Stars That Sell: The Flintstones

Cartoon characters smoking? Think of the children!

Of course, in those days (1960) The Flinstones' target audience was adults. And as it was quite normal for cigarette manufacturers to sponsor TV shows, there's no reason why they shouldn't have done so here. What's most peculiar about this spot, however, is the reason Fred and Barney decide to light up: because they're bored, because it's better than taking a nap. It's curious, also, that Winston were quite happy to have a couple of layabouts endorsing their product - and prehistoric ones at that.

Creatives Good. Clients Bad.

We've all heard the old adage: that an advertising agency would be a great place to work if it wasn't for the clients.

The film below attempts to bring to life the constant frustations that creatives suffer at the hands of clients. You know, how clients always want the logo bigger, how they're never happy, how they like to interfere with the creative work etc.

You might expect us to be on the side of the creative person in this film. But we're not. And the reason for that is not once does that poor, beleagured Art Director challenge the client about any of their ludicrous decisions. He just sits there, like a dimwit, doing exactly what he's told to do. At no point does he flex his creative muscles or demonstrate his marketing knowledge and expertise - the things that the client hired him for in the first place. So, as far as we're concerned, he gets what he deserves.

That said, it's still pretty funny.

Stars That Sell: Sammy Davis Jnr

Back when stars were stars... the incomparable Sammy Davis Jr (accompanied by a cartoon shell) dances and drives around 1950s London while extolling the virtues of a certain brand of petrol. He even gets in a nice bit of rhyming slang.

More Dickie Beasley

Once again, from the pages of Viz Comic, Dickie Beasley shows the world what life in a Norwich advertising agency is really like - dead cats nailed to church doors and all.

Click the image for a closer look.

Dickie Beasley - Ad Man

From the pages of Viz comic, a stunningly accurate pastiche of what advertising agencies are like.

Click the image to see the larger size.