Remember This? Seven News Sydney Promo (1986)

I came across a Seven News Sydney commercial from 1986 while viewing a video from the VHS Revue Channel on YouTube by  David M. Green.

According to David, the advertisement was screened during the miniseries Christopher Columbus on July 16, 1986, on Channel 7 (ATN-7).

The thirty-second commercial features the repeated jingle:

Sydney you deserve the best, Seven News

Towards the end, you hear Seven National News Presenter Ross Symonds say the following:

Sydney's a great city. It deserves the best news coverage

The final frame features the key presenters of its news programs (Clockwise from top):

• Scott Lambert - Sports Presenter, Seven National News (Weekends)
• Richard Zachariah - 11AM
• Greg Grainger - Anchor, Seven National News (Weekends)
• Terry Willesee - Terry Willesee Tonight
• Ross Symonds - Anchor, Seven National News (Weeknights)
• Rex Mossop - Sports Presenter 
• Clive Robertson - Newsworld

I remember a second version of the commercial on YouTube, which is no longer around, but focuses on some of the presenters and how they would spend their leisure time, such as Clive Robertson washing his car and Terry Willesee teaching his son to play tennis. 

Below are screenshots of selected Sydney scenes featured in the advertisement.

Northbound approaches to the Sydney Harbour Bridge at Observatory Hill.

Martin Place Railway Station

Chinatown

View South from Australia Square.

Sydney Harbour

Remember This? 2SM Newspaper Advertisement (1966)

In the last entry of our current run of Remember This? comprises of a 1966 newspaper advertisement for radio station 2SM. 

 

Source: 2SM. 1966. "2SM goes king" (Advertisement). The Daily Mirror, January 10: 12. 

The weekday schedule was as follows:

• Phil Haldeman (5 am to 9 am)
• John Mahon (9 am to 1 pm)
• "Big" Sam Kronia (1 pm to 4 pm)
• Tony Murphy (4 pm to 7 pm)
• Mike Walsh (7pm to 10 pm)
• Dal Myles (10 pm - Midnight)

Haldeman was in his role alongside that of narrating newsreels for Cinesound. 

The most notable name on the lineup is Mike Walsh, whom would go onto a successful TV career during the 1970s and 1980s as the host of the Mike Walsh Show which ran on Channel Nine from 1973 to 1985.

Dal Myles and Tony Murphy also would eventually find their way onto TV Screens. Older readers may remember that Myles presented Ten Eyewitness News Nightcast alongside evening news updates during the 1980s at channel ten. Tony Murphy would succeed Jimmy Hannan as host of Saturday Date on TCN9 and cohosted Good Morning Australia alongside Kerri-Anne Kennerely and Candid Camera Australia on Channel Ten at the end of the 1980s and early 1990s. 

Remember This? The $5 lunch at The Summit (1978)

The last of our current entries in Remember This? for this summer is from 1978. Five dollars bought you lunch at The Summit in Australia Square. It was a great and affordable way to enjoy the views of Sydney over lunch and included a glass of wine.

 

Source: The Summit. 1978. "The Summit 50 minute $5 lunch". The Sydney Morning Herald, August 8: 3.

Remember This? Sydney's "Golden Mile" for car dealers (1969)

In 1969, car dealers along the Princes Highway from Arncliffe down to Rockdale were boasting of being Sydney's "Golden Mile" or "Auto Alley". claiming they had an even more diverse range of cars on offer to buyers. This stretch is not as prominent as it once was, as car dealers have gravitated down the highway to Kirrawee.

The advertisement below was published in The Daily Mirror on December 19, 1969 (page 8). 

Christmas Snapshot: 1996 (Part I)

This year, I will continue my annual tradition of looking back at Christmas from 25 years ago. For 2021, I will look back at 1996.

Given the material available, I will again split this into a two part series. This week will focus on Christmas advertising from major retailers as featured in the metropolitan newspaper while next week will focus on the day itself.

Grace Bros

I have observed that as the 1990's progressed, major department stores were placing fewer advertisements in major newspapers. One exception was Stocktake Sales that follow the post Christmas period.

I found one advertisement for Grace Bros that focused on electrical and whitewoods.

