly slow paced beer commercial has some interesting trivia if you click through to the comments. The man in the white trunks is Terry David Mulligan, legendary Canadian DJ and host of Much West.
This ad has a lot of charm. The waiter is known to many as the voice of Yukon Cornelius--Larry Mann!
This ad has a lot of charm. The waiter is known to many as the voice of Yukon Cornelius--Larry Mann!
One Day Event: Miami
Jan. 6th, 2022 10:19 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
calzephyr77.livejournal.comA 1984 ad from TV Guide. We were not a Miami Vice watching household, so I'll have to find it and find out what I missed as a kid! It was possibly too violent, although we sure watched plenty of violent things!
WEEKEND EVENT--Candy--Bonkers
Dec. 24th, 2021 01:30 pmcalzephyr77.livejournal.comI looooved Bonkers from Nabisco. Their closest competition was Starburst, but chewier and more flavourful. The ads were also very memorable with practical effects. The candy was discontinued in the 1990s and it's possible that nostalgic confectioner Leaf Brands may eventually bring it back.
Print ads complimented the commercials as well, often seen in comic books.
Print ads complimented the commercials as well, often seen in comic books.
By Nabisco Brands, Fair use, Link
ejia-arath03.livejournal.com
I had no idea the resurgence of "Gloria"'s popularity was because of a sports thing; I just really enjoy her music.
