The Silver State Chronicles

Coca Cola Classic Never Goes Out of Style

As each new year comes to a close, I like to look back and get a little nostalgic.

The word ‘nostalgia’ comes from the ancient Greek language, a combination of two words: “nostos,” meaning ‘a return home, travel, journey’ and the word “algos,” meaning ‘pain, grief.’

This would roughly translate back in ancient times as ‘the pain from an old wound,’ but the colloquial modern use still captures at least some of that essence – “a bittersweet yearning for the things of the past.” The pain from looking back – a warm memory, but one you know you can’t ever really return to.

So all you have left is a memory that simultaneously feels good and hurts a bit.

Even in todays fast paced world, ware fads come and go in a matter of weeks, and movie, television, & recording stars just sail briefly through the public consciousness, people still respond to nostalgia. I know that I certainly do.

As to the power of modern nostalgia, I think it’s mostly because the things that trigger the memories are now more real than they have ever been in the past.

While past generations had to rely on old stories passed down as cornerstones of memory, the modern era has recorded video and audio – methods that appeal to two powerful senses, sight and sound.

So I believe our modern sense of nostalgia is therefore much more real, since we can literally go back to the sights and sounds of the past and experience ‘bittersweet yearning’ in ways prior generations simply could not.

And why is the feeling so potent? We can go back to that video or audio and suddenly a link to the past is formed. And in most cases, there is a strong perception that the time past was just better and more fulfilling.

Was it really all that much better? It doesn’t matter. The memory and perception is what’s important. Memory can be a funny thing, of course. We tend to exaggerate things, especially the extremes. The good seems a bit better, and the bad can seem worse if you’re not careful.

Indeed, the passing of time combined with wisdom does tend to minimize the bad, and that’s a good thing.

How’s this for a segue?

Which brings me to one of my all time favorite television commercials. The advertising whizzes who thought this one up sure caught lightning in a bottle – Coca Cola somehow associated with an infectious, folksy, feel good, hippy-dippy song, featuring smiling faces from around the world all getting along.

“I’d like to teach the world to sing” is indeed a classic commercial (and there are so few of those around). An unforgettable image and an unforgettably simple melody & lyrics.

Coca Cola seemed to run this commercial for most of the 1970s, and why not? It pushes all the right buttons and even a relatively young curmudgeon like me can’t resist its basic appeal.

Twenty years later, a different set of ad executives once again had a flash of genuine inspiration and tried to capture lightning in a bottle once again. The plan was uncomplicated – reunite the smiling faces from the 1970s commercial, and this time add their children – a new generation of Coca Cola drinkers, and recreate the song and imagery for a new era.

It’s just the type of thing that gets botched 98 times out of 100. But I think they really succeeded. If memory serves, they carted out the 20th Anniversary commercial at The Super Bowl that year, assuring that it would get maximum exposure and word of mouth the next day in homes, schools, and offices.

Note that while audio and video appeal to the senses in bringing forth powerful nostalgic feelings, this ad very cleverly incorporates the sense of taste to the experience. Just a few years earlier, Coke had introduced their infamous ‘New Coke,’ tinkering with a successful formula. That experiment was a failure.

Coke quickly re-introduced ‘Coca Cola Classic’ – a clever use of nostalgia in itself. So the 20th Anniversary commercial connects with people using another potent source of memory – taste!

Just a fantastic piece of work. They patterned the 20th Anniversary ad fairly closely to the original, which is clear when you watch them both. It’s very well crafted, and whoever worked on it really knew what they were doing.

I particularly like the 23 second mark as the original generation turns slightly to face their children as they skip into the frame, singing the updated ‘Coca Cola Classic’ jingle, woven masterfully into the original song. I confess I get some goosebumps and a bit choked up as the 20th Anniversary commercial ends with the text scrolling, much as the original commercial concluded.

Those few who know me well know I am a sucker for nostalgia and sentimentality (though I like to think I do a good job of camouflaging it). A pleasant melody from the past, warm friendly faces, happy young children singing. Love and family. It doesn’t get any better.

