“Thicker is Flirtier”

Selected commercials from ABCs Liberty Weekend coverage July 3-4, 1986. All explicitly reference the Statue of Liberty’s centennial, or involve lots of flags, commemorative coins, and other July Fourth symbolism. – 7-Eleven – “The New American” (I feel a little wrong being amused by the fact that they’re acknowledging that there’s a little truth to the stereotype) – The Prudential (The company “salutes the Statue on her 100th birthday” and says it insured immigrants’ dream when no one else would. – Stroh Brewery Co. – “As the Statue lives on, so does the dream.” (Sweeping aerial shots of the Statue of LIberty at sunset, set to John Lennon’s “Imagine.”) – Liberty Coins from the US Treasury (coin slowly rises to “America, the Beautiful”) – Van Heusen (From the “For a Man to Wear. And a Woman to Borrow.” campaign. Includes a little girl celebrating “a very special birthday” by wearing her dad’s very special shirt.) – Texaco (A video montage set to a country-tinged version of “Stand Up for the Flag of America” shows “how the men and women of Texaco feel about our flag and freedom” – and is apparently based on an earlier ad. The voiceover is longtime pitchman Bob Hope, honored with the Medal of Liberty during the weekend’s festivities) – Wrangler (Shots of the Statue of Liberty are interspersed with footage of “legend in jeans” Willie Nelson performing “City of New Orleans,” aka “Good mornin’, America, how are ya?” – Liberty Coins (A slightly more interesting version of the …

Selected commercials from ABCs Liberty Weekend coverage July 3-4, 1986. All explicitly reference the Statue of Liberty’s centennial, or involve lots of flags, commemorative coins, and other July Fourth symbolism. – 7-Eleven – “The New American” (I feel a little wrong being amused by the fact that they’re acknowledging that there’s a little truth to the stereotype) – The Prudential (The company “salutes the Statue on her 100th birthday” and says it insured immigrants’ dream when no one else would. – Stroh Brewery Co. – “As the Statue lives on, so does the dream.” (Sweeping aerial shots of the Statue of LIberty at sunset, set to John Lennon’s “Imagine.”) – Liberty Coins from the US Treasury (coin slowly rises to “America, the Beautiful”) – Van Heusen (From the “For a Man to Wear. And a Woman to Borrow.” campaign. Includes a little girl celebrating “a very special birthday” by wearing her dad’s very special shirt.) – Texaco (A video montage set to a country-tinged version of “Stand Up for the Flag of America” shows “how the men and women of Texaco feel about our flag and freedom” – and is apparently based on an earlier ad. The voiceover is longtime pitchman Bob Hope, honored with the Medal of Liberty during the weekend’s festivities) – Wrangler (Shots of the Statue of Liberty are interspersed with footage of “legend in jeans” Willie Nelson performing “City of New Orleans,” aka “Good mornin’, America, how are ya?” – Liberty Coins (A slightly more interesting version of the …