Uncle Bill's - Ontario - Cooks - Cook United Commercial 1981

[crazyromanian1]

@sygo7g I never heard of RInk's until I moved to Columbus, Ohio back in 1979. The store here was like the ultimate garage sale. It was crazy. I had family members that insisted in stopping in there when they we in town from Cleveland. Great memories!!!!

[DianaKomjati]

I got my first big break there in 1979 as their fashion illustrator!

[columbusmediatalk]

@DianaKomjati - You refer to yourself on your page as an "advertising aficionado". Me too. Loved the Ontario ads of the era, both TV and print, as well as a lot of the advertising of the era. Probably nothing to rave about artistically, but they really looked great to my eyes. I think because the typesetting was by hand, it allowed the art to come through. With everything now on computers, a print ad looks almost too perfect ... to mechanical.

[DianaKomjati]

@columbusmediatalk I agree. The type was professionally set by typesetters back them. All the typesetting "rules" fell by the wayside when designers had to become typesetters too. I wish I had saved more of my art and layouts. We did so much of it that we just threw it away when we were done. It had a certain style that we've lost today.

[crazyromanian1]

@DianaKomjati

Your comment reminded me of my start in the retail ad business in 1979 as well. I Was handling media planning/placement for Pic-Way Shoes if you by chance remember this Mid-Western discount shoe chain.

[DianaKomjati]

@crazyromanian1 Yes, I remember Pic-Way Shoes -- that's a blast from the past for sure!

[usa02]

That is former Cleveland TV and radio personality Bob Pondillo (aka : The Real Bob James) in the now-defunct Uncle Bills-Ontario-Cooks United ad.

[jfftll508]

long live the memory of the family of Cook United stores, Rinks, Cooks, Uncle Bills,Ontario, and CSC. It's a shame the HQ could not get it together, they were a great company. I recall the add posted as being the best adds they did.

[columbusmediatalk]

I wish I could find something from the "Ontario is for the People" campaign. I liked that one too.

[videoholic2008]

I clearly remember this "Yes you Can!" jingle! Thanks so much for posting!!!!!

[lilydog88]

There's another copy of this on here. I'm told that the guy on here is a former WGAR DJ (from Cleveland).