Vintage TV Ads Quiz | Marketing

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What cigarette's slogan was 'You've come a long way, baby"?

Answer: Virginia Slims

Cigarette ads geared towards women usually showed a woman being in control, independent and happy. It started in 1968, when Phillip Morris launched the very first cigarette brand marketed specifically to women with the tag line "You've come a long way, baby" (created by Leo Burnett Agency).

This slogan perfectly tapped into the female consumer's mind. The ads showed how smoking Virginia Slims was a form of freedom and a new kind of liberation.

2. "Where's the Beef?" was a famous slogan used by which American fast food chain?

Answer: Wendy's

Clara Peller was 81 years old when she won over the US nation with her question during a 1984 Wendy's TV commercial. As she and her friends received their burgers from a different fast food chain, she opened the enormous bun and uttered the words "Where's the Beef?" Since then it has become a phrase questioning the substance of an idea or event.

3. What was the name of the lady plumber who acted as spokeswoman for "Comet" cleanser?

Answer: Josephine

Jane Withers created a household name, "Josephine the Plumber", in a series of TV commercials for "Comet" cleanser in the 1960s and early 1970s. This popular character appeared in scores of print ads and television commercials, telling people the best way to clean their sinks.

4. Who secretly can't resist squeezing the Charmin (toilet tissue)?

Answer: Mr. Whipple

From 1964 to around 1985 you would see Mr. Whipple telling people: "Please don't squeeze the Charmin!"; of course he would then sneak in a squeeze himself. Over 500 ads along these lines were done. The character and catchphrase were created by John Chervokas, while Dick Wilson played the role of the grocery store manager, Mr. Whipple.

5. Who did Jan Miner portray for 27 years in a US ad for Palmolive liquid?

Answer: Madge the Manicurist

Jan Miner was a radio actress who for 27 years portrayed Madge the Manicurist, who informed her customers that she was soaking their hands in dish-washing liquid - but not just any dish-washing liquid! Apparently, Palmolive liquid softens your hands while you do the dishes. "You're soaking in it" was Madge's trademark line, first uttered in a television commercial in 1966.

6. Which company began its commercial with the line "I can't believe I ate the whole thing"?

Answer: Alka-Seltzer

Milt Moss was the comic actor who delivered the rueful catchphrase "I can't believe I ate that whole thing" in a memorable commercial for Alka-Seltzer in 1972. Ralph is awake at night with an upset stomach and keeps groaning over and over while his unsympathetic wife keeps making unhelpful remarks, until she tells him to take Alka-Seltzer. Ralph takes her advice and they both get a peaceful night sleep.

7. In the 1970s this fast food restaurant had people singing the catchy lyrics to its commercial, "Hold the pickle, hold the lettuce, special orders don't upset us - all we ask is that you let us have it your way." Which one was it?

Answer: Burger King

In the mid-70s Burger King came out with their "Have it Your Way" campaign, the idea being that if you wanted fast food you didn't have to get it the same everyone else did - you could have a hamburger made especially for you. We wanted that hamburger made especially for us, our way. So hold the ketchup, the mustard, the tomato, and give me those extra pickles.

8. Another fast food jingle that was first used in 1971 was "You deserve a break today! So get up and get away!" I cannot finish the jingle without giving away the answer.

Answer: McDonald's

We most likely remember McDonald's latest slogan "I'm lovin' it". There was also the slogan "We love to see you smile" used in the early 2000s. They had many slogans throughout the years, but the one that really helped turn McDonald's into the company it is today was the "You deserve a break today!" , slogan, which was created to show an image for McDonald's as being a fun, family type place.

This ad was used for targeting adults who really did deserve a break.

9. "The Lonely Repairman" was another household icon originating in the 1960s. Do you know what US product used him in their advertisements?

Answer: Maytag

Maytag's lonely repairman campaign is over 40 years old and is the longest running real-life advertising character on network television. From 1967-1989 Jesse White played the original Maytag Repairman in 68 different commercials. These ads were meant to show that Maytag was so dependable and reliable that the repairman is rarely needed. So we watched as he learned how to do crossword puzzles, bead work and play solitaire.

10. What margarine angered Mother Nature enough to have her utter the words "It's Not Nice to Fool Mother Nature"?

Answer: Chiffon

This ad ran during the 1970s and into the 1980s, featuring character actress Dena Dietrich as the iconic character Mother Nature. She has a taste of Chiffon and identifies it as "... my delicious butter!" The narrator (voiced by character actor Mason Adams) then tells her: "That's Chiffon margarine, not butter ... Chiffon's so delicious it fooled even you, Mother Nature." Vexed at the trickery, Mother Nature responds by uttering, in increasingly scornful tones "It's not nice to fool Mother Nature," quickly followed by a flash of lightning and a peal of thunder.

The tagline "Its not nice to fool Mother Nature" was common throughout the '70s.

Source: Author GLitsmyt

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Vintage TV Ads Trivia Quiz

You may have liked them, you may have hated them, but these advertisements from the days gone past are hard to forget.

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>