When I was a kid, the big department store in my area (Boston) was Zayre. Anyone else remember that chain?

Here's an interesting TV commercial for the stores. Apparently Batman and Robin shopped there. And not as Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson, they actually shopped as Batman and Robin, in their costumes. Yeah, I'm sure that didn't cause a ruckus.

I'm a big fan of illustrations of the 1950s so I might find these British Schweppes ads more amusing than some people. But I like how it's just a few arms in the illustrations that are moving in the ads. Clever idea.

[via Adfreak]

We all remember and love the Folgers TV commercial from the early 80's that featured Peter coming home from college (or maybe prison or being stranded on an island, it's never really explained). I don't know why Folgers doesn't just run this ad every year people love it so much, but they don't. In fact, this morning I saw a new Folgers Christmas commercial that is very similar to the Peter ad: guy gets dropped off at his home, his sister is up first, and then the parents smell the coffee and get out of bed and come down to greet him. It's just not the same though.

Here's the old ad (and here's an interview with Greg Wrangler, who played Peter). Can't find the new one online yet but I'll post it when I can.