Classic TV: The 50s : 'infomercials', 1950

'infomercials', 1950

Sometimes, often a Sunday morning, we would eventually find something on the air and, after a few minutes, the show would be interrupted by a commercial. OK, fair enough, but sometimes the commercial would keep going for 20 minutes. Gimbel's custom re-upholstery was one that sneaked up on you because they also had a regular one minute commercial. The bad commercial took you in real time through the process of re-upholstering a padded chair, from picking up the chair at the customer's home, stripping off the old covering and tacking on new material to delivering the finished product. Most Laurel & Hardy movies took less time. Another of that ilk was Vegamatic, which had a short ad, and a long one that demonstrated the slicing of every fruit and vegetable available at grocery stores in the NY area. Not quite as long, but longer than anything not on a shopping channel today, was an ad featuring little Bernadette Castro opening a convertible sofa. Years later, when I got married and we lived in a studio apartment, we bought one. It gets you right in the lumbar spine.

Re: 'infomercials', 1950

I remember them from late night. Here is a classic late night TV sales pitch from, at least, the mid-1960s (8-track tape was invented in 1964). I remember seeing it when I was still in school. A little late for the '50s board but still the same historical era.

British actor John Williams (“Dial ‘M’ For Murder”) is the pitchman. The hook is to tie concert music to popular music, promising “the most beautiful melodies” from the Great Masters. “A priceless introduction to the classics.” Well, not exactly. There was a price. LPs were $12.98 with 8-track and cassette going for $15.98. All this and more! I love the way Williams pats his coat pocket with his left hand as he begins to move across the set.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIMFhPyNKDs


If you're gonna kill me, get on with it; if not, shut the hell up.

Re: 'infomercials', 1950

Years later, I heard an odd song which reminded me of the infamous Great Masters record (or 8 track) commercial. Hop over to Youtube. When the page opens, resist the temptation to scroll down to see what it's about, and see how long it takes you to figure it out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AKez2s_K5Q

(I don't know why it doesn't turn blue. Right click on it and from the drop down box click on go to copied address.)

Re: 'infomercials', 1950

All of their Most Beautiful Melodies!

mf

If you're gonna kill me, get on with it; if not, shut the hell up.

Re: 'infomercials', 1950

I tried to make it "clickable," and it turned out to be a Weird Al Yankovik song. Is that what you meant it to be? I thought it wasn't right, so I deleted it.



Re: 'infomercials', 1950

Did you listen to it long enough to get the point?

Re: 'infomercials', 1950

I always had to watch this till the end, just to hear John Williams say, "Heah's
how to awwwder yawwws...."



I'm not crying, you fool, I'm laughing!

Hewwo.

Re: 'infomercials', 1950

Don't touch that dial! It was hypnotic, wasn't it.

mf

If you're gonna kill me, get on with it; if not, shut the hell up.

Re: 'infomercials', 1950

I get satisfaction from it.

Re: 'infomercials', 1950

Often times a local business would sponsor late night movies on a local station. The commercial breaks would tend to be long, usually with a station announcer and the proprietor of the business at the store locale showing product.

This was when the networks dropped off the air at midnight, and local stations filled in with programming. The national advertising of unique "gadget" products hadn't really begun yet. 1-800 numbers weren't around, few credit cards, and no internet. People weren't going to spontaneously write down mailing addresses and send money orders. Changes in technology allowed the profitability of what we now know as infomercials. That, and the dumbing down of the TV audience to buy such things.

Re: 'infomercials', 1950

Call Murray Hill 7 xxxx. That's Murray Hill 7 xxxx. In New Jersey, call Bigelow 8 xxxx. Operators are standing by. Or send your check or money order (no stamps please) to PO Box x, Murray Hill Station, New York 21, NY. Allow 2 to 35 weeks for delivery.
Top