 Alka-Seltzer - An effervescent concoction
manufactured to combat and relieve upset stomachs around the globe. To advertise
their product, the Alka-Seltzer company has produced a number of ads over the
years including the classic commercial tag line "I can't believe I ate the whole
thing!" spoken by a man named Ralph (Milton Moss) who overstuffed his stomach on
a TV spot produced by the advertising firm of Wells, Rich, and Greene in 1972.
When he had eaten his fill, his wife remarked "You ate it, Ralph."
Other
memorable TV spots for Alka-Seltzer included the catchphrase "Try it, you'll
like it" and the musical piece "No Matter What Shape You're In" performed by the
"Tummies" (with fingers poking people's tummies).
The "Man vs. Stomach" campaign
by Jack Tinker & Partners in 1971 featured an R. O. Blechman's cartoon drawing
of a man's stomach complaining about his owner "You should see the way he stuffs
himself at his mother's." When the man defends his love of pepperoni pizza the
stomach shouts back "Do you like heartburn! Well, you're going to get it." Of
course, the upset stomach was finally soothed by the curative powers of Alka
Seltzer.
Another stomach upset commercial produced by Jack Tinker & Partners
entitled "The Unfinished Lunch" featured veteran tough guy actor George Raft who
lead a penitentiary cafeteria riot over inedible food by banging their cups on
the table and repeatedly shouting "ALKA-SELTZER! ALKA-SELTZER!"
But perhaps the
most popular Alka-Seltzer commercial (produced by Doyle Dane Bernback in 1979)
starred an actor named Jack who said "Mama, Mia, that's a spicey meat-a ball!"
in a commercial-within-a-commercial. for Magdanini's Meatballs. See also
- ADVERTISING MASCOTS -
"Speedy Alka-Seltzer."
"Mama, Mia, that's a spicey meat-a ball!"
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