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Classic Cleveland TV commecials
By Joey Morona, cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Alka Seltzer's "Plop plop fizz fizz" and Wendy's "Where's the beef?" are two of the most memorable slogans in the history of advertising.
While those commercials were national and appeared on Cleveland television, they were joined by local ads with jingles and slogans equally memorable. Growing up in Northeast Ohio, I remember a lot of them, including an ad for Randall Park Mall featuring a song touting "the biggest mall in all the world."
From the 1980s, I recall a commercial for the Cleveland Indians baseball team centered around the tagline, "Tribe '85 This is my team!"
Unfortunately, however, I was not able to find archived versions of either of those ads, and so they will remain forever etched in our memories. Luckily, the same can't be said about the following 25 classic mostly Cleveland commercials I unearthed on YouTube.
Garfield 1-2323
Perhaps the most memorable local jingle of all-time. It refers to the old telephone exchange number of the Home Corporation, which sells vinyl siding, replacement windows, roofs and doors to this day. That number in modern times, in case you were wondering, is 216-421-2323.
Patio Enclosures
This company's jingle was so catchy, it could've been released on adult contemporary radio as a single. "Someone near you knows the one and only Patio Enclosures!"
I-X Indoor Amusement Park
The I-X Indoor Amusement may only come around once a year, but its jingle stays with you forever. If it was on Rate a Record on "American Bandstand," they might say it's got a good beat and you can dance to it. Now, sing along with me... "It's here today, not gonna stay, go right away to the I-X... Indoor... Amusement Park."
Discount Drug Mart
To this day, anytime somebody mentions to me they're going to Discount Drug Mart, I respond with a deadpan, "They save you the run around. You'll find everything you need."
Catch 5
Is it me or does the singer of WEWS' "Catch 5" jingle from the 1980s sound an a lot like the Patio Enclosures singer? If they gave out Grammys for songs in commercials (maybe they do?), "Catch 5" and its mysterious singer would definitely win one. Maybe.
(Update: the singer is Florence Warner, who provided the voice on many commercial jingles in the 70s and 80s)
Ted Henry on Eyewitness News
Yes, this is the second commercial for WEWS Channel 5, but the station was so good at them. This classic 1970s spot is straight out of "Anchorman," complete with a funky "Shaft"-like score and starring Ted Henry, an anchor with "news fever" whose street cred is unquestioned.
Mr. Hero
Long before featuring (and, some would say, jinxing) professional athletes in their ads, Mr. Hero relied on the cuteness and singing voices of kids to hawk their Roman Burgers, Hot Buttered Cheesesteaks and Italian Subs. "Mr. Heroooooooo... family place to go!"
Red Barn
While it's slogan was "We have fresh ideas as Red Barn," the chain was gone from Northeast Ohio by the mid 1980s.
Southgate USA
Calling Southgate USA "an American institution" is probably a stretch, but when bonafide Hollywood star Ted Knight tells you so, you tend to believe him.
Lawson's
Lawson's commercial for orange juice had it all: plot, production values and a memorable song called "The Ballad of the Big-O."
York Steak House
"Think steak, think York" was pretty much my mindset throughout my childhood. Those sauteed onions, that creamy mushroom gravy and that $2.79 cut of steak. The thought makes you want to head to Columbus to visit the last remaining York Steak House in the country.
Hey, Culligan Man!
While Culligan, a water treatment products company, is a national chain, its commercials featuring a woman yelling, "Hey, Culligan Man!" were played so frequently locally, the sound of her voice remains forever etched in our collective brain.
Uncle Bill's
Uncle Bill's was sort of like Gold Circle, which was a lot like Target. But, unlike those stores, Uncle Bill's had a jingle you could square dance to. Yes, you can!
Higbee's
I can totally imagine Peggy from Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce coming up with this ad.
SeaWorld Ohio
Aurora always seemed like a odd place for a SeaWorld, but the marine life park seems to make perfect sense in this 1988 classic commercial.
Geauga Lake
Dearly beloved, we gather here to remember that modest, charming amusement park from our youth. Geauga Lake was indeed the place. RIP.
Newscenter 8
Before they were "Cleveland's own," the news team at WJW Channel 8 was "proud to be your news."
Channel 3 News
Before it became a symbol for a three-pointer in basketball, WKYC Channel 3 used the OK hand gesture to promote its newscasts in 1986. I dare anyone to try watching this ad and not singing along or making the OK sign at anytime during it.
Norton Furniture
Mark from Norton Furniture has starred in a number of commercials over the past few decades, each one more bizarre than the last. The message, though, has always been the same: if you can't get credit in his store, you can't get credit anywhere. You have his word on it.
Tom Raper's RV's and Mobile Homes
Tom Raper's RV dealership may be 250 miles from Cleveland, but its location just off I-70 exit 149A made it just so convenient that its commercials were hard to avoid no matter where you were.
This Is SportsCenter with LeBron James
ESPN's "This is SportsCenter" campaign continues to be one of the funniest on television, but as far as Cleveland is concerned, the ads peaked in a 2007 commercial starring LeBron James. The plot? Scott Van Pelt is basically just a liar.
Tim Misny
You know what personal injury lawyer Tim Misny likes to do more than anything? Make them pay, of course.
Bob Serpentini Chevrolet
You may not know exactly the brand of cars Bob Serpentini sells, but chances are you do know that his dealership is "American and proud of it."
Timofey Mozgov for Brew Garden
We're still not quite sure why former Cavaliers center Timofey Mozgov was wearing a backwards jersey or if Austin Carr was OK with Mozgov appropriating "Get this weak stuff out of here." One thing we're certain of? He's reading his lines off cue cards.
LeBron James/Nike: Together
Released on the day of James' return to Cleveland in 2014, we're pretty sure this ad gave you goosebumps the first time you saw it.
What did we miss?
This post only scratches the surface in looking back at classic Cleveland television commercials. Post in the comments to tell us what we left out and what you'd like to see featured in the next installment.
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