Apple's 1984 Ad with a twist... at DVinfo.net

Jeff Farris · January 6th, 2004, 11:29 PM

Been by Apple's site lately?

I surfed by tonight, to look at the news from MacWorld, and saw that they had QT copies of the original 1984 commercial. I remember that commercial like it was yesterday. My boss bought a Macintosh about 3 days after the release. I have had one or three since that day. With that back story, it is no surprise that I immediately clicked the link for the commercial, ready for a little nostalgia.

Wait a minute.....she's got something on her belt that wasn't there 20 years ago.

Check it out. Steven's animators are absolutely the best in the business.

John Locke · January 6th, 2004, 11:41 PM

Hey...I didn't even notice that!

Ted Springer · January 7th, 2004, 12:05 AM

Good animation, but nothing we haven't seen before really.

I have never understood the appeal of that commercial. But on the subject of the iPod, I definitely prefer other brands of "digital jukeboxes" since they can record live and have digital/optical ins and outs.

Ken Tanaka · January 7th, 2004, 12:06 AM

Now that is one impressive piece of animation! Wow.

Sharon Fraats · January 7th, 2004, 12:12 AM

Here is a small piece of trivia for all the real Mac addicts out there. How many times did the commercial air?

Ken Tanaka · January 7th, 2004, 12:15 AM

I believe it may have only "officially" aired once, on the Super Bowl broadcast.

Eh?

Robert Knecht Schmidt · January 7th, 2004, 12:19 AM

Nifty.

Internet Explorer reports an "Object expected" error on the video page...

Ken Tanaka · January 7th, 2004, 12:28 AM

You -did- give them your credit card number, didn't you, Robert?

Sharon Fraats · January 7th, 2004, 12:31 AM

In keeping with industry tradition, Chiat/Day paid $10 to run 1984 in the 1:00 A.M. sign-off slot on December 15, 1983, at a small television station (KMVT, Channel 11) in Twin Falls, Idaho, thereby ensuring that the commercial would qualify for that year's advertising awards.

This commercial, designed by the advertising agency Chiat/Day to introduce Apple's Macintosh computer and directed by Ridley Scott fresh off his science fiction classic Blade Runner, has never run again since that Super Bowl spot. But few commercials have ever been more influential. Advertising Age named it the 1980s' Commercial of the Decade.

Sources:

http://www.cpinternet.com/cmcalone/cine/1984.html

Also my trusty Maclopedia

John Locke · January 7th, 2004, 12:33 AM

Sharon,

First time during the XXXVII 1984 Super Bowl...that one I'm pretty sure about. But I think it aired three more times...for some reason that number sticks in my head.

Did I win? Did I win? What's the prize?

Ken Tanaka · January 7th, 2004, 12:42 AM

Aw, John and I both lost, technically! The answer was 2. Nuts. I had the prize money already spent #-(

John Locke · January 7th, 2004, 01:07 AM

Ah...but don't forget the one showing at the Apple shareholder's meeting that year and also the one showing at the Clio awards. Four. Pay up!

Sharon Fraats · January 7th, 2004, 01:12 AM

You win. I do have to admit that those were not airtime broadcasts.

Michael Westphal · January 7th, 2004, 10:10 PM

Supposedly (according to folks today on Macintouch and MacCentral) it was shown only ONE time as paid for by Apple. The second showing for the Clio award was paid for by Chiat/Day, and the MANY more showings were from reviewers, critics, and "Commercial Collection" shows.

John Locke · January 7th, 2004, 11:35 PM

It really was shown for the Clio awards? I should go in the BS business...wait a minute...I AM in the BS business. ;)

January 6th, 2004, 11:29 PM	#1
Jeff Farris Regular Crew Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 102	Apple's 1984 Ad with a twist... Been by Apple's site lately? I surfed by tonight, to look at the news from MacWorld, and saw that they had QT copies of the original 1984 commercial. I remember that commercial like it was yesterday. My boss bought a Macintosh about 3 days after the release. I have had one or three since that day. With that back story, it is no surprise that I immediately clicked the link for the commercial, ready for a little nostalgia. Wait a minute.....she's got something on her belt that wasn't there 20 years ago. Check it out. Steven's animators are absolutely the best in the business. __________________ Jeff Farris

January 6th, 2004, 11:41 PM	#2
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	Hey...I didn't even notice that! __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

January 7th, 2004, 12:06 AM	#4
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Now *that* is one impressive piece of animation! Wow. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

January 7th, 2004, 12:15 AM	#6
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	I believe it may have only "officially" aired once, on the Super Bowl broadcast. Eh? __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

January 7th, 2004, 12:19 AM	#7
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	Nifty. Internet Explorer reports an "Object expected" error on the video page... __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

January 7th, 2004, 12:05 AM	#3
Ted Springer Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Glendale CA Posts: 328	Good animation, but nothing we haven't seen before really. I have never understood the appeal of that commercial. But on the subject of the iPod, I definitely prefer other brands of "digital jukeboxes" since they can record live and have digital/optical ins and outs.

January 7th, 2004, 12:12 AM	#5
Sharon Fraats Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: chicago, ill Posts: 190	Here is a small piece of trivia for all the real Mac addicts out there. How many times did the commercial air?

January 7th, 2004, 12:28 AM	#8
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	You -did- give them your credit card number, didn't you, Robert? __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

January 7th, 2004, 12:31 AM	#9
Sharon Fraats Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: chicago, ill Posts: 190	In keeping with industry tradition, Chiat/Day paid $10 to run 1984 in the 1:00 A.M. sign-off slot on December 15, 1983, at a small television station (KMVT, Channel 11) in Twin Falls, Idaho, thereby ensuring that the commercial would qualify for that year's advertising awards. This commercial, designed by the advertising agency Chiat/Day to introduce Apple's Macintosh computer and directed by Ridley Scott fresh off his science fiction classic Blade Runner, has never run again since that Super Bowl spot. But few commercials have ever been more influential. Advertising Age named it the 1980s' Commercial of the Decade. Sources: http://www.cpinternet.com/cmcalone/cine/1984.html Also my trusty Maclopedia

January 7th, 2004, 12:33 AM	#10
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	Sharon, First time during the XXXVII 1984 Super Bowl...that one I'm pretty sure about. But I think it aired three more times...for some reason that number sticks in my head. Did I win? Did I win? What's the prize? __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

January 7th, 2004, 12:42 AM	#11
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Aw, John and I both lost, technically! The answer was 2. Nuts. I had the prize money already spent #-( __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

January 7th, 2004, 01:07 AM	#12
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	Ah...but don't forget the one showing at the Apple shareholder's meeting that year and also the one showing at the Clio awards. Four. Pay up! __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

January 7th, 2004, 01:12 AM	#13
Sharon Fraats Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: chicago, ill Posts: 190	You win. I do have to admit that those were not airtime broadcasts.

January 7th, 2004, 10:10 PM	#14
Michael Westphal Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 166	Supposedly (according to folks today on Macintouch and MacCentral) it was shown only ONE time as paid for by Apple. The second showing for the Clio award was paid for by Chiat/Day, and the MANY more showings were from reviewers, critics, and "Commercial Collection" shows. __________________ Michael A Westphal

January 7th, 2004, 11:35 PM	#15
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	It really was shown for the Clio awards? I should go in the BS business...wait a minute...I AM in the BS business. ;) __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com