Denis: Iconic adverts we can’t forget

Mar 9 2010 by Denis Kilcommons

THERE we were, standing round the bar talking about old television adverts, like you do.

Not just any adverts, but the ones with jingles that everyone remembers.

“I remember the shake and vac lady,” said Kevin. “I fancied her like mad.”

And then the others came tumbling from people’s memories.

Barbara was insistent there had been one in the 1960s that went: “Dum-dum dumde-dumde-dum dum dummmmm, Gives you a sparkle, Premium Tea!” Although no one else could quite remember it.

Maria, who is to singing what Eddie the Eagle was to the Winter Olympics, burst into a sudden rendition of: “We are the Tootal tie, boys, Very best Christmas buy, boys,” that startled everybody because few could recall that, either.

Other tunes and ditties flowed – R Whites “secret lemonade drinker” that was delivered in the style of Elvis Presley, the one for Maynards wine gums that exhorted gum chewers to “set the juice loose about this hoose” and the days (not so long ago) when everyone was a fruit and nut case.

Everybody knew the classic Nimble advert from the 1970s of the girl floating over a hill on the end of a balloon to the sound of the Honeybus singing I Can’t Let Maggie Go: She flies like a bird in the sky, she flies like a bird and I wish that she was mine.