You've seen it before ... and here it is again ...
But First … These commercial announcements.
Commercial$
Didja ever wonder why it's called "Commercial" Television? Well ... Somebody's got to keep television stations in business and that's why there are "Sponsors." Here are some examples of J.P., Professor Wienner Von Brrrrrown, and Handyman Mal Content doing their part to keep KIRO-TV on The Air!
Hey ... How 'bout some Milwaukee Hot Dogs before that trip to Mars?
And then along came Action for Children's Television (A.C.T)
From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_for_Children's_Television
In 1973, responding to concerns raised by ACT, the National Association of Broadcasters adopted a revised code limiting commercial time in children's programming to twelve minutes per hour. Additionally, the hosts of children's television programs were prohibited from appearing in commercials aimed at children.
Many local children's TV programs were forced off the air because advertising revenues suddenly dried up.
A.C.T. disbanded in 1992 and I'm sure they accomplished many fine goals. But ...
I don't think that the complete absence of local programming for kids has made us culturally any better off. Before I get into a full blown rant here I'd better switch over to ...
On a Lighter Note Dept.
The Power Of Advertising
The only reason I pestered my Mom into buying B'rer Rabbit Molasses is because I saw Channel Eleven's Brakeman Bill stirring a big spoonful of it into a glass of milk, take a big drink, and say it was delicious.
As soon as we got home from the store I stirred a big spoonful of it into my glass of milk, took a big drink, and ...
It Was Not Delicious!
It was soooooooooooNot Delicious that I poured the rest of it down the drain.
I was too young to realize that Brakeman Bill was being paid to push B'rer Rabbit Molasses. I just thought there was something seriously wrong with Brakeman Bill.
"Who, when he saw the first sand or ashes, by a casual intenseness of heat, melted into a metalline form, rugged with excrescences, and clouded with impurities, would have imagined, that in this shapeless mass would turn into smething useful like a glass? Neat huh? I mean without glasses we couldn't see or have anything to put Kool-Aid in!
