1. Schlitz Malt Liquor Bull
Beer commercials in the ’70s were loud, brash, and sometimes a little dangerous. The Schlitz Malt Liquor Bull ads featured a raging bull crashing through walls, furniture, and parties. The idea was that the beer packed a punch, but the visual was pure chaos. Imagine sitting at home and suddenly seeing a bull demolish a living room just because someone cracked open a can.
In today’s market, this would probably be seen as glorifying destruction and even unsafe behavior. With stricter alcohol advertising rules, a company would get in trouble for suggesting their product could unleash mayhem. It’s one of those campaigns that people still chuckle about, but also one that would be unthinkable under modern advertising standards.
2. Alka-Seltzer “Try It, You’ll Like It”
This jingle-driven ad showed a man being coaxed into trying unfamiliar food, only to regret it later. The tagline “Try it, you’ll like it” became a pop culture catchphrase. At the time, it was lighthearted and memorable, with a little slapstick thrown in. But what made people laugh in the ’70s might not work today.
Modern audiences are more sensitive to stereotypes, and the ad’s broad portrayal of foreign food as something unpleasant could easily be seen as offensive. While it sold a lot of Alka-Seltzer tablets, it also leaned into humor that hasn’t aged well. Commercials now tend to celebrate global cuisine rather than mock it.
3. Jell-O Pudding with Bill Cosby
In the ’70s, Bill Cosby was the face of Jell-O pudding commercials. He brought humor, warmth, and fatherly charm, and the ads made the brand a household staple. Parents trusted him, and kids wanted to eat whatever he was eating on TV. At the time, these commercials were some of the most wholesome spots you could find.
Fast forward to today, and the association is impossible. With Cosby’s later criminal convictions, no brand would touch that legacy now. It’s a perfect example of how an ad that once seemed timeless can become unairable due to the downfall of its spokesperson.
4. Hai Karate Aftershave
Hai Karate aftershave commercials leaned heavily on slapstick humor and a sexist premise. The ads showed average men wearing the product and suddenly being attacked by hordes of overly aggressive women. The punchline was that men needed self-defense moves to fend them off. It was cheeky at the time, but also deeply rooted in outdated gender stereotypes.
Today, this would be criticized for objectifying women and treating them as mindless creatures driven by scent. Advertising standards have moved toward inclusivity, and something this blatant wouldn’t pass. It’s still remembered as one of those “only in the ’70s” campaigns that makes modern viewers cringe.
5. Folgers “Mrs. Olson” Coffee Commercials
Folgers’ ads featuring “Mrs. Olson” often showed a kindly neighbor advising wives on how to brew better coffee for their husbands. The message was simple: serve good coffee or risk your man’s happiness. In the context of the time, it felt normal for commercials to target women as homemakers responsible for everything domestic.
Today, this would be seen as painfully outdated and sexist. The idea of a woman’s worth being tied to the coffee she makes for her husband doesn’t land well in 2025. While Folgers is still around, their advertising has moved far away from this dynamic.
6. Mr. Leggs “Never Trust a Pretty Girl in an Ugly Pantsuit”
This 1970s ad campaign for men’s slacks featured the tagline “Never trust a pretty girl in an ugly pantsuit.” The visuals often showed women literally being used as furniture while men modeled the pants. It was meant to be edgy and playful, but it reflected how common objectification was in advertising at the time.
Now, this would be condemned as wildly sexist and offensive. No brand could get away with portraying women as props to highlight a man’s outfit. It’s one of the starkest examples of how much cultural attitudes toward gender have changed since the ’70s.
7. Coca-Cola “Have a Coke and a Smile” with Joe Greene
The Mean Joe Greene commercial for Coca-Cola is still beloved, but it also raises questions about child labor laws and product placement today. The ad shows a young boy offering a Coke to the football player, who rewards him with his jersey. It’s sweet, and it became iconic in the ’70s.
But modern regulations about marketing sugary drinks to kids are stricter. A commercial directly targeting children with soda might not make it to air today. While the spot is remembered fondly, it’s a piece of advertising history that wouldn’t clear the same hurdles now.
8. Kool-Aid Man Crashing Through Walls
The Kool-Aid Man debuted in the ’70s, and his signature move was crashing through walls while shouting “Oh yeah!” Kids loved it, and it became one of the most recognizable mascots of the decade. Parents, on the other hand, probably winced at the idea of their kids reenacting the stunt at home.
Today, a commercial encouraging kids to imagine smashing through walls would be flagged for promoting unsafe behavior. It’s harmless in spirit but problematic when you think about copycat risks. While the Kool-Aid Man is still around, the tone of his ads has softened.
9. Burger King’s “Have It Your Way”
In the ’70s, Burger King leaned heavily into its “Have It Your Way” campaign. The commercials showed picky customers getting exactly what they wanted, no matter how specific. It felt fresh and empowering at the time, encouraging people to demand customization from a fast-food chain.
