TV tennis

Thirty-five years ago, playing anything on your own TV set was all the rage, and legends were born.

We're talking about PONG, of course. Back then it was a revolutionary device, but as the following advertorial warns "...this is one of those novelties everyone will shortly get tired of..."

Yeah. Right. 35 years later, the video game industry is bigger than Hollywood, and one of those original little consoles is worth a small fortune.

I wish I had one.

"TV tennis", 1976
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Meat? Really?

If there was ever a sillier name for a trade organisation, the "America Meat Institute" -sponsor of this ad- takes the cake.

Also silly is the claim that luncheon meat is goodness in a can... 12 hearty, tasty ounces of it.

The reality is that packed meat is actually high in salt and cholesterol, it is manufactured from the unsaleable bits and bobs that nobody wants to eat, and is considered an emergency erzats for when you can't actually eat real meat.

"Meat", 1947
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Huge dog

The ad department in charge of this ad was not thinking clearly when they came up with the idea.

Considering the size of a real Scottish Terrier, the baseball bat must be three or four inches long. Which makes the kid a dwarf. Or at least a midget.

"Champion", 1950
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Wigs of the times

If you were not blessed with massive amounts of hair, the only solution for an afro hairstyle was by wearing a wig, like those for sale in this ad.

The one in the middle of the page with two projecting domes is particularly funny. People would stop you and call you "Mickey".

"A wig you can dig", 1972
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Drive and dine

Fathers who take their families once a week for dinner are "the greatest guys in the world". They get to spend the beautiful Spring days together, and Dad can let Mother "off the kitchen duty once a week".

Charming. Truly vintage 1950's sexism.

Not surprisingly, the ad itself is sponsored by General Foods International -a conglomerate- and the National Restaurant Association. Talk about propping up the market!

"Drive and dine", 1956
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