12 Most 1970s Commercials Ever Made
The 1970s brought us some unforgettable TV commercials that perfectly captured the decade’s unique vibe.
From catchy jingles to groovy animations, these ads were cultural landmarks that reflected the fashion, technology, and attitudes of the era.
Join me for a nostalgic trip back to when commercials were just as entertaining as the shows they interrupted!
1. Farrah Fawcett’s Iconic Noxzema Shave Cream Ad
Blonde bombshell Farrah Fawcett set television screens ablaze in this sizzling 1973 commercial. “Take it off, take it ALL off” became the catchphrase of the decade as Fawcett seductively helped Joe Namath shave with Noxzema cream.
The commercial brilliantly capitalized on Fawcett’s rising star power just before her Charlie’s Angels fame. Men bought Noxzema by the truckload, while women copied her feathered hairstyle nationwide.
2. Life Cereal’s “Mikey Likes It!” Phenomenon
Nothing captures breakfast table drama like three brothers and a bowl of Life cereal. The 1972 commercial featuring little Mikey, supposedly a picky eater, devouring the cereal while his brothers watched in amazement became instant folklore.
I remember my mom buying Life cereal specifically because of this ad! We’d gather around our kitchen table and someone would inevitably say “He likes it! Hey Mikey!” whenever my youngest brother tried something new.
3. Mean Joe Greene’s Game-Changing Coca-Cola Moment
Football tough guy “Mean” Joe Greene transformed into everyone’s favorite softie in this 1979 tear-jerker. A limping Greene encounters a starstruck kid who offers him his Coca-Cola, leading to the unforgettable jersey toss and “Hey kid, catch!” moment.
The commercial broke racial barriers and showed a vulnerable side to the intimidating defensive tackle. It remains one of the most referenced ads in television history, forever linking Coke with genuine human connection.
4. Enjoli’s “8-Hour Perfume for the 24-Hour Woman”
Feminism got a peculiar commercial interpretation with Enjoli’s 1978 superwoman anthem. “I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan, and never let you forget you’re a man” sung a glamorous woman juggling career, cooking, and seduction.
The jingle burned itself into viewers’ brains while presenting a contradictory message about women’s liberation. Despite its mixed messages, the perfume flew off shelves as women embraced this idealized (if exhausting) vision of having it all.
5. Alka-Seltzer’s “I Can’t Believe I Ate The Whole Thing”
Ralph, a miserable man in bed beside his sleeping wife, laments his overindulgence in this 1972 gem. His pitiful declaration “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing” followed by his wife’s “You ate it, Ralph” created instant comedy gold.
The phrase wormed its way into American vernacular, becoming shorthand for regrettable excess. I still mutter this line after Thanksgiving dinner, much to my family’s amusement (or annoyance, depending on how many times I’ve recycled the joke).
6. The Iconic Tootsie Pop Owl’s Eternal Question
Animated wisdom arrived via a bespectacled owl in this 1970 commercial that asked the philosophical question: “How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?” The owl’s impatient conclusion after just three licks—crunch!—delighted kids everywhere.
The commercial’s simple animation style screamed 1970s children’s programming. Its longevity proved remarkable, running for decades and spawning countless playground experiments to answer the owl’s unsolved riddle.
7. Hai Karate Aftershave’s Martial Arts Mayhem
Nerdy guys everywhere gained hope from Hai Karate’s ridiculous premise: this aftershave makes women so uncontrollably attracted to you, you’ll need self-defense moves to fend them off!
The commercials showed average men karate-chopping their way through hordes of beautiful, fragrance-crazed women.
Each bottle even came with a little self-defense instruction booklet. The campaign perfectly captured the decade’s over-the-top machismo and cheesy sexual politics while making Hai Karate a bathroom cabinet staple.
8. Calgon’s “Ancient Chinese Secret” Laundry Mystery
Cultural sensitivity wasn’t the 1970s’ strong suit, as evidenced by this 1977 Calgon commercial. Set in a Chinese laundry, a customer marvels at how clean her clothes are, asking the proprietor his secret.
His wife hilariously breaks the fourth wall, whispering “Ancient Chinese secret, huh?” before revealing it’s just Calgon. The catchphrase stuck around long after the commercial faded.
9. Oscar Mayer’s Unforgettable Bologna Jingle
A freckle-faced boy fishing on a dock crooned the earworm that tortured parents nationwide: “My bologna has a first name, it’s O-S-C-A-R…” The 1973 commercial embedded itself in our collective consciousness through sheer repetition.
The jingle’s simple melody made it perfect for kids to learn and sing (and sing… and sing). Oscar Mayer brilliantly created a generation of children who could spell their brand name perfectly while simultaneously driving their parents to the brink of madness.
10. Chiffon Margarine’s “It’s Not Nice to Fool Mother Nature”
Mother Nature herself appeared as a crown-wearing, robe-draped earth goddess in this memorable 1970s campaign. Upon learning the “butter” she’s praising is actually Chiffon margarine, she unleashes thunder and lightning while declaring, “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature!”
The special effects were charmingly low-budget, but the message landed. Chiffon successfully positioned itself as butter’s indistinguishable (but cheaper) twin, while giving us an environmental catchphrase decades before climate change entered public consciousness.
11. Charlie Perfume’s “Kinda Young, Kinda Now” Freedom
Liberated women sprinted through meadows in flowing dresses while the infectious “Kinda young, kinda now, Charlie” jingle played in this quintessential 1970s fragrance campaign.
The commercials oozed freedom and independence, showing women driving convertibles and confidently striding through city streets.
Charlie wasn’t just selling perfume—it was selling a lifestyle. The scent became the best-selling fragrance of the decade, bottling the essence of women’s liberation in a sleek rectangular package with a distinctive green stripe.
12. The Iconic Pillsbury Doughboy’s Giggling Debut
Poppin’ Fresh, the Pillsbury Doughboy, bounced onto screens in 1971 with his signature giggle when poked in his doughy belly. This stop-motion marvel instantly charmed viewers with his chef’s hat, scarf, and irresistible personality.
Creating him required painstaking clay animation—a far cry from today’s CGI characters. The little guy became one of advertising’s most beloved mascots.
My grandmother collected Doughboy kitchen items and would giggle exactly like him whenever we’d poke her tummy, a family tradition that continues with my own kids.