Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Slogan-riffic

“Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun.”

I was referencing this slogan the other day with an all-too-young friend and I realized from her blank expression that she had no idea what I was talking about. I suppose this could be the ultimate example of a generation gap.

In the mid 1970s, McDonalds probably pulled off the most successful advertising coup in history. They had people saying it in their SLEEP. I was 11 at the time, and people at school were betting marbles, lunch money and cinammon toothpicks who could say it the fastest. And those were just the teachers. (Side note: Do you remember cinammon toothpicks? Junior Wilson had a freakin' side business going - two for a quarter. Junior was the mack daddy of the entrepreneurial spirit)

Radio stations had contests - if you could say it within 5 seconds, or if you could say it backwards, or if you could say it in pig latin - you'd win a Big Mac.

It was on shirts, signs, tattoos... it even made the leap to sexual euphemism. "Hey, nice all-beef patties!" "Wanna try my 'special sauce'?" "I am the sesame seed to your buns." (okay I made that last one up)

Any particularly memorable advertising campaigns stick out in your mind?

18 comments:

Blogarita said...

Junior was the mack daddy of the entrepreneurial spirit.

Uh, wouldn't that be Mac Daddy? And yeah, he was definitely spirited.

... said...

I know the hand slap to that song...we used to do it in Junior High....how sad that I still remember it. Ha

Bob said...

I think we all remember the Wendy's "Where's the Beef?" lady.

And "You got the right on baby. Uh huh" sticks out in my mind. Don't remember for sure what the hell they were selling, I think it was Diet Pepsi.

Nichole said...

Ahhh the infamous cinnamon sticks, I had canker sours from hell because of those!!!

Old school slogans? "Ancient Chinese Secret" was and still is my favorite. I say it ALL the time.

Mary said...

Bun seed sesame a on onions pickles cheese lettuce sauce special patties beef all two!

Holly {ArtistMotherTeacher} said...

At what age difference does this so called generational gap occur? I'm only 30 and there are times when I say stuff to my adult students about things from my past and they look at me like I'm nuts. I remember the McD's song well and bet there are student's of mine who would have no idea what you're talking about.

By the way—love your new avatar. Very becoming.

Nobody said...

I used to dance along to the Dr Pepper commercials in my Dr Sholls and silky hot pants. I'm a pepper, damn it ;)

Lee Ann said...

Oh that is great! I remember that one.
Oh yes..."If I could teach the world to sing in perfect harmony...."

I updated my post just for you Dave!

Bottle Rocket Fire Alarm said...

"You are now free to move about the country" always struck me as brilliant.

Fantastagirl said...

Didn't they hand out those little records with the song on them - orsomething like that? Maybe it was the whole menu or something like that.

Chris Cope said...

My mom figured out how to make cinnamon toothpicks. I used to sell 10 for a quarter. If I remember correctly, I made enough money to buy a Nintendo.

Max said...

Cinnamon toothpicks were the bomb. I knew guys too that definitely had a side business selling those things. I definitely remember the Big Mac ads and trying to say that slogan as fasr as I could. Was always trying to work up the nerve to call KXOK when a dj would ask for the next caller on that one.

Violet said...

"all too young friend"?????

perhaps you are just "all-too-old"...


bite me, be-yotch!

Violet said...

oh, and by the way... your new avatar??? let's just remember whose standing on the right side of you in that picture.

The Full Picture

mcBlogger said...

"Where's the Beef"

That's what I remember

CP said...

"I've fallen, and I can't get up!"

I think she and the "Where's the Beef" chick were the same woman. She was getting out of bed to get some Wendy's and fell on her ass.

Now, if she had "the clapper", she'd at least be able to turn on the damn light.

CP.

Lee Ann said...

"I can't believe I ate the whole thing"!

Anonymous said...

Gee! Your hair smells terrific....OMG I am OLD