_Editorial

One of the greatest mascot trios in advertising history lives in the cereal aisle of grocery stores, and yet they remain a mystery to so many breakfast enthusiasts. What do we really know about Snap, Crackle, and Pop, the faces behind Kellogg’s Rice Krispies? If you’ve ever been curious about how the three characters have evolved over the decades or enchanted…

Remember when the world cried out “Yahoo!” instead of “Do the Dew?” Before it was a soda branded as one that used words like “extreme,” “game fuel,” and “supernova” for an adventurous and active generation, Mountain Dew actually hailed from much more humble roots. Developed in 1940s by Tennessee bottlers Barney and Ally Hartman, Mountain Dew is actually slang for…

All hail the Peacock! For more than five decades, this brightly colored bird has reigned supreme as NBC’s highly recognizable logo, shifting with the times and transforming the way viewers engaged with the TV network. Over the years, many have watched the symbol undergo new and exciting designs, from the Laramie Peacock to the Modern Peacock. Join us on the ultimate television throwback…

Happy 40th birthday, Chuck E. Cheese! For four decades, this chain of entertainment and restaurant combo centers has lived up to its tagline of being the ultimate place “where a kid can be a kid” with games, live music, and pizza for days to celebrate any event big or small.

In April 2017, the American Advertising Federation (AAF) inducted Carol H. Williams into the Advertising Hall of Fame. Her induction marks a major milestone in AAF’s history, as Williams is the first African American woman creative to be inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame.

Few characters can claim that they have saved 85,000 lives quite like the Crash Test Dummies, Vince and Larry. We may look at them as a lighthearted, loveable duo now, but when the pair first appeared they were on a mission to prove the best way to be safe inside of a car meant buckling your safety belt. Let’s take a…

A couple of weeks ago, General Mills brought the iconic Sprinkle Spangles back into the spotlight. ICYMI, Sprinkle Spangles are a popped corn, sugar cookie-flavored, star-shaped cereal that launched in 1993 — the only cereal on the market at the time that had sprinkles!

What does a wisecracking stork have to do with selling pickles, anyway? Ever since 1974, a friendly, funny stork has been delivering pickles into the homes of families and pickle enthusiasts everywhere. He’s the Vlasic Stork, who also goes by Jovny as his first name (according to his social media profiles) and was even inducted into our Madison Avenue Walk of Fame in…

Every year on April 6th, the hippest tuna under the sea joins the world in celebrating Sorry Charlie Day. However, while the untrained eye might just see this holiday as a tribute to Charlie’s catchphrase, what they may not realize is that the day really honors how it feels to be rejected and rise above it.

Ciao, AW readers! We’re jetting off to Italy today to visit a family business called Rigoni di Asiago. This is the brand responsible for giving the world three delicious jams and spreads: Fiordifutta (a light fruit preserve), DolceDì (a natural sweetener), and Nocciolata (a hazelnut and chocolate spread). Of the trio, Nocciolata, a spreadable creamy Italian hazelnut sweetened with cocoa and milk,…

Bartholomew Richard Fitzgerald-Smythe has always been one dapper peanut-about-town. That’s the full name for Mr. Peanut, by the way, and while most fans of the Planters icon may be unfamiliar with his formal name, his unforgettable fashion sense is what sets him apart from all the other nuts in the crowd. In a nutshell, his wardrobe staples include a top hat, cane, monocle,…

Last week on National Cereal Day, we shared some of the cereal icons that breakfast wouldn’t be the same without including Lucky the Leprechaun from Lucky Charms. A sprightly, cheerful character, Lucky has never been as interested in the pot of gold under the rainbow as he is in the marshmallow-filled bowls of his beloved Lucky Charms. For over 50 years, he’s…

For decades, they’ve shared their worlds with us by the bowlful with sweet cereals packed with adventure and excitement in every bite. Some of these fantastic concoctions are “gr-r-reat!” while others are magically delicious. If you want more, all you had to do was follow your nose — unless you’re a silly rabbit. We’re talking about cereal mascots, of course,…

It’s one of the most coveted awards of the year, bestowed upon the best and brightest for their cinematic achievements by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: the Oscar. A trophy so sought after that recipients like Anne Hathaway and Alicia Vikander have been photographed kissing theirs after winning the award. And when Leonardo DiCaprio was awarded one…

Last September, we were thrilled to announce Cleatus the FOX Sports Robot and Woodsy Owl as the winners of the 13th Annual Madison Avenue Walk of Fame. While Cleatus is a regular fixture during sporting events on TV, Woodsy tends to spend his time in forests alongside fellow conservation icon (and friend), Smokey Bear. Since 1971, Woodsy Owl has been encouraging one and all to…

There may be no greater love story in the advertising industry than the one between ad pros and their favorite brand mascots. A match made in heaven, or rather a brainstorming copy session, the affections for these characters has endured for decades with consumers and creatives alike. Today, agencies throughout the country and even across the pond join us for…

When Mad Men made its series debut in the summer of 2007, viewers were immediately hooked into the bold, vivacious world of advertising. Don Draper might have been fictional, but the reality was that art imitated life in the ad industry. Behind closed doors on Madison Avenue was a powerhouse of agencies where talented men and women reinvented the industry, creating some…

Nothing gets you crowing in the morning like Kellogg’s Corn Flakes! When the Kellogg Company was first founded in 1906, its very first product was Corn Flakes. A woman holding a shock of corn referred to as “The Sweetheart of the Corn” made her debut in print advertising for the brand in 1907. However, she was more of a character than a…

“They’re Gr-r-reat!” “I’m cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs!” “They’re after me Lucky Charms!” “Can’t get enough of Super Golden Crisp!” Try to think of a cereal spokescharacter who isn’t insanely jazzed about breakfast. For decades, grocery aisles have featured colorful brand mascots on cereal box packaging, all of which have big grins and wide eyes. In commercial spots, they have long been depicted…

In the 1950s, Nestlé’s Quik chocolate powdered flavoring mix introduced a new flavor to grocery shelves — strawberry. As cans of the delicious flavor were bought by consumers, they couldn’t help but wonder about the cartoon pink rabbit on its packaging. Who was he? Sure, we know him now as the brand mascot behind Nestlé Nesquik, so much an icon…