And while the imagery ostensibly speaks to a global theme, the truth is that this ad is quintessentially American. People from all over the world can gather on an hillside in Italy, but the message is unmistakable (if unintentional). It speaks to Americans, who have come from every corner of the globe to be part of the greatest nation on earth.

And truly, Coca Cola is about as American as Mom, Baseball, & Apple Pie.

Ultimately, with a slight tear in my eye, it’s nice to remember that though things may change, it’s our job to make things change for the better. But it’s a warn, wonderful feeling to know that the memories of the past are there to bring us a joyful feeling.

And in the end you just can’t beat the feeling. You can’t beat the real thing.

Happy New Year!

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“You need more tonic, boy”

One of the most memorable Woody Woodpecker animated shorts is ‘Under the Counter Spy,’ a neat spoof on Dragnet. I have to admit, this is one of the darker Woody Woodpecker cartoons and downright creepy at times! Still, it’s a classic and very enjoyable!

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“Mrs. Peel, We’re Needed”

It’s no secret to those that know me personally that I have been a lifelong fan of the classic British tv series, The Avengers. Indeed, I confess that I carried around an umbrella every day during the 4th & 5th grades in an effort to emulate one of my great role models, Mr. John Steed (Patrick Macnee).

Of course, I have a different sort of affection & admiration for his greatest crime-fighting partner, Mrs. Emma Peel (Diana Rigg). But I am only human, after all! What a woman!

Truth is, while modern television does show brief lucid flashes of genuine quality, wit, & creativity suitable for all ages, nothing comes close to the sheer escapst fun of this classic series!

And it’s that very essence that this fan-made video captures! So sit back and enjoy the snazzy presentation of the classic Avengers theme and the marvelous video that accompanies, courtesy of PeterPeel at YouTube!

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Lee Marvin on Dragnet

Thought I would share a Dragnet classic this week – an entire episode! This episode is ‘The Big Cast’ and featured a young Lee Marvin before he would go on to greater success.

The episode was first broadcast on February 14, 1952, and is brought to you today courtesy of the magic of YouTube!

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Wear Your Seat Belts

Jack Webb has never led me in a wrong direction! Enjoy the Webb-wisdom of this public service announcement regarding the importance of seat belts!

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The Facts About Medicare

Mr Jack Webb took some time from his busy schedule to film this brief Public Service Announcement, informing tv viewers about their Medicare benefits.

I was so moved by this PSA that I ran down to my local Social Security office immediately to sign up for my benefits, and told them Mr Webb had sent me, advising that I should go down before my 65th birthday to do all the paperwork.

The woman kindly informed me that there is no need to sign up 25 years before my 65th birthday, and to come back in 24 years, 10 months or so. I vowed to do just that! Then the nice security folks escorted me out of the building!

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We miss you, Dusty

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Lunatics Running The Asylum

Looks like the guardians of what’s right and wrong about our culture are at it again!

UPI reports…

Volumes 1 and 2 of “Sesame Street: Old School” come with a warning stating the first episodes of the beloved U.S. series may not be appropriate for children.

“These early ‘Sesame Street’ episodes are intended for grown-ups and may not suit the needs of today’s preschool child,” the statement said.

The long-running series began in 1969.

Asked by The New York Times why the warning was necessary, Carol-Lynn Parente, the show’s executive producer, mentioned one installment that depicted Cookie Monster chewing on, then eating a pipe during the parody “Monsterpiece Theater.”

“That modeled the wrong behavior, so we reshot those scenes without the pipe and then we dropped the parody altogether,” Parente told the Times.

She noted that Oscar the Grouch’s extreme grouchiness in early episodes doesn’t set a great example, either.

“We might not be able to create a character like Oscar now,” Parente said.

Mentalcases.

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Thanksgiving Dragnet Doubleheader

If there’s one thing you don’t do, it’s push Sgt. Joe Friday! And this hapless criminal lowlife does just that, and pays the price!

Justice has a name – it’s Jack Webb!

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It’s a dangerous city out there…

Back in the days when TV was a lot more entertaining, long promos for the series were sent out as part of the syndication packages so that the local tv station could drum up interest for the series. This one for the 1960s incarnation of Dragnet is a classic, and includes part of the famous “What is a cop” speech from season one!

Enjoy!

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