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Dispensa's Castle Of Toys - "Creepy Santa" (Commercial, 1978)

Views: 10729

Ah, this one is great on so many levels...the funky bassline, the organ music, the creepy Santa...oh man. Here's a commercial for Dispensa's Castle of Toys in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois on Route 83 and Roosevelt Road.

I probably should have posted this back during Christmas but oh well. I'm sure you'll forgive me.

The only other Dispensa-related commercial we had until this one ...

WFLD Channel 32 - Chicago Blitz Vs. Tampa Bay Bandits (Promo, 1983)

Views: 2182

Here's a promo of an upcoming game between the Chicago Blitz vs. Tampa Bay Bandits of the now-defunct United States Football League (USFL), to air Saturday, April 2nd at 7pm.

From this, we learn that George Allen was the Blitz' head coach and that John Reeves was the Bandits' QB. The play-by-play was by Doug Buffone and Lorn Brown (the latter of whom also handled play-by-play for Chicago White Sox radio broadcasts). (Spoiler / Time-Travelling Gambler Alert: The Blitz would ...

Mrs. Claus - "976-3333" (Commercial, 1984)

Views: 1607

Here's Santa Claus, shown here holding a book with children gathered around him, promoting a 976 phone number in which Mrs. Claus would speak with children on the phone while he's out delivering toys. Mrs. Claus is heard by voiceover near the end, going on about how busy Santa is.

Disclaimer shown at end: "Call Rates To Downtown Chicago Apply - By Phone Programs, Illinois." Another voiceover (by ??) advises children to get their parents' permission before calling.

Shedd Aquarium - "Caribbean Coral Reef" (Commercial, 1973)

Views: 1435

Here's a commercial for the John G. Shedd Aquarium at 12th Street and South Lake Shore Drive.

The "Ocean By The Lake" tag line wasn't seen or spoken in this ad - but quite a few of the sea life were, including moray eels, burrfish, triggerfish, fighting bonefish, and "dangerous" stingrays. Also seen is the then-new Caribbean coral reef section with a diver hand-feeding spadefish, sheepshead fish, tarpon...

Galaxy Disco (Commercial, 1976)

Views: 3076

FuzzBeat Presents What's Happening... ;-)

Here's a totally groovy commercial for the Galaxy Discotheque, located at 37 East Lorraine Road in Addison, IL. $1 per person cover charge on Fridays and Saturdays! It was a "million dollar discotheque", had an "exciting sound activated dance floor", "ultrasonic" sound system, free dance instructions Sundays and Mondays at 9pm, "plenty of free parking", and was "adjacent to the Stardust Bowl" (which is still open!). What's no...

WMAQ Channel 5 - NewsCenter5 At 6pm - "Piersall Incident" (1980)

Views: 5543

Here's the sports segment from NewsCenter 5 at 6pm on WMAQ Channel 5 featuring Mike Leiderman reporting. The top story of the day was Jimmy Piersall, White Sox broadcaster, going a bit nuts and attacking a sportswriter (Bob Gallas of the Arlington Heights Daily Herald) before getting into a fight with Mike Veeck. Includes a Jim Ruddle introduction at the beginning and Harry Caray giving his take on the incident. Also:

Ross Baumgarten (any relation to Robin?) talks with Mike ...

WMAQ Channel 5 - NewsCenter5 At 5pm - "The Blizzard of '78" (Part 1, 1978)

Views: 8393

Everyone remembers the great Blizzard of '79 - but how many people remember the Blizzard of 1978? Before the big snow in 1979 hit, this seemed fairly significant I guess, although not as bad as the Big Snow of 1967. Was this just a case of snow-perbole? You decide.

Here is Part 1 of some footage from the NewsCenter5 airing at 5pm on WMAQ Channel 5, with Mike Jackson, Ron Hunter, and Jerry Taft.

This part features a report on commuting by Gene Randall, the weather...

WMAQ Channel 5 - Sorting It Out (Part 2, 1976)

Views: 2639

Here's Part 2 of an episode of Sorting It Out on WMAQ Channel 5. Sorting It Out was a locally produced news magazine type show that featured interesting people and events around Chicagoland. It starred Bob Smith and a pre-Cheers Shelley Long, who at this point was still mostly known for her work in Homemakers furniture commercials.

This part features a look at a family with three generation...

The Complete Al Green - His Greatest Hits (Record Offer, 1980)

Views: 1378

Here's a record offer commercial for "The Complete Al Green - His Greatest Hits" by SMI (Suffolk Marketing, Inc) (or is it Hi Records Distributed by London?) Album is from 1977 so it's likely this commercial aired a lot earlier than 1980.

The album cover is slightly different at points in the commercial - one has a white border around it and has the Hi Records Distributed by London logo and the other has no border and does not have the Hi Records logo. (?)

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