How many of you recognize that slogan? Dare I admit to
the fact that I can remember the voice and accent in which it was spoken
too? Have you ever seen a McDonald’s
commercial featuring the real Ronald
McDonald? If so, do you remember where
he loved to hang out? How about
FrankenBerries – remember those, and “Count Chocula?” Oh, how I loved Saturday morning cartoons,
and the few commercials of old! My
parents limited my television consumption to Saturday mornings from 9:00ish
until maybe 11:00, and a Sunday family evening of the Wonderful World of Disney at
7:00pm. Hee-Haw, Howdy Doody, and The
Lawrence Welk shows were considered an added treat. Clean, family-friendly entertainment at it’s
best. The media world slid its
innuendoes under the noses of many unsuspecting protective parents, but the
damages that resulted were maybe that of a cavity… or two! After all, getting my Mom to buy “junk”
cereal took a near miracle… in 1972.
As a teenager, media played an expanded role in my
world. Magazines with foldout posters of
Shaun Cassidy were a temptation on the newsstand, but again, protective Mama
Bear limited my ability to indulge.
Sadly enough, Tiger Beat was comparable to Playboy in our house! Television also proved to include a more
mature menu in the form of Soap Operas.
General Hospital was the ‘forbidden evil’, and up until my first year of
college, remained a mystery to me. Media
had the difficult job of getting past the Barricade of Protective Parents in
our home! The biggest source of
advertisement was word of mouth. Love’sBaby Soft, watermelon flavored Lip Smacker, and rainbow shoelaces were the rage
– by means of peer popularity.
I wish my life were still virtually media-free. Digital media has penetrated my world, and I would be virtually lost (no pun intended!) if I were to lose my iPhone. The newest and greatest are only a click away; advertising streams through my email, daily. Media surrounds me
