Los Angeles Ad Town: The Waterpark Ruins in Tony Hawk's New Commercial

In a new spot for Mini Cooper (above), Tony Hawk and his family sneak into an abandoned waterpark to skate:





Of course, anyone who takes the 15 to Las Vegas recognizes it as the remains to Lake Dolores and Rock-A-Hoola, a failed water park in the middle of the desert (Newberry Springs, to be exact).

Of course, in these drought times, the idea of a waterpark that deep into the desert is preposterous. But it was always a crazy idea. Yet, Lake Dolores had been around for decades before it went bust 15 years ago.

Here's what the front of the water park looks like now, via the Mini ad:



And here's what it looked like in full operation:



I wrote about it in 2011:

Opened by Bob and Dolores (the park's namesake) Byers in 1962, Lake Dolores is considered one of the first -- if not the first -- water parks in the country.

A popular recreational attraction for much of the 1970s and 1980s, it finally shut down in the late 1980s. Ten years later, in the late 1990s, it reopened as the 1950s-themed "Rock-A-Hoola." Here's a promo video from 1998:

The new owners went bankrupt, and it shut down for good by 2004. Since then the water attractions have been removed and the location has been vandalized. Now, it's a spooky shell of its former self. See more at my 2011 post here.

L.A. Ad Town: Glendale's Downtown Gets Car Commercial Screen Time

Usually it's downtown Los Angeles that shows up in car commercials, so it was a nice surprise to see downtown Glendale in this spot. Shot right next to the Nestle headquarters in downtown Glendale, the building (and the mountains behind it) are unmistakable.


As you can tell, this is a spot for Honda.


Interestingly, the "134" is digitally removed from the sign here.


Check out the Verdugo mountains in the background.

L.A. Ad Town: Matthew McConaughey Loiters in Silver Lake

In his latest Lincoln commercial, Matthew McConaughey dines alone as it rains hard outside. It turns out he's eating at Blair's restaurant in Silver Lake, on Rowena next to Ivanhoe school. (Here's our 2004 Rate-A-Restaurant review of Blair's.)



Mood-effect rain outside Blair's in the Lincoln commercial.


Hey, it stopped raining in time to take a spin in the Lincoln! Allrightallrightallright!


The Blair's building recently underwent a renovation. Here's how it looked in September, via Yelp user Eric T. And below, a shot of how Blair's used to look, from a Google Maps pic taken in May:

RETRO FRIDAY: Late 1980s and Early 1990s Hawaii Commercials

"Hi, I'm Didi Ah Yo and AWAY WE GO with another great deal from Creative Holidays!" If you lived in Hawai'i in the late 1980s and early 1990s, just hearing that phrase -- or the name "Didi Ah Yo" -- brings back a flood of memories. (Sadly, Didi Ah Yo passed away in 2004.) That was such a fertile time for commercials in da islands that really resonated with viewers.

So now, here are a bunch I've found on YouTube. It's not an exhaustive roundup, however. There are still a ton of ads from that time that I wish someone would upload: Hawaii Literacy Hotline ("Ehh, if I learn to read, mebbe my kids can too!"); that one ad featuring the dad who screamed, "You dropped da ball! You stupid! YOU NOT MY SON!"; Frank Delima's Muhi-us spot; KHNL's Anti-smoking campaign ("Ikaika Belding is my name, I go Heeia school and I'm in da third grade!") and others. One of these days I'll go through some old VHS tapes I have in the hopes that I still have old Hawaii TV recordings.


"From Maui to Manoa!" You remember this one for Hawaiian Tel, featuring that Peter Moon Band song "Far Too Wide." Makes me wanna pick up the phone and call a loved one every time. (Of course, back when I was at Northwestern and my friends and family were truly FAR away, I thought of this commercial and how ridiculous it was that this girl was just one island over and yet still homesick. Get over yourself! You're on Oahu now! Live it up!)


