1. Alka-Seltzer’s “Plop Plop, Fizz Fizz”
Few jingles are as instantly recognizable as “Plop Plop, Fizz Fizz, Oh What a Relief It Is.” The Alka-Seltzer commercials from the ’60s had a playful charm that made medicine sound almost fun. Watching those tablets bubble away in a glass of water was strangely satisfying, and the tune stuck in your head long after the commercial ended.
Even now, people hum the jingle when they hear the name. It’s the kind of advertising that felt like a catchy song rather than a pitch. The bright colors, smiling faces, and the idea that heartburn could be solved so simply still makes these ads entertaining. They’re quirky little time capsules that never lose their fizz.
2. Ajax “Stronger Than Dirt”
Cleaning commercials might not sound thrilling, but Ajax made theirs unforgettable. The ad showed gleaming bathtubs and sinks while a bold voice announced the powder cleanser was “Stronger Than Dirt.” At the end, the words even echoed like a heroic chant.
What makes it fun to watch today is how dramatic the whole thing feels. It’s just a cleaning product, yet the production treated it like a superhero introduction. The serious tone combined with the sparkle effects makes it feel over-the-top in the best way. You can’t help but smile at how much power was given to scrubbing a sink.
3. Winston Cigarettes with The Flintstones
Before regulations banned cartoon endorsements for tobacco, Winston ran commercials featuring Fred and Barney from The Flintstones. Watching beloved animated characters hawk cigarettes feels surreal today. The men would sneak away from Wilma and Betty to enjoy their Winstons, played for laughs.
It’s wildly inappropriate now, but that’s part of what makes it so fascinating. The mix of kid-friendly animation with adult products feels almost like parody. The ads show how different cultural standards were, and they’re oddly entertaining for their strangeness. It’s hard not to do a double take when Fred lights up on screen.
4. Brylcreem’s “A Little Dab’ll Do Ya”
Brylcreem ads in the ’60s gave men permission to embrace a slick, polished look. Their catchy slogan, “A little dab’ll do ya,” was repeated with cheerful music. The commercials often showed men running their hands through glossy hair while women swooned.
The ads are charming in their simplicity and rhythm. There’s something almost musical about how the phrase is delivered, like it could be a jingle from a Broadway show. The exaggerated shine on the hair and the grins from the actors make it unintentionally funny today. It feels like a parody of its own success.
5. Tootsie Pop “How Many Licks?”
The animated owl in the Tootsie Pop commercial remains iconic. A child asks how many licks it takes to get to the center, and the owl famously gives up after three. “One, two, three… crunch!” became a cultural catchphrase.
Even decades later, the simplicity of the animation and the owl’s deadpan delivery make it delightful. The ad plays like a short cartoon, and it leaves you smiling every time. It’s fun because the question was never really answered, and kids everywhere tested it themselves. Few commercials managed to spark that kind of real-life interaction.
6. Palmolive Dish Soap with Madge the Manicurist
“Relax, you’re soaking in it.” That’s the famous line Madge the manicurist delivered while dipping women’s hands into Palmolive soap. The commercials presented her as a wise friend, offering beauty advice disguised as product promotion.
The campy setup feels almost like a sketch comedy bit now. The way women gasped in surprise at realizing their hands were in dish soap is oddly hilarious. Madge’s calm authority made it work, and she became a household character. Watching them today feels like flipping through a kitschy sitcom moment.
7. Oscar Mayer’s “I Wish I Were an Oscar Mayer Wiener”
The Oscar Mayer jingle sung by kids marching in line is one of the sweetest pieces of advertising from the ’60s. The cheerful little song had children earnestly wishing to be hot dogs. It was strange and endearing all at once.
Now, it plays like something from a musical comedy sketch. The innocence of the kids contrasted with the bizarre premise makes it hard not to laugh. Still, the tune is charming and sincere. It’s no wonder the commercial has lived on in people’s memories for generations.
8. Kool-Aid Man Bursting Through Walls
Before he became more polished in the ’70s, the Kool-Aid Man was already crashing onto the scene in the ’60s. The commercials featured him bursting through fences or walls with his booming “Oh Yeah!” Kids would cheer as the red drink poured into glasses.
The absurdity of a giant pitcher of juice smashing through someone’s house is still hilarious. The low-budget special effects only add to the fun, making it clear he was literally just a guy in a jug suit. There’s a sense of chaos that makes these ads unforgettable. They’re silly, loud, and endlessly entertaining.
9. Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes with Tony the Tiger
Tony the Tiger first came to life in the ’50s but really hit his stride in the ’60s. His booming voice and signature phrase, “They’re grrreat!” turned cereal into an adventure. Commercials showed him mentoring kids, teaching them that Frosted Flakes gave strength and fun.
There’s something heartwarming about how seriously Tony took his role. The animation had a friendly charm, and the exaggerated excitement made breakfast feel like a big deal. Today, watching him cheerfully roar over cereal feels both nostalgic and funny. It’s advertising at its most innocent and over-the-top.
10. Hamm’s Beer “From the Land of Sky Blue Waters”
Hamm’s Beer commercials featured dreamy music and animated bears. The jingle, “From the land of sky blue waters,” had a soothing, sing-song quality. The combination of wilderness imagery and goofy bear antics made the ads stand out.
They feel more like short cartoons than sales pitches. The bears were mischievous and lovable, adding humor that still works. The ads leaned into a folksy charm that makes them delightful to revisit. It’s a slice of Americana that feels both quaint and amusing today.
11. Pepsodent “You’ll Wonder Where the Yellow Went”
Pepsodent toothpaste promised brighter smiles with its catchy jingle, “You’ll wonder where the yellow went, when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent.” The commercial paired happy families with animated illustrations of sparkling teeth.
It’s fun to watch now because of how exaggerated everything looks. The gleam on the teeth practically sparkles off the screen, and the cheerful voices make it impossible not to grin along. The slogan is so silly it borders on comedy. It’s no wonder it stuck in people’s heads for decades.
12. Timex “Takes a Licking and Keeps on Ticking”
Timex commercials in the ’60s had a flair for the dramatic. They’d strap a watch to everything from a hammer to an outboard motor, then prove it still worked. The announcer’s calm assurance made the stunts even more impressive.
Looking back, the over-the-top demonstrations feel both impressive and absurd. Watching a watch survive punishment that no one would ever actually try makes you chuckle. It feels like a mix of science experiment and circus act. The phrase “Takes a licking and keeps on ticking” is as entertaining as the visuals themselves.