Source: Grace Bros. 1996. "Gift ideas for the last minute Christmas rush" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, December 18: 16.

Discount Department Stores

There was not much advertised in newspapers for 1996. Discount Department Stores are traditionally big with retail catalogues sent weekly to homes. COVID-19 has resulted in less emphasis due to possible transmission.

For loyal Target Customers, how about 12 1/2 percent off provided you shopped on December 16. I miss those days as they have gravitated towards "everyday low prices" like BigW and Kmart. Target may not have the physical presence like they once had but should they consider bringing it back?

Source: Target. 1996. "12 1/2% off everything today" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, December 16: 17. 

"$2 Stores"/ Discount Variety Stores

Chain discount variety stores may no longer be with us with the exception of The Reject Shop but lots of bargains on offer, especially Christmas items.

Below is one from Clints Crazy Bargains.

Source: Clints Crazy Bargains. 1996. Untitled (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, December 3: 16.

Crazy Prices was part of the Woolworths Group until 2001 when rival Go-Lo purchased the chain. I remember them in Rockdale in the site once occupied by the Woolworths Variety Store.

 

Source: Crazy Prices. 1996. ""Have a Crazy Christmas at Crazy Prices". The Sunday Telegraph, December 8: 141.

Technology

Adults could still give toys - "big toys" of course. Electronics retailers were keen for their share of Christmas spending. 

Source: Tandy Electronics. 1996. "The Answer is [tick] Tandy" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, December 18: 33.

Below is an advertisement from Dick Smith Electronics.

 

Source: Dick Smith Electronics. 1996. "You'll find presents for the whole family that are Just Right at Dick Smith Electronics!" (Advertisement). The Sunday Telegraph, December 15: 34-35. 

Brashs had good savings on computers and software.

 

Source: Brashs. 1996. Untitled (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, December 19: 26.

Officeworks had plenty to offer at their "superstores".

Source: Officeworks. 1996. "Taking care of Christmas" (Advertisement). The Sunday Telegraph, December 1: 42-43.

For our shutterbugs, good camera deals. Digital cameras were yet to be seen commercially. I recently picked up a catalogue for Ted's Camera Stores and you can still buy film cameras and film if you really love old fashioned photography.

Kodak is still trading, even after bankruptcy in 2012. Cameras (digital and film) can still be purchased and still active in image processing, though they are a small player when compared with Canon and Nikon. Ricoh is also a small player in 2021. 

Source: G&V Imaging. 1996. "G&V Great Value Gift Ideas" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, December 19:26. 

Fletchers Fotographics (since merged with Ted's Cameras) had their own offers as well. 

Source: Fletchers Fotographics. 1996. "Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas". The Sunday Telegraph, December 15:29. 

Mobile Phones

Mobile phones can easily fit in a stocking and were a gift suggestion back then. Phones were either analogue or digital. 

Source: RetraVision. 1996. "Talking Gift Ideas...Talk to Retravision". The Daily Telegraph, December 17: 17. 

Source: Telstra. 1996. "Pocket-priced deals on the world's best brands from Telstra MobileNet" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, December 19: 18. 

Books

Below is a newspaper advertisement from Angus & Robertson Bookworld. It's been a decade since they stopped operating physical stores but is a major player in the online book market in Australia alongside Amazon, Book Depository and Booktopia. For bookstores the final three months of the year (October-December) are marked by the major book releases for that year, well timed for Christmas. 

Source: Angus & Robertson Bookworld. 1996. "Red Hot Wanted Books". The Sunday Telegraph, December 15: 121. 

And there was a rule-breaker...

For those wanting discounts, traditionally one has to wait until the post-christmas sales. In recent years Australia has embraced Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, based on the American custom of Black Friday sales which for them is their busiest trading day of the year.

In 1996, Pauls Warehouse broke the rules, deciding to have their end of year stocktake sale before Christmas. 

Source: Pauls Warehouse. 1996. "End of Year Clearance Sale" (Advertisement). The Sunday Telegraph, December 22: 137.