Another emotional spot -- I gotta say, amazingly well done for a local ad. This one is for First Hawaiian, which approves a loan for a new swing set for this pre-school.


Michael W. Perry rapping about Meadow Gold ice cream treats. Really, there's nothing better. "The fun's in the freezer and ready to eat!"


Remember Harry and Myra, the older couple that starred in countless Bank of Hawaii commercials? There was something so endearing about these spots. I believe this was one of the first. ALSO: A spot for the United Way, featuring Frank Delima (and is that Mel Cabang as the devil?)


After the Didi Ah Yo spot, stay tuned for a great KQMQ ad featuring Michael Qseng and Danielle Tucker! Folks, this combination of advertisements screams Hawaii Circa 1988!


This may be the one smooth jazz song I can stand, because whenever I hear it, I think about the magic of electricity. That's all because of this spot Hawaiian Electric, performed by rock/jazz fusion group Hiroshima.


Before she was a news anchor, Jade Moon was busy scarfing down a Zippy's plate.


What made these no-frills Lex Brodie ads so memorable? That equally no-frills tagline. "THANK YOU... VERY MUCH."


Another classic, from 1988, showcasing a dystopian future and shot at the State Capitol. The message? "Vote 88... and have your say the American way" or face a totalitarian government!


The Yum Yum Tree! Remember when Hawai'i had several of these chain coffee shops? Are they all gone now?


Even 7-Eleven had a jingle!


Some classic spots from 1988, including one for now-defunct Liberty House department store, and a campaign ad for Mayor Frank Fasi (who touts a proposed rapid transit system -- can you imagine, had that been built 25 years ago instead of finally now?). Later (4 minutes in), it's "Island Getaways... why should the tourists have all the fun?!" Oh yeah and early in this clip: YOUNG JOE MOORE!


RIP, Aloha Airlines.


"Ooh! Ahh! Oh Wow! Ala Moana!" Has anyone ever really been that excited about a shopping center? And yet look at all the local celebrities joining in: Wally Famous Amos, Brickwood Galuteria, Linda Coble, Mel Cabang and even the General, Les Keiter!

BTW, according to Linked In, Ikaika Belding is now a counselor at the Hawaii Department of Education. I hope he doesn't smoke.

L.A. Cameo: Commercial Shoot Places New York Taxis in Downtown

Spotted outside the Last Bookstore at Spring and 5th: A bunch of New York taxi cabs. Yep, a typical sight in L.A., particularly downtown, as it once again plays New York. This time for a commercial.

Los Angeles Ad Town: Twix at the Bradbury

What old-timey building boasts a Willie Wonka-like factory constructing Twix bars from scratch? Why, it's downtown's famous 1893 Bradbury Building!



Of course, we all remember the Bradbury from "Blade Runner." Now, you'll also remember it as the home of caramel, wafers and chocolate.



No, those gears are not real.

Kona Brewing Co. to the Mainland: You're Doing It Wrong

I love this. Reminds me of what I love about humor in da islands: Adweek writes about a new ad campaign from Kona Brewing Co.:

One of two new spots, "Sad Hour," suggests that we set aside one hour a day for all the tedious crap we hate doing so the other 23 hours of the day can be happy. A second spot, "Single-Tasking," introduces the concept of only doing one thing at a time (drinking beer, for example).

Kona is borrowing heavily from old Bartles & Jaymes ads here, and adding a healthy dose of island life stereotyping, but the big guy's delivery is good enough to make it all work.

The ads will air in Orlando, San Diego and Los Angeles markets throughout the summer. "The 'Dear Mainland' campaign truly captures the unique Hawaiian spirit of Kona Brewing and, in a fun way, delivers our message that reconnecting with family, friends and community is what truly matters," says Aaron Marion brand manager at Kona Brewing.

Here's one more:

Retro Friday: John Wayne, Bank Pitchman

Kind of weird to see the Duke, in his final days, as a commercial pitchman. But here's a Great Western Bank spot (originally shot in 1977, but dusted off for this 1986 ad) featuring John Wayne, hawking a savings account.

