Classic ads in Newsday: 1941-1989

This 1941 Gulf ad claims: "Long Island drivers agree. All signs point to our having to keep this car for a long time! You can keep it young and powerful with Gulf protection!"

The fine print in this 1943 Wonder Bread ad $1,000 GUARANTEE reads: "The numerous analyses we have made of representative loaves of Wonder White Bread show in every case a Vitamin B, content equal to or in excess of the minimum requirement of Vitamin B, a recommended for bread by the Federal Food and Drug Administration. We will pay $1,000 to any charitable organization named by the citizen of the United States first to disprove the above statement prior to December 31, 1943.

Suffolk County Federal Savings and Loan Association assured next year "you will have enough saved to enjoy a very peaceful and happy Christmas" in this November 1946 ad -- if you opened a Christmas Club account.

King Kullen's ads

Dill slices for 27 cents? Two pounds of apples for 19 cents? What about two pounds of peas for 29 cents? King Kullen pumped its "Nationally Advertised Brands Only" campaign back in the 1940s, when this ad ran in Newsday.

For no money down and $1.25 a week, you could take home this "big 12 1/2" tube" from Newmark & Lewis in Hempstead, according to this 1949 ad. "Famous 'Magic-Mirror' television at a price everyone can afford."

This 1950 Ford ad boats not only "so much hip and shoulder room," but also the "only car in automotive history to twice receive the Fashion Academy's Gold Medal Award."

The Manhasset Lord & Taylor promoted women's clothing in "banker's grey," the color for spring 1950. Advertised price for a skirt: $5.95.

Encouraging local readers to buy Baby Top milk, this 1950 ad reads: "Sweet Clover Dairy has a cooperative agreement with its routemen -- each routeman owns his own truck and is a licensed dealer covering his own route ... these men live in Nassau... these men spend their money locally ... By supporting them you will keep your money in Nassau County!"

Lots and new homes in Commack's Calvert development were featured in this 1950 advertisement. House features include: solid oak floors, all brass plumbing and wood gutters.

In 1950 the New York World-Telegram and The Sun advertised their "ladies" sections: fashion, glamour and beauty, society, teen talk, in the kitchen, columnists, your marriage, patterns and homemaking.

A P.C. Richard & Son advertisement from 1951 pumps a grand opening.

If you purchased an 11.3 cubic foot refrigerator at this Sunrise/Merrick store in Rockville Center, you could also take home a free electric sewing machine and carrying case -- which the woman in this 1951 ad seems ecstatic about.

"Feast your eyes on this, America." In 1952, Mercury dealers across the Island ran an ad to promote the first showing of their new "challenging" car.

Ellner and Pike marked the grand opening of a store in Levittown with this 1959 ad, promising you could sample items before you buy in their taste-test kitchens.

Friday, March 13, 1959 could have been your lucky day -- if you were in the market for a new Kenmore dryer in Levittown. With the purchase of a washer at Sears, they would throw in a dryer for an extra 13 cents.

The Mineola and Levittown Rambler dealers promoted this $1 sale in 1961 -- lease a car, then choose from extras to add for $1 each: radio, heater-defroster, white walls, automatic transmission, reclining seats. Three days only!

The Garden City Chamber of Commerce hosted a Gay 90s Jubilee in October 1962. Among other 1890s-themed activities advertised here, you could ride in a horse-drawn buggy, enjoy the beauty of period floral arrangements or play croquet on the lawn of the Garden City Hotel.

This 1962 Sears gun sale ad promotes a $14 hunting gun: "Used by the British, now completely refinished. Buy now!"

This toy fire engine was available for $3.98 at Texaco stations with a purchase in 1963. Then you could take it home and try it out -- "attach the garden hose to the deluge gun and it sprays up to 30 feet away."

"Tears won't make her fever go away, but this aspirin will," this 1963 ad for St. Joseph Aspirin for Children boasts. Try it yourself to find out why your children love it, the ad encourages. "Open the bottle. Note its fragrant orange flavor. Note its creamy smoothness and pure orange taste."

