By Jimmy Del Ponte

This article first ran in the February 3, 2010 edition of The Somerville News.

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

Remember all those old radio and TV jingles that used to stick in our minds? Well, I asked some of my friends to dig deep and come up with some, and they did. So here they are, and we’ll start with some of my favorites, as close as I can recall.

“Barbo’s Barbo’s for furniture you will live with, happily ever after.” “How does Dinger do it (we don’t know)? come out and see (come and see)! on Route 128 in Braintree.” “Wouldn’t you really rather have a Buick? A brand new ‘66 Buick?” “Fly the friendly skies of United!” “How many cookies did Andrew eat? Andrew ate eight thousand. How do you keep your carpets clean? Call Andrew eight eight thousand.” “My baloney has a first name, it’s O S C A R, my baloney has a second name it’s M E Y E R” and “Oh I wish I were an Oscar Meyer Weiner – that is what I truly want to be… for if I were an Oscar Meyer Weiner, everyone would be in love with me.” “He likes it, hey Mikey!” “Where’s The Beef?” “You’re in the Pepsi Generation!” “Plop, plop – fizz, fizz – oh what a relief it is…”

“Adventure Car Hop is the place to go for food that’s always right. Adventure food is always just so (you’ll relish every bite)! Out on Route 1 in Saugus, come dressed just as you are… Adventure, where the service is tops, and you never get out of your car.” “If it says Libbys Libbys Libbys on the label label label, you will like it like it like it on your table table table.” “Brylcreem – a little dab’ll do ya. Brylcreem – you’ll look so debonair. Brylcreem – the gals will all persue ‘ya – they’ll love to run their fingers through your hair!” “Everybody doesn’t like something, but nobody doesn’t like Sara Lee.”

“Double your pleasure, double your fun, with double-good, double-good, DoubleMint Gum.” “I hanker for a hunk-a, a slab, a slice, or chunk-a…I hanker for a slice of cheese.” “You’ll wonder where the yellow went… when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent.” “You’ve come a long way, baby!” “There’s nothing like the face of a kid eating a Hershey Bar.” “We’re going down to Raymond’s, we’re going down to Raymond’s, you can’t beat Raymond’s, so why pay more?” “Don’t forget Mrs. B from Bradlees!” “Let Hertz put you in the driver’s seat.”

“Robert Hall this season, will show you the reason – low overhead, low overhead (or no overhead).” “Come Alive! You’re in the Pepsi Generation.” “What walks down stairs, alone or in pairs, and makes a slinkity sound? A spring, a spring, a marvelous thing – everyone knows it’s Slinky. It’s Slinky, it’s Slinky…” “You’ve come a long way baby, and I’d rather fight than switch (Virginia Slims and Tareyton cigarettes)” “I am stuck on Band- Aid and Band-Aid’s stuck on me.” “I’m a Pepper, you’re a Pepper, he’s a Pepper, she’s a Pepper, wouldn’t you like to be a Pepper too?”

“I feel like chicken tonight!” “Manly, yes – but I like it too (Irish Spring soap)!” “Schaefer is the one beer to have when you’re having more than one!” “Mabel, Black Label” “Hi neighbor, have a Gansett!” “N-E-S-T-L-E-S, Nestles makes the very best chocolate!” “I’m a Chiquita Banana and I’m here to say…” “Grab a bucket and mop – at McDonald’s we’re clean.” “In the valley of the Jolly (ho ho ho) Green Giant.” “Hot dogs, Armour hot dogs, what kind of kids eat Armour hot dogs.” “Mmmm mmmm good, mmmm mmmm good, that’s what Campbell soups are – mmmm mmmm good!” “Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun (what…no tomatoes?)” “It takes two hands to handle a Whopper.” “I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan, and never, never let you forget you’re a man, cuz I’m a woman…Enjoli.”

I’m sure you can think of more too. Thanks to all my friends for their suggestions.

I must leave you with this wisecrack. Groundhog Day was yesterday (when I wrote this). In my younger years, this is how I celebrated – I would pop my head out of the barroom door – and if I didn’t see my angry girlfriends’ car, it meant 6 more – beers!