Supermarkets

Like other retailers, Christmas is a peak period for supermarkets especially in the final days leading up to Christmas as people stock up on fresh food for their Christmas Dinner

Woolworths 

Admire some of the fresh food specials. 

Source: Woolworths. 1996. "Santa's Savers!" (Advertisement). The Sunday Telegraph, December 22: 30-31.

Food for Less & Flemings

Source: Food For Less & Flemings. 1996. "Christmas Super Savers". The Daily Telegraph, December 18: 

Coles

Source:  Coles. 1996. "You can count on Coles for Christmas" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, December 19: 22 & 23. 

Next Week in Part II, we will look at Christmas Festivities.

Remember This? William Street Car Dealers Advertisement (1964)

Below is a newspaper advertisement from The Daily Telegraph promoting William Street as a destination to buy a new car. This was published on June 18, 1964.

 

Remember This? CityRail Advertisement (1990)

During January, we take a break from the usual weekly posts and run our Remember This? series.

This week features a 1990 newspaper advertisement by CityRail. In the second half of 1990 petrol prices surged following the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq and the threat of war in the Middle East.

Petrol rose as high as 80.9 cents per litre giving an excuse to ditch the car and take the train. According to the RBA Inflation Calculator, this would equate to $1.62 per litre in todays money.

For CityRail, rising petrol prices provided the perfect opportunity to encourage Sydneysiders to take the train to travel around the city. 

Source: CityRail. 1990. "80.9 Per Litre Or take the train" (Advertisement). The Daily Mirror, October 3: 6. 

 

Christmas Snapshot: 1995 (Part 1)

With Christmas approaching, it is an annual custom to look back at how Sydneysiders marked Christmas 25 years earlier.

This year we will focus on 1995.

Given the amount of material that I collated, I am breaking this into two parts.

Part 1 will focus on what retailers were providing for Christmas shoppers while Part 2 (next week) will focus on the day itself.

In 1995, computers and electronics were in vogue.

Coles recently decided to sell factory refurbished iPhones. In 1995, Strathfield Car Radios had their own second hand offers. This advertisement was published in The Daily Telegraph Mirror on December 16 1995.

You needed around $3000 to secure a good desktop computer. In 2020, you can buy a more powerful and advanced computer for several hundred dollars. A Canon inkjet printer cost $699. A basic printer can be found in 2020 for as little as $50. Below is a Grace Bros advertisement that was published in The Sunday Telegraph on December 17, 1995. 

Bing Lee offered good computers at lower prices.

Other Advertisements of interest are featured below:

Chandlers 

December 17 1995, The Sunday Telegraph

BigW 

The first advertisement was published in The Sunday Telegraph on December 10 1995 while the second advertisement was published in the same newspaper on December 17 1995. 

Kmart 

December 20 1995, The Daily Telegraph Mirror

Brashs and Target attempted to lure shoppers by offering days where all items were reduced. This included the famous Target 12 1/2 % off everything sale. 

Target

December 3 1995, The Sunday Telegraph

Food & Drink

Woolworths

December 20 1995, The Daily Telegraph Mirror

Coles

December 21 1995, The Daily Telegraph Mirror

Liquor Stax

December 20 1995, The Daily Telegraph Mirror

Macs Liquor

December 20 1995, The Daily Telegraph Mirror

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Remember This? John Cootes Furniture advertisement (1987)

From 1983 to 2018,  John Cootes Furniture was a big player amongst Sydney furniture stores. Below is an advertisement from 1987 that was uploaded to Youtube by "Robert Pugsley".

I used to have a Betamax video with an advertisement from early 1984 and have seen one on Youtube from a complication of Sydney advertisements recorded in 1986 and it is interesting to follow the evolution of his commercials during the 35 years of trading. Compare this one to even ones you may remember in the 1990s.

Older advertisements tended to be filmed in a studio. 1990's commercials tended to have Cootes on the shop floor himself, with background music. I think the inclusion of Cootes in the advertisements was essential to any marketing for the store. It is the same as having Gerry Harvey personally feature in advertisements for Harvey Norman - whether it is radio or television. I remember seeing the commercials in its final year of trading and they were tacky. Just not the same 

The Cootes family sold the business in June 2014 to Elanor Investments Group. They embarked on an expansion campaign across Sydney, regional NSW, and Canberra but became a victim of competition from retailers and online shopping.