Hudson advertised free discount tickets to top World's Fair attractions, including the monorail, wax museum and "special rum drinks."

For only $7 per month, you could have been the proud owner of these stereo components in 1965.

If you wanted to learn more about the Exercycle, you'd just have to clip the coupon from this 1965 ad, fill it out and mail it in to EXERCYCLE OF LONG ISLAND in Baldwin. While you waited for the "valuable free information," you might've called the number at the bottom of this page and responded to this request: ANYONE INTERESTED IN SEEING JAMES BOND AGENT 007.

There's a lot happening on this 1965 page, including an ad for "modern kosher meat" on Oyster Bay Road and deals on cars all over the island -- "summer sale," "price riot," "bargains galore." Or, you could even rent a rambler -- for $5 a day.

In 1965 you could take in a ball game, watch the static on the Late Show or, preferably, according to this ad, try your luck at the Roosevelt Raceway. The track, which was the first in the nation to run harness horses, closed in 1988.

This 1966 ad for a rolling, swiveling TV promises to give you the best picture in color television.

Available for $299.95 in 1967, this refrigerator for sale in Baldwin included automatically-refilling ice cube trays and wheels "for easiest-ever cleaning!"

The Coronet was part of the "WHITE HAT SPECIAL" at The Dodge Boys on LI in 1969. Included: Remote-controlled rearview mirror.

Notice the left column on this 1969 Abraham and Strauss ad -- big sale on "dress shields," which are pieces of cotton positioned under the armpit with elastic straps to "protect against perspiration."

According to this 1969 Bankers Trust ad, "a rich man is someone who has $500 lying around that he won't need for a while." The way to get richer? Open a Bankers Passbook, where the ad promises your money will earn 5% interest.

"Just in time to compute your [1969] income tax," Alexander's ran a sale on Royal Electric Adding Machines. You could even listen to a reduced-price copy of Donovan's greatest hits while you filed those taxes.

In 1970, local Macy's stores offered "be your own decorator" classes, as well as courses on "the fun new way to turn towels and sheets into fashionable looks." Tuition price? "These classes are free, of course," the ad promises.

According to this ad, a 21-cent Snow White hat box was only available at the new Buy-Rite in Central Islip.

This 1970 ad for the "#1 selling spaghetti sauce in the U.S.A" insists Ragu will "please that man of yours" and offers a recipe for Yankee Doodle Macaroni.

To further tempt you to take this $185 vacation in 1971, Northeast Yellowbird boasts about the plane ride. "You can not only get a seat, you can get a Seat-and-a-Half!With this exclusive economy class seat you can convert the seat in the middle to an armrest in the middle, so two people can sit where three sat before." Bahamas, here we come.

WCTO 94.3 rang in Christmas 1972 with 27-straight hours of holiday music, according to this ad. The 94.3 frequency is now known as WIGX, airing "Gen X hits."

This 1975 Long Island Game Farm ad provided a "valuable coupon" to the "largest animal contact areas on the eastern seaboard."

If you've ever been in the market for "great savings on famous name guns" at your local mall, 1977 was your lucky year. A barrel pump shotgun started at $87.99 during this sale at the Roosevelt Field, South Shore Mall and Sunrise Mall J.C. Penney stores.

Using a horse pun, Belmont Park advertised its 1978 contest. Grand prize? A 1979 Lincoln Versailles.

For only $4191 and a four-week wait, this TRS-80 computer system could be yours (in 1980). The Radio Shack ad promised the system would "save you money as it speeds through payroll, billing, inventory, word processing, and more!"

One way to look on the bright side...according to this 1981 ad, Suburban Colonial Shoppes' Centrereach store burned to the ground, along with "hundreds of thousands of dollars of furniture." All new merchandise shipments were sent to their discount centers for an emergency sell-off. "Better bring your station wagon!"

This 1982 New York Telephone ad boasted discount rates on night and weekend calls.

Former airline Piedmont was always "going places," including Baltimore, Montreal and Tampa. And, yes, the airline, which was part of US Air Group, flew out of Long Island MacArthur Airport.