Retro Friday: "If They Knew Then What We Know Now" Edition

Perhaps there's a reason the May Co. and Pioneer Chicken are out of business: Bad marketing karma. Above, can you imagine this ad running now? From 1984, a May Company commercial touting a big fur coat sale. (BTW, isn't it odd that the May Co. logo was similar to the current Macy's logo, given that Macy's replaced Robinsons-May in SoCal?)

Meanwhile, below: Can you imagine this ad running now? From 1984, O.J. Simpson touts the joys of another abandoned chain, Pioneer Chicken.

Remembering Dick Clark: Host, Media Mogul, KOST-FM Pitchman

Is there anything Dick Clark didn't do? Producer, Media mogul, TV show host, music industry fixture, awards show maven -- and TV pitchman. Clark promoted radio stations around the country through the 1980s and 1990s -- and here in Los Angeles, his spots were for adult contemporary KOST-FM. Above, a spot from 1984. And below, Dick strolls along the coast for KOST in 1991.



It wasn't just radio stations that Dick Clark pitched over the years. Below, he promotes slacks for JCPenney in this goofy spot. Check out his pose at the end!



And here he is promoting the Dairy Queen burger (complete with "processed cheese").

How Huell Howser Became a Radio Pitchman

Man about L.A. Chris Nichols ran into Huell Howser the other day at a 7-11 and wound up getting the details on Howser's new radio commercial for Galpin Ford. He writes about the encounter here at his Los Angeles magazine blog. An excerpt:

Huell says he was sitting at home watching TV and saw an ad for the Ford Edge. “I said ‘That’s an interesting car’ and walked in to Galpin Ford.” Owner Bert Boeckmann spotted the very spottable TV host and came down to meet him. “I told him I was looking for a new agency to underwrite California’s Gold and he helped do that.”

The brother of Super Dave Osborne and comedian Albert Brooks, Cliff Einstein has been running West Hollywood ad firm Dailey and Associates for more than 40 years and Ford is a longtime customer. The automaker sponsored Howser’s show, but Einstein says “You can’t run commercials on public broadcasting so we made an opening and closing about the betterment of America and so forth.” The ad men had been working on a series of testimonial commercials from regular folks and contacted Howser. “We called him and he said ‘I love my car! I’ll do it!’ and we just paid him the SAG/AFTRA minimum.” “He’s a great symbol.” Says Einstein. “He’s the core of America, a small town guy who’s interested in everything. He’s the only celebrity in this whole campaign.”

Above, my favorite photo of Huell Howser ever -- a shot of him in the 1970s with Eddie Money.

L.A. Ad Town: Esurance Edition

Franklin Avenue reader Andy turns us on to L.A.'s cameo in a recent Esurance commercial (above):

Looks like they 'shoped out some dead giveaways, but I recognized La Brea Ave and 8th at 0:01. I attached a screen shot from the YouTube video, and one from Google Maps.

Thanks Andy! Here are his two examples:


From the ad


Real life

Spot an L.A. Ad Town or L.A. Cameo? Send' em in!

L.A. Shoot: Fake Citizens Bank Branch in Mid-Wilshire

Josh Dickey over at the Variety Tower on Wilshire tweeted this photo earlier today: A fake Citizens Bank branch has "opened" in the lobby of 5900 Wilshire. The catch: It's for a commercial shoot. The closest actual Citizens Bank (which is focused on the East Coast) is located in Alabama.

Los Angeles Ad Town: Southwest Airlines Edition

The latest commercial for Southwest Airlines features "employees" traveling around L.A. with cameras and snapping shots of iconic signs -- including the "Coffee Shop" logo from Swingers Coffee Shop; the "EAT" sign at the Los Feliz Golf Course; and Jones Hollywood's light-bulb sign on Santa Monica Boulevard. Put together, and the letters spell out "SALE," natch. More pics below.

