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The airline industry has undergone several upheavals and gut-punches in the past two decades. There was the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, the Air Traffic Controllers’ strike of 1981, and the tragic events of September 11, 2001, to name just a few. But once upon a time airlines competed for customers not by price, but by services offered. Of course, throughout the 1970s, airlines earned the bulk of their revenue from business travelers (who were overwhelmingly male at that time), rather than families. Which probably explains airline why TV commercials of that era portrayed air travel as something of a Bunny Club in the sky…
1. First Class Toga Parties
For those who wondered what debauchery went on beyond that First Class curtain, Southern Airways laid the truth bare. Toga-clad stewardesses (they wouldn’t become “flight attendants” for another decade or so) peeled grapes and served champagne and cracked crab for that select group.
2. Fly Maggie
National Airlines raised the hackles of feminist organizations with their “Fly Me” campaign. Both TV and print ads featured fetching flight attendants inviting potential passengers to “fly them.” Exhibit A: Maggie and her two 747s. You don’t have to be Sigmund Freud to figure that one out.
3. Your Bags Will Arrive Safely. Got it?
I think the message this Eastern Airlines commercial was trying to convey was that your bags would always arrive with you at your destination. But…”My boys”? Spider? Rocco? Tiny? Is it just me, or does this whole commercial reek of “If you gotta complaint about de way deese mugs are handlin’ your baggage, I’ve got a pair of cement galoshes fitted just for you”?
4. The Strip Tease
It’s bad enough that Braniff International made their flight attendants change their outfits three times during a routine flight, but did they really need to promote that “feature” as some sort of in-flight striptease?
5. Hotpants
Remember what it was like before Southwest Airlines? You didn’t have hostesses in hot pants. As Dave Barry would say, I’m not making this up.
6. Take Your Mind off the Falling Engines
Several DC-10 airplane crashes in the late 1970s were traced back to design flaws in the aircraft, and for a short time the FAA grounded all DC-10s until the structural problems were solved. But pesky problems like engines falling off mid-air aside, doesn’t that Friendship Room in coach class look inviting?
7. Coach Ain’t What it Used to Be
Extra-wide seats and a steak dinner in Coach? That is old school. And why was such luxury available when flying east only? Did TWA presume that all their west-bound passengers were strictly the crunchy granola vegetarian types?
8. The Really Friendly Skies
This commercial dates back to 1958, but compared to air travel today, it might as well date back to the Stone Age. Look at the size of the lavatory, the restaurant booth-style seating areas, and the lobster dinner served on china plates. If I promise to dress in a June Cleaver-style suit while traveling, can we please return to this era for just a couple of weeks? Pretty please?
Read all past installments of Kara’s TV-Holic series.
Comments (14)
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My two favorite airline commercials were from Eastern Airlines’ campaign oalled “Eastern, The Wings of Man”. As a kid they left a deep impression.
One showed Icarus over a cliff high above the clouds. He takes off and just soars with his huge wings.
The other showed a mockingbird in a cage and a kid looking closely at him. The kid looked like a giant from the bird’s perspective. In slow motion and to the tune of Wagner’s apotheotic Liebestod, the kid takes the little bird and releases him into the air.
For an 8 year old to hear the Liebestod for the first time is like hearing the voice of God. I can thank Eastern and their ad agency for that introduction to classical music.
posted by Jmchez on 8-20-2009 at 11:26 am
I love these ads! Make me want to go back and watch all the Mad Men On Demand.
posted by Hyacinth on 8-20-2009 at 11:37 am
That guy on the DC-10 is Bobby Troup, is he not? Dr. Joe Early from Emergency!
posted by Johnny Cat on 8-20-2009 at 11:37 am
One of the most striking things is the man lighting up near the end of that last spot. I saw an old movie awhile back with Warren Beatty arriving at an airport, walking straight to a plane (no security screening) and paying his fare after he boarded, then pulling out a cigarette. My, how things have changed.
posted by Kevin on 8-20-2009 at 12:05 pm
You’re missing the classic “Take Me Along” ads
posted by PartiallyDeflected on 8-20-2009 at 1:14 pm
“Fly Maggie” and “Hotpants” reminded me of the old Continental ads with the song that sang “We really move our tails for you … We make your every wish come true …”. I always found that a bit suggestive … and awesome.
posted by RogerDog on 8-20-2009 at 1:36 pm
“The airline industry has undergone several upheavals and gut-punches in the past two decades. There was the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, the Air Traffic Controllers’ strike of 1981… ”
2009-1978=31
2009-1981=28
2 decades = 20
recaptcha: educated tennant
posted by Traci on 8-20-2009 at 3:07 pm
Kevin said:
#
One of the most striking things is the man lighting up near the end of that last spot. I saw an old movie awhile back with Warren Beatty arriving at an airport, walking straight to a plane (no security screening) and paying his fare after he boarded, then pulling out a cigarette. My, how things have changed.
posted by Kevin on 8-20-2009 at 12:05 pm
That’s a scene from The Parallax View. The character Beatty played did not pull out a cigarette, but the rest is correct. See clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iSmcCK_kkw
posted by Priscilla on 8-20-2009 at 3:46 pm
@Traci: Shhhh…if you’re going to get picky about dates, you’ll force me to admit that it’s actually been (mumble mumble) years since I gradutated from high school, while it seems to me like only yesterday…
posted by Kara on 8-20-2009 at 3:55 pm
Johnny Cat,
Right show, wrong actor. That’s Robert Fuller, who played Dr. Brackett.
Great commercials!
posted by Kale on 8-20-2009 at 7:03 pm
I know! I recently read some of the Bond books and he describes his treatment flying to the US. They even had crossages of orchids for gentlemen to present to the ladies who met the plane!
Having said that I flew Korean Air last year and it was amazing. Sturdy plastic dishes in coach but the washable kind not disposable and first class got glass, ladies in gorgeous uniforms coming around with complimentary tea, coffee and juice even at 3 am when everyone else was asleep.
posted by Angela on 8-20-2009 at 10:37 pm
go to youtue and watch the bare essentials of New Zeland air commercials they are wearing no clothes
posted by nikki on 8-21-2009 at 11:50 pm
You could travel at speeds up to 658mph on a commercial jet in 1958?
posted by Steven on 8-22-2009 at 10:03 am
They are like ‘down memory lane’ and rather interesting.
posted by Charmaine on 9-10-2009 at 11:16 am