The Muppets' 1967 IBM Sales Films 63
Posted
by
kdawson
from the skinny-black-tie dept.
from the skinny-black-tie dept.
harrymcc writes "Forty-three years ago, before most people had ever heard of the Muppets, IBM contracted with Jim Henson for a series of short films that it used to educate and entertain its sales staff. These little-known movies — some of which feature cutting-edge office automation equipment such as very early word-processing systems — remain fresh, funny, and surprisingly irreverent. And one of them features the first appearance of the Cookie Monster, who got his big break on Sesame Street a couple of years later."
Statler and Waldorf (Score:2, Interesting)
Could you imagine Statler and Waldorf evaluating IBM products and software?
Now that would fun to see.
The MAN! (Score:2, Interesting)
See, the Muppets worked for THE MAN!
The Muppets are bring me DOWN!
Smithsonian (Score:4, Interesting)
And RC Cola (Score:5, Interesting)
I was just reading today about Jim Henson's mid-1960s TV commercial for RC Cola [youtube.com], featuring two birds that evolved later to become Big Bird.
Re:Of course. (Score:1, Interesting)
You mean the victims of some of IBM's customers went through the roof?
http://www.ibmandtheholocaust.com/ [ibmandtheholocaust.com]
It's time to put on make-up (Score:5, Interesting)
It's time to dress up right
It's time to get things started
On the IBM tonight
And now for the origins of the muppet show tune
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXu4P6KpoLU [youtube.com]
Re:Cookie Monster is older than that . . . (Score:4, Interesting)
Part of this is that the commercials were character driven, which we know is a workable formula. It worked for Charmin and Wendy's. I think they are difficult to make, and I think it is one reason why the brand carry's so little power.
Re:So many years later (Score:3, Interesting)
Yes, but Jim's puppets were actually funny, and these commercials are as funny today (and relevant) as then. The cookie monster video was particularly funny and well done.
This is one of those time that if you don't RTFA, you are really missing out.