I think online shopping was not the factor that killed John Cootes but merely the choices available for furniture - Harvey Norman, Domayne, IKEA, Freedom Furniture, Fantastic Furniture, Nick Scali, Amart Furniture and others. A very crowded marketplace.

Remember This? Paddy's Markets Advertisement (1992)

I am continuing in this installment of the Remember This Series to post old commercials that were screened on Sydney television.

This week is an advertisement from Paddy's Market's that was screened on Channel Nine on April 11, 1992.



In 1992, the City markets were located at the former Eveleigh Railyards at Redfern as the Haymarket site was under redevelopment at the time.  They returned to Haymarket at the end of 1993, after spending five years at Redfern.

A key marketing tool at the time was the proximity to rail stations (Flemington and Redfern) to enable people to travel by public transport.

Compared to today market Days at Flemington remain unchanged (Friday and Sunday) but Haymarket has expanded to trade on Wednesday's Thursday's and Fridays.

Today, advertising of Paddy's Markets is usually confined to radio and newspapers.

Remember This? The Sydney System Rail Advertisement (1987)

Remember This? is back for the next few weeks but I am going to focus primarily on old advertisements that have screened on Sydney Television.

There have been a number of individuals who have gone through their old VCR's and Betamax videos and have uploaded advertisements from TV shows that they would have recorded. The collections available get bigger.

I have downloaded the videos from Youtube and viewed them for curiosity and have been bought memories back.

This week, I am going to share an advertisement that State Rail screened in 1987 focusing on the Sydney Rail Network. It was known as The Sydney System. Going by the information that I had, this was screened on Channel 7 on March 3, 1987.

You'll notice that the commercial was filmed on the Illawarra and Eastern Suburbs Rail lines e.g. scenes of a train crossing the Como Bridge feature just after the start of the advertisement. I also saw footage from the drivers cab approaching Rockdale Station.

Remember This? Natural Gas Advertisement - "Sydney Under Snow" (1983)

Yesterday, Penrith recorded the highest temperature on the planet - 47.1 degrees while on the coast, it hit 43 degrees, the hottest day recorded in five years.

Meanwhile, many areas of the United States has been subject to an Arctic blast particularly in the north east and mid west.

But how would Sydneysiders cope with a such a cold blast? AGL tried to answer that in 1983 as part of its marketing to attract customers.

As a bonus from that time, here is one of the famous "flame girls" advertisements. They would disappear during the 1990's.

Remember This? Sydney Bitter Advertisement (1992)

Welcome to our latest Remember This? series which will run weekly through January as I did last year.

In the 1990's, Hahn produced Sydney Bitter - a beer made by Sydneysiders for Sydneysiders. The argument was that other local products e.g. Tooheys were foreign owned, and "plenty" of interstate beers were available. Just a year later, Lion Nathan bought out the company and is now foreign owned. Sydney Bitter has since faded into history.

Source: Hahn Brewing Co. Pty. Ltd. 1992. "Sydney's Own Beer!" (Advertisement). The Sunday Telegraph, January 19: 108. 

Property Advert of the Week: "Grand View" Estate, Leumeah (1972)

While this 1972 advertisement advertises the "Grand View" as being in Campbelltown, the estate was actually located in Leumeah as shown on the map at bottom right. $4950 would buy you a block of land. In today's money that would be about  $46 575 (RBA Inflation Calculator).

Back in those days, there was no East Hills Line and they were claiming that the trip from Leumeah to the city (via Granville) would take 61 minutes. Thanks to the construction of the East Hills Line from East Hills to Glenfield (T2 Airport Line) in 1987, that trip was shaved down to 50 minutes. However if you do wish to trek via Granville, takes longer than in 1972. It is 69 minutes and that's for an express service. 

The reference to the new shopping centre would be what is now Macarthur Square at Campbelltown. 

Source: Parkes (Sales) Pty. Ltd. 1972 "Grand View Estate Campbelltown Advertisement". The Daily Telegraph, April 22: 43.