The tape spans 1987 to 1989 and runs nearly the full six hours. Moonlighting’s final episode. War and Remembrance brought to you by Mercury, Delta, Team Xerox, and IBM. Family Ties saying goodbye from WCMH Columbus. Then the World Series, then the Amerika miniseries with WTVN Channel 6 branding still on screen — the station hadn’t fully transitioned its graphics. Chat lit up when Al Michaels appeared in the 1987 footage and again during the Stroh’s beer ads, particularly the one where the dog orders a side of beef. SpiritBuddy raided during the World Series segment.
The back end of the tape jumped into a New Twilight Zone segment — “Nightcrawlers,” first aired October 18, 1985, directed by William Friedkin (The Exorcist). Chat figured it out from the title card alone. Around it: a Chuck Wagon dog food ad, an Audi anti-lock brakes spot, Mr. T doing his best for the Burger King Croissan’wich (“WOOF WOOF WOOF”), a Murder She Wrote promo, a Domino’s falling-pizza ad, and a Disney World promotional piece featuring Figment and Muppets 3D, circa 1988.
Multiple items on this tape appear to be unpreserved. A SADD “21 Means 21” campaign PSA that no longer exists anywhere. Kate Mulgrew endorsing something called “Youth Plus” — cannot identify the product, cannot find any trace of it online. A William Dawson Clerk of Courts political ad from 1987 Columbus. A McDonald’s “Talkin’ Fresh” salads spot with no results in any vintage commercial archive. A Rax restaurant ad that carries extra weight because Columbus was Rax’s headquarters market. And the Sunny 95 WSNY-FM Columbus TV promo, the Mike Raita WSYX sports promo, a cartoon SOS glass cleaner ad featuring a character named “Smudge” — all gone everywhere else. (Note: the Bill Farley / Fruit of the Loom and Chester Cheetah “Cool Rule #86” ads listed in the commercial inventory below have since been located online and are not lost.)
Commercial Inventory
- Chester Cheetah “Cool Rule #86” animated commercial – Early Chester ad. This version has been found on YouTube and Internet Archive; not a lost media item.
- McDonald’s Changeables – Original ad with Indiana Jones-style font. National version documented on Facebook.
- Kate Mulgrew “Youth Plus” endorsement – Pre-Voyager. Cannot identify the product. Zero online presence.
- Rax restaurant ad – Pre-“Mr. Delicious” era, 1987. Columbus hometown market. Very scarce online.
- SOS Streak Free “Smudge” cartoon – Animated glass cleaner ad. Zero online presence.
- Stroh’s beer “side of beef” (dog orders delivery) – Part of the Alex the Dog campaign era. Specific spot may be unpreserved.
- Spuds McKenzie Bates Motel ad – Halloween-themed Bud Light spot. Available on social media.
- Bill Farley / Fruit of the Loom CEO ad – CEO exercising in company products. Multiple versions found on YouTube; this appears to be a preserved national campaign ad.
- SADD “21 Means 21” PSA – Anti-underage-drinking campaign. Zero results found anywhere.
- William Dawson Clerk of Courts political ad – Columbus/Franklin County, 1987. Local political ads from this era almost never preserved.
- Sunny 95 WSNY-FM Columbus TV promo – No broadcast promos from this station found online.
- Ford Fever “Central Ohio Ford” regional spot – Regional dealer version of national campaign. Almost certainly unique.
- McDonald’s “Talkin’ Fresh” salads – Specific campaign not found in any vintage commercial archive.
- USAir/Piedmont Bahamas ad – Transitional-era ad during Piedmont’s merger into USAir, August 1989.
- Justin Wilson “The Cookin’ Cajun” Ruffles Cajun Spice – Celebrity endorsement spot.
- Wendy’s “monkey on their back” / twins Big Classic – Columbus WTVN-era recording.
- Mr. T for Burger King Croissan’wich – Classic 1985-era fast food celebrity spot. Mr. T pities the fool who skips breakfast.
- Disney World promo with Figment and Muppets 3D – ~1988 Disney parks promotional piece. Features Figment (Journey Into Imagination) and Muppets 3D ride promo.
- New Twilight Zone “Nightcrawlers” segment – October 18, 1985. Directed by William Friedkin. CBS broadcast recording.
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