Posted ByLL on January 23, 2004 at 21:58:47:
So I am working with the early-mid 30s Benny shows today, and I played the 11/11/34 show to get the first line. I'd forgotten the strange first commercial, which rather than Don's usual shpiel, starts with a tour of New York City. One of the stone lions in front of the New York Public Library comes to life, and goes on a rampage for Jell-O.
Of course, I had to share this immediately with my husband, who was once an employee of the NYPL. I later played it for him and he said, "Someone must have been on acid when they wrote that commercial."
It is a TRULY bizarre ad, and for a few moments I wondered if someone had done a strange edit on the MP3. Guess not...Jell-O didn't seem to yet realize that Don's dulcet tones were already most effective in persuading customers (and yes, I had to take a break from the research and whip up some strawberry Jell-O).
--LL
P.S. I guess the lion was looking for that new gazelle-flavored Jell-O...