Retro Friday: RIP, Encyclopaedia Britannica Edition

It was yet another sign of the times this week, as the venerable Encyclopaedia Britannica announced that it would no longer publish its hefty volumes. We had an old set from the 1960s in my house, and athough I didn't use it (it already seemed woefully out of date in the 1980s), it was still interesting to look at from time to time. But time marches on, and as I joked on Twitter, historians centuries from now are probably going to wonder why civilization's written record suddenly halts around 2025.

By the 1990s, the Encyclopaedia Britannica was already on a downward slide, and even filed for bankruptcy in the latter part of the decade. But before that, you probably remember these series of sarcastic spots for the books, targeting the cynical Gen X crowd. That's humorist Stan Freberg's son, who in this spot above whines that his computer can't help him with his school work -- and he's got a report due tomorrow on space!



Here's the follow-up ad. "Remember me? I had a report due on space." He got a B+ on his paper -- because he crammed too much information in. At least now teachers can easily figure out when you're simply cutting and pasting from Wikipedia.



Another spot, this time the kid gets more dramatic.



Perhaps my favorite of the bunch, because it's an even more meta, cynical commercial about being inside a TV commercial. A second voiceover, reminiscent of MTV's Daria, chides the kid in the spot, as he's busy chiding the original voice over guy. Did they sell many encyclopedias because of these ads? I don't know, but they sure ran quite a bit on cable. (Cable spots were much cheaper back then.)



Finally, a parody of the Encyclopaedia Britannica ads from Seattle's "Almost Live."

L.A. Ad Town: Where's The Beef? Edition

In a recent ad for Wendy's, actor Reid Ewing ("Modern Family") wanders the streets of L.A. in a vintage "Where's The Beef?" t-shirt, asking what the slogan means. Clara Peller, of course, uttered that famous catch phrase in a 1984 campaign -- that's 28 years ago. Yes, we're old.

As he wanders through L.A., we see him in Chinatown (above) and in front of the Central Library (below). You can read more about the campaign here.

Retro Friday: Best TV Guide Commercial Ever

Among all the TV Guide Magazine commercials -- and there were plenty over the years -- this reigns as one of (if not THE) best. Don't you wish S.K.U.M. and "Screamin' at the Top of Our Lungs" was a real thing? Here's another version of the commercial:

Retro Friday: L.A.'s Dearly Departed Retailers, Holiday Edition

"The Broadway *is* Southern California." From 1985, when The Broadway still existed... and it was still considered acceptable to tout the fact that you're selling fur.



In 1989, electronics store The Good Guys still existed... and apparently was still touting electric typewriters!



"It's the shirt all the boys are wearing!" Mervyn's, your Christmas value store.



Zody's -- Tapedeck not available at the Downtown Los Angeles store. Why?



From the 1970s, "The May Company has Christmas under wraps."



From 1998: Lucky means low prices, even during the holidays.

Los Angeles Ad Town: Super Bowl Edition

Watching so many back-to-back automotive ads during Sunday night's Super Bowl, I began playing the game "Spot the Downtown Los Angeles image." Downtown Los Angeles has long been a frequent setting for car ads, but this brought it home.

Here's a sampling of last night's Super Bowl car ads, all of which below were shot in downtown:



Kia Optima ad ("One Epic Ride")



Chevy Camaro ad ("Miss Evelyn")



Mercedes Benz ad ("Welcome") In case you miss it: There's a scene where the cars go through a tunnel, with neon on the right-side wall. That's in downtown.



BMW Advanced Diesel ad ("Changes")



Chevy Cruze ad ("Status")



Hyundai Sonata Hybrid ad ("Anachronistic City")

Retro Friday: Old Christmas Commercials

The Gap 1983 Christmas ad -- back before the chain was trying so hard.


The Good Guys 1989 Christmas ad. Love the East Coast accent on this announcer -- so unpolished!


May Co. Christmas ad from 1977.