While the campaign itself isn’t offensive, the tone of the commercials—often depicting impatient men snapping at workers—wouldn’t be acceptable now. Today’s ads aim to respect service workers rather than make them the butt of the joke. The slogan is still around, but it’s been reworked for a friendlier era.
10. Ajax “White Knight” Cleaner Ads
Ajax commercials in the ’70s featured a knight in shining armor riding in to clean sinks and bathtubs. The implication was that women needed rescuing from the drudgery of housework. It was colorful and whimsical at the time, but the underlying message was clear: cleaning was a woman’s burden.
This kind of messaging wouldn’t pass today, where advertisers are expected to avoid reinforcing gender stereotypes. The knight imagery was clever, but the cultural assumptions it rode on feel outdated now. Modern cleaning ads tend to show all genders doing the chores.
11. Calgon “Ancient Chinese Secret”
One of the most infamous commercials of the ’70s was Calgon’s “Ancient Chinese Secret.” It featured a white woman asking a Chinese laundry owner how he got clothes so clean, and he responded with the stereotypical line. The ad played into racial caricatures that were common in that era but would be condemned today.
This commercial is a textbook example of casual racism in advertising. While it might have seemed funny then, it’s now studied as an example of what not to do. Calgon has since distanced itself from that history, but the ad remains a reminder of how much things have changed.
12. Tang Space-Age Commercials
Tang was heavily promoted during the ’70s with the help of astronauts, tying it to the excitement of space exploration. The commercials leaned into the space race and often suggested that kids could drink the same thing astronauts did. At the time, it felt futuristic and fun, making Tang a household name.
Today, NASA doesn’t allow its name or astronauts to be used in product endorsements like that. Regulations around using government programs and employees in advertising are much stricter now. While Tang is still around, it no longer carries that outer-space glamour it had in the ’70s.
13. Tab Diet Soda Campaigns
Coca-Cola’s Tab commercials in the ’70s were aimed squarely at women, with taglines suggesting that drinking the soda would help them “be a shape he can see.” It tied women’s value to their appearance and made diet culture seem glamorous. The ads were filled with slim models and a heavy dose of body pressure.
Today, these would be criticized for promoting unhealthy standards and linking self-worth to size. Body positivity movements have changed the way companies talk about wellness. Tab itself is gone, but its commercials stand as reminders of a time when diet culture was openly marketed.
14. Shake ’n Bake Family Ads
Shake ’n Bake commercials often featured little kids proudly announcing that they helped mom make dinner. The message was wholesome, but it leaned into a gendered dynamic of kids only assisting mom in the kitchen. At the time, it was considered cute and charming, especially when kids delivered the “And I helped!” line.
Nowadays, this setup might raise eyebrows. Ads are expected to be more inclusive, showing dads and all kinds of families in cooking roles. While Shake ’n Bake is still sold, the company has shifted away from those stereotypical portrayals.
15. Dr. Pepper “I’m a Pepper” Campaign
The Dr. Pepper ads of the ’70s were catchy, showing crowds of people dancing and singing “I’m a Pepper, he’s a Pepper, wouldn’t you like to be a Pepper too?” It was fun, but also a very aggressive push to brand soda drinkers as part of a special club. It created peer pressure around choosing a soft drink.
Today, marketing like this might be seen as manipulative, especially with sugary beverages under scrutiny. Encouraging people to tie their identity to a soda brand would probably be flagged as irresponsible. Still, the jingle lives on as one of the era’s most memorable advertising moments.
16. Light Beer from Miller “Everything You Always Wanted in a Beer, and Less”
Miller’s Light Beer ads introduced the idea of a lighter beer in the ’70s. The commercials often leaned on macho sports figures to assure men it was okay to drink a “diet” beer. The humor usually revolved around men poking fun at each other while reinforcing traditional masculine roles.
Today, the underlying message would be called out for outdated gender norms. Using sports stars to validate a product in this way feels heavy-handed now. While light beer is still popular, the advertising approach has shifted to more inclusive messaging.
17. Tootsie Pop “How Many Licks?” Owl
The famous Tootsie Pop ad with the wise old owl asking “How many licks does it take to get to the center?” debuted in the ’70s. It was short, quirky, and instantly memorable, becoming a staple of children’s TV time. Kids loved the cartoon animals and the silly setup.
But today, advertising regulations are stricter about targeting children directly with candy commercials. The idea of making junk food irresistibly fun for kids would be criticized. While the owl still shows up in nostalgia campaigns, the original approach would be heavily regulated now.
18. McDonald’s “McDonaldland” with Ronald and Friends
McDonald’s went all-in on fantasyland marketing in the ’70s, creating a colorful world called McDonaldland. Ronald McDonald, the Hamburglar, Grimace, and other characters invited kids into a magical place where burgers and fries were front and center. At the time, it was wildly successful in cementing brand loyalty among children.
Today, that kind of direct targeting of kids with mascots and fantasy worlds has been restricted. Concerns about childhood obesity have forced companies to rethink how they market fast food. McDonald’s still uses Ronald sparingly, but the over-the-top kid-centered campaigns of the ’70s are long gone.
