The Bootleg Files: The Slim Whitman Commercials

Posted on November 1, 2024 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 884: “The Slim Whitman Commercials” (a series of television advertisements featuring the yodeling country singer).

LAST SEEN: On YouTube.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: No perceived re-release value.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Not likely.

If you were watching American television in the 1980s, there’s a good chance that you’ll remember commercials for albums featuring Slim Whitman. These commercials resonated with audiences – mostly for the wrong reasons – but they managed to reanimate the career of a unique performer who was mostly forgotten in his own country.
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The Bootleg Files: The Avery Schreiber Doritos Commercials

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 874: “The Avery Schreiber Doritos Commercials” (1970s television advertising campaign).

LAST SEEN: On YouTube.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: It falls into the grey area of old-time advertising.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Not likely.

Question: When was the last time that a television commercial made you laugh out loud? Not in a polite giggle, but a genuine roar of jollity. Quite frankly, I get the impression that the creative minds behind today’s television commercials have absolutely no sense of humor – stupidity and puerility, yes, but no humor.
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The Bootleg Files: The Anita Bryant Florida Orange Juice Commercials

Posted on June 16, 2023 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 833: “The Anita Bryant Florida Orange Juice Commercials” (1969-80 television advertising campaign).

LAST SEEN: On YouTube.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: No one is going to touch this for an anthology.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Girl, are you kidding?

Here is a question for you: Which celebrity was the first victim of cancel culture? My choice for an answer will probably offend some people – especially since I am writing this during the month of June – but I will say it anyway: Anita Bryant.

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The Bootleg Files: The Burt Bacharach-Angie Dickinson Martini & Rossi Commercials

Posted on February 10, 2023 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 828: “The Burt Bacharach-Angie Dickinson Martini & Rossi Commercials” (1970s television advertisements for the Italian wine brand).

LAST SEEN: On YouTube.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: There is no commercial reissue channel for old TV commercials.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Maybe someday in an anthology of 1970s commercials.

When Burt Bacharach passed away earlier this week, there were endless tributes to his genius in creating instant-classic pop tunes and the scores for film and stage productions. Personally, my fondest memory of Bacharach came in a series of delicious television commercials for the Martini & Rossi wine brand that paired the composer with his glamorous wife, actress Angie Dickinson.
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The Bootleg Files: The Rula Lenska / Alberto VO5 Commercials

Posted on October 1, 2021 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 780: “The Rula Lenska / Alberto VO5 Commercials” (series of TV commercials from the late 1970s).

LAST SEEN: On YouTube.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: There is no perceived commercial value for a home entertainment anthology of these commercials.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Sorry, darling.

I did not plan to write another television commercial-based column, but yesterday on Twitter I read that the British actress Rula Lenska turned 74. I had not thought of Rula Lenska in ages, and for those of us who were watching television in the 1970s her name and image occupied a unique space.
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The Bootleg Files: The Nancy Walker / Bounty Paper Towel Commercials

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 777: “The Nancy Walker / Bounty Paper Towel Commercials” (1970-1990 television commercial campaign).

LAST SEEN: On YouTube.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: No perceived value in compiling 20 years’ worth of commercials.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Not likely.

If you were watching U.S. television in the 1970s, it was impossible not to find Nancy Walker somewhere on the dial. She was simultaneously appearing on two popular shows at the same time – “McMillan & Wife” and “Rhoda” – and turned up in guest starring appearances on various series and variety shows; she also had notoriety for starring in two of the fastest flops of the decade, “The Nancy Walker Show” and “Blansky’s Beauties.”
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The Bootleg Files: Crazy Eddie Commercials

Posted on May 28, 2021 by Phil Hall

BOOTLEG FILES 768: “Crazy Eddie Commercials” (long-running campaign on New York City-area television for an electronics retailer).

LAST SEEN: On YouTube.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: No commercial reissue value.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Maybe in an anthology of vintage commercials, but that’s unlikely.

If you were living in the New York City metropolitan area in the 1970s and 1980s, then you had to be familiar with the advertisements for the Crazy Eddie electronics retailer chain. These promotional spots could be found in publications, on billboards and on radio, but most people would clearly remember them from the 7,500 television commercials produced for the company.
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