A Digital Archive of Vintage Television Commercials

Sweet! Just in time for the premier of Mad Men season 3 next Sunday!

Check out AdViews, a digital archive of thousands of vintage television commercials dating from the 1950s to the 1980s.

These commercials were created or collected by the quintessential "Mad Men" ad agency, Benton & Bowles or its successor, D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles (DMB&B). Founded in 1929, Benton & Bowles was a New York advertising agency that merged with D'Arcy Masius McManus in 1985 to form DMB&B. Major clients included are Procter & Gamble, Kraft, Schick, Vicks, and Post, among others. Commercials will be added in phased batches over several months in 2009.

The commercials are a part of the D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles Archives found at the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History in Duke University's Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library.

And I really digs the fact that you can either view these via the Duke University AdViews website or stream, download and subscribe in iTunes!

That's Right,

HMK

Gracias to Design Observer.

Retro TV Via Telstar

I know what you're probably thinking - yeah sure, that's pretty sweet looking, but seriously, who really wants to invest in an old refurb TV with all the incredible new options like HD, LCD, Plasma, etcetera out there?

This is from the Telstar/Predicta FAQ:

Is This Real?

Yes! Color Predicta TV is a reality. Believe it or not, this is the most commonly asked question we receive at Telstar, and we are ecstatic there are so many people out there who want more from their TV than the generic black box offered by other TV manufacturers. The science and romance of the Predicta legend has been resurrected and continued by Telstar.

We realize with the help of software programs such as Photoshop, it is very easy to "fake" a company or product over the Internet. Every unit pictured on our website is a production TV, currently manufactured with new parts. None of the pictures have been doctored in Photoshop or other editing software to create the illusion that we make colors or options that have never been built. As we continue the line of Predicta models, check out our concepts page which has various units in either development stages or concept stages, such as an artist's rendition. These units are appropriately labeled.

So, there you have it. These killer looking TVs are real deal, brand new sets - check 'em out: Color Predicta TV.

That's Right,

HMK

Human Target Trailer

Finally! Fox has just released a 3 minute trailer for Human Target which includes the ridiculously talented Mr. Jackie Earle Haley - complete with hair! And dude, it looks pretty badass!



Stay tuned for my upcoming brief yet exclusive interview with the man!

That's Right,

HMK

Ultimate TV!

Ah the choices... Plasma, LCD, HD, 720, 1080...

I think I just found the perfect TV for the Tiki Room.

I'm going for Predicta's Holiday TV. It's the most cosmopolitan model and I totally dig how it subtly captures the geometries and lines essential to mid-century form.

Its 24" color screen on a hand crafted solid maple or mahagony cabinet rests in a brass antenna-like cradle lifting it off the table surface. Of all Predicta TV models, and perhaps true of all TVs ever produced, the Holiday's design is the most authentic to mid-century modern design. Its exaggerated sqaure box is complimented with exact square side cuts.

Removing the lower portion of the front cabinet creates a cantilevered effect while the weight and position of the tube provide harmony and balance:

You know you want one!

I Want My Cool TV! Predicta

That's Right,

HMK