Eaton Centre – Vintage Commercials
28 JanBack when the Eaton Centre still had an Eaton’s, they also advertised on TV. I have found some entertaining commercials for the mall from 1983 / 1984.
TTC – Vintage Commercials
18 JanIt has been along time since I have heard anyone say anything positive about the TTC, especially with the recent fare hike and sleepy collector. The TTC needs to do something to improve its image. Back in the day, they use to advertise on TV with some hilarious commercials. These commercials make the TTC seem like a cool and easy way to get around the city. Looking at these commercials, the 1980′s were a great time to ride the TTC…there are no grumpy TTC employees, no one is delayed and there isn’t even any crazy people yelling on the subway.
The taglines of “Toronto’s Entertainment Network” and “We’ve Got A Good Thing Going” create an image of a transit system that is hard to imagine when thinking of the TTC today. I’m not sure if new commercials will really improve Torontonians opinion of the TTC at the moment, but it should strive to be more like the image it created for itself in these commercials.
But first, a look back…
16 SepThis slideshow requires JavaScript.
Toronto’s buildings and advertisements have a long history together. You may have to look closely but many of the city’s old and historic buildings still bear the remnants of old ads. These faded paintings have survived through the weather, graffiti, time and some have even outlasted their own company.
Another great place to find beautiful vintage advertising is storefronts of old convenience stores or greasy spoon restaurants. The most popular ones are signs advertising for Coca-Cola and Canada Dry Ginger-Ale.
I look at these old advertisements, refusing to disappear and providing us with a glimpse into the history of Toronto and they ways in which advertising Media has changed. In 50 years from now, there will not be any ads for the popular products of today. One must then ask, do we really want future Torontonians to remember us by today’s ads for Vitamin Water or Koodo? Regardless, ads of today have a lifespan of a few weeks before they are stripped down from the billboards, replaced in the subway cars or just deleted from the video screens in Dundas Square. While we now use more practical and economic methods for displaying ads, it does reveal the current state of advertising in which everything must be new and shiny and easily disposable.
Question: What ad or advertising campaign of today do you think will be considered important or groundbreaking in 50 years?
(All photos courtesy of Daniel Neuhaus – cinespeak.ca)
