Fun (Or Annoying) Commercial Slogans Across Eras Quiz

Answer: 1950s

The slogan "Finger Lickin' Good" first debuted on television ads for Kentucky Fried Chicken in 1952. It was created completely by accident when a KFC franchise owner in Phoenix named Dave Harman appeared in the background of a commercial eating a piece of chicken and licking his fingers.

The restaurant manager, Ken Harbough, was doing the audio for the ad. When a viewer called in to complain about the "terrible manners" shown on screen, Harbough quickly quipped, "Well, it's finger lickin' good!" The phrase was so catchy that the chicken chain adopted it as the brand's official slogan for decades to come.

Answer: 1950s

When "The Dinah Shore Show" first came to TV in 1951, Chevrolet was the sponsor. This jingle was sung at the very beginning and end of every episode as part of the program itself. It became hugely popular and was often paired with Dinah Shore throwing a big kiss to the camera.

By the fall of 1952, Chevrolet realized they had a massive hit on their hands. They filmed separate, high-budget commercials featuring Dinah singing the full song while Chevy cars traveled across scenic American highways and byways.

Answer: 1950s

The Crest toothpaste slogan "Look Ma, No Cavities!" first appeared on television in 1958. It featured a young, grinning boy (often a character named "Little Jackie") running home to his mother with a clean bill of health from the dentist. The ad was different for its era because it was one of the first instances of a brand focused on the result of using the product rather than just the ingredients.

The toothpaste alone wasn't responsible for the actors' glowing teeth, however. A bright blue tint was added to their teeth so that on black-and-white film, the blue would reflect light in a way to create a brilliant, glowing white smile.

Answer: 1960s

The slogan "Think Small", created for Volkswagen, officially made the jump from its legendary print campaign to television in 1961. At a time when American car manufacturers were making vehicles for Baby Boomers as large and flashy as possible, this ad did the opposite.

The TV spots often featured a tiny Beetle in the middle of a big white screen, emphasizing its simplicity. These ads were revolutionary because they challenged consumers' preconceived notions about what made a good product. The successful ads also proved that advertising could be utilized not just to sell products but also to influence public opinion.

Answer: 1960s

While Tonka had been making high-quality metal toy trucks since the late 1940s, they launched a major television campaign in 1968 using the slogan "A Boy's Best Friend". These commercials were designed to show that this wasn't just a fun toy, but a rugged product. The ads focused on the durability of the vehicles while enhancing the idea that Tonka toys were built to last a lifetime.

To prove their point, one ad featured a full-grown elephant actually stepping on a Tonka dump truck. The truck didn't crush under the massive weight, instantly convincing parents across the country that these toys were virtually indestructible.

Answer: 1960s

In 1963, the William Wrigley Jr. Company debuted the iconic jingle "Double your pleasure, double your fun" for their product of Wrigley's Doublemint Gum. The commercials about it soon hit the television airwaves. They featured a set of identical twins, called the "Doublemint Twins", doing everyday activities like playing tennis, bike riding, or walking through a park, all while synchronized and chewing gum. Wrigley didn't just hire any siblings over the years; they looked for twins who could match each other's expressions perfectly.

Answer: 1970s

Alka-Seltzer first aired this funny slogan on television in 1972 and it became a huge hit. The commercial featured a man named Ralph sitting on the edge of his bed in the middle of the night, groaning the words "I can't believe I ate the whole thing" to his wife (who was lying next to him) after overindulging.

The commercial was so popular that it won a Clio Award (the "Oscar" of advertising), but some executives at Alka-Seltzer originally worried the ad was "too gross" because it focused on the discomfort of overeating. Meanwhile, the man who played poor Ralph became so famous that everywhere he went for a while people shouted the slogan to him.

Answer: 1970s

Burger King launched their "Have It Your Way" jingle on television in 1974. This campaign was a direct shot at their main competitor at the time, McDonald's, which had a rather inflexible, assembly line way of making the burgers. The commercial showed a family entering the restaurant and daring to ask for something different about their whopper (such as no pickles).

The employees would then joyfully sing about how they would happily hold the pickles or the lettuce to satisfy that need. The whole concept focused on the "Me" generation of the time and one's individuality, even down to what condiment to be used on a hamburger.

Answer: 1970s

The catchy jingle and advertisement for Dr. Pepper burst onto the television commercial scene in 1977. It featured actor David Naughton, who sang and danced down a street. As he did so, other people would spontaneously break into synchronized dancing, all while proudly declaring themselves "Peppers", who were dedicated fans of the drink.

Not only did it aid the sales of Dr. Pepper and help create a catchy phrase, but the ad aided Naughton. Hollywood director John Landis was so impressed by his performances in the ads that he cast him as the lead in the 1981 horror classic "An American Werewolf in London".

Answer: 1980s

The restaurant chain of Wendy's introduced the world to a much-quoted line of "Where's the Beef?" when it first aired on television in January 1984. The commercial featured three elderly women looking at a competitor's giant hamburger bun that held a tiny little meat patty.

While two of the women admired the bun, Clara Peller kept demanding an answer to her question of "Where's the beef?". 81 year old Peller was actually a retired manicurist who was discovered at a local casting call and became an instant celebrity.

Answer: 1980s

Nike's legendary "Just Do It" slogan made its television debut in 1988. The very first ad featured 80-year-old runner Walt Stack jogging across the Golden Gate Bridge during his morning routine. He quietly stated that he ran 17 miles every morning. Unlike the flashy ads of the time, the commercial was simple and gritty, focusing on the determination and work required to get moving.

It was aimed to sell the shoes across ages and interests. Rather darkly, the inspiration for the phrase "Just Do It" came from the final words of convicted murderer Gary Gilmore, who reportedly said "Let's do it" right before his execution.

Answer: 1980s

Domino's introduced the world to "The Noid" on television in 1986. The Noid was a claymation gremlin in a red rabbit-eared suit who loved to ruin pizzas. He enjoyed making them cold or crushing the boxes. The slogan "Avoid the Noid" was the warning to customers that only Domino's was fast enough to get the hot pizza to your door before the Noid could get his hands on it and ruin your expected meal.

The character was very popular and spun off into toys and even a video game. However, an actual man named Noid, who suffered mental illness, believed the ad was focused on him and held people for hostage.

Afterward, the Noid was pulled from the airwaves.