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.

Retro Friday: Department Store Edition

May Co. ad from 1985

On Thursday night, KCET presented the third edition of its popular "Things That Aren't Here Anymore" specials about old time Southern California.

Here are several shopping things that aren't here anymore: Consolidation meant the end of Southern California department store staples like Robinson's and May Co. (later merged as Robinsons-May, and now bought out by Macy's); discount stores like GEMCO; and drug stores like Thrifty. A few videos:



Robinson's ad from 1983.


The Broadway ad from 1985.


GEMCO ad from 1984.


Thrifty Drugs ad from 1981.