'Black Flag Roach Motel' [01] - TV commercial (1981)

[SpamNapkin]

What do they know about roaches, or anything else?

[ongchorcool]

cool!

[vaibanez17]

This is classic, but how do you know the roaches are in there if you don't see them?

[pierre72ify]

@vaibanez17 Believe me you can see them. When I lived with roaches landlord would put these motels and the Raid traps out for them. I'd open them up and see the poor things trying in vain to pull themselves out antennae wiggling rapidly. I would try to rescue them by cutting the glue around their legs and gently pull them out, but would end up mutilating the poor helpless things!!! Just as sad when he'd bomb/fumigate. They'd by on their backs all wiggling looking so helpless!!

[vaibanez17]

@pierre72ify Roaches transmit disease. You can't be soft on them. However, I don't want to open a box of roaches up. I'll just pretend I got them and throw it out lol I was just implying that it would be nicer if the thing was see thru so you could actually tell you caught them without having to open the thing up.

[pierre72ify]

@vaibanez17 Well I lived with them for 11 years in a high population and never got sick, so their germs must be really exaggerated. Plus they can cure cancer, heal bone fractures, pollunate plants, etc. After seeing them lose and die all the time in these Raid/Black Flag ads and then what I saw in real life, I just have to advocate for them every chance I get. If you ever bomb/fumigate, take a good look at the dying roaches on their backs and I think you'll see what I mean.

[TimFrith24]

Is that the late Michael Vale and Mary Jo Catlett?

[pierre72ify]

@TimFrith24 Yep. Mary Jo Catlett and Michael Vale creamed my roaches constantly in these BF ads for about 10 years. Catlett was usually alone in the 70's. Then from about 1980 on, Vale always accompanied her. You can check out my list of Black Flag commercials in my site. Go into flickr/groups. Type Raid Bug Drama in the search window. Yes it's mainly about the Raid characters, but anything to do with bugs is welcome.

[shawnbflannigan]

mary jo is still very much alive i'm happy to report

[pierre72ify]

Finishing story about 1984 commercial mentioned below. So when Catlett comes out with the Black Flag, Vale makes an announcement: "YOUR LAUGHING DAYS ARE OVER ROACHES!!" After the following killing spree, Vale says fiendishly: "Roaches are dead!!" Catlett: "He who laughs last uses Black Flag." Then they do their usual cruel laugh. The roach at the end tries to sneek around the can, but gets killed anyway. It looks at first like the bugs are winning as on many Raid commercials.

[pierre72ify]

I looked up the Dunkin' Donuts commercials and it appears that the husband's name was Michael Vale and I guess he's dead. Is Mary Jo dead, too? The Black Flag bug characters weren't as cute and didn't have the dynamic personalities and adventures that the Raid bugs had, but cute enough. The most memorable episode was in 1984 when Vale complains the roaches are so tough one just laughed at him. Catlett dressed as an exterminator comes out with new improved Black Flag. To be continued.

[mrsshorty]

@pierre72ify no mary jo does the voice of mrs puff on spongebob squarepants michael vale has passed away sadly.

[pierre72ify]

@mrsshorty No what?? Yes I know their statuses. Someone answered that below. By no, you must mean my dislike for them due to their inhumanity to the poor bugs, laughing at the poor things, etc. I guess 90% of people would be that way since almost noone wants bugs in the house. However, most don't broadcast it like the 2 of them did. Can't help the way I feel. Read my quotes below carefully for my reasons.

[pierre72ify]

Falcon 62, thanks for the compliment.  What was the bald husband's name. He also did one or two other campaigns like DD's "Time to make the donuts". Are him and Mary Jo both still alive? Would also like to invite folks to check out my website. Go into flickr groups and click my groups name Raid Bug Drama. It's all about Raid so far but I am planning on doing something with Black Flag on it also. Only have one member and we need to get some discussion going.

[Dhfalcon62]

@pierre72ify...ummm, your reaction is politically correct (very PC) not INcorrect.

[pierre72ify]

So the fat lady's name was Mary Jo Catlett? Forgive me for being politcally incorrect, but watching this heartless couple be so inhumane to these poor bugs for 10 years (1974-84) didn't give me any great love for them. They would whip them every time then laugh at the poor things like destroying life is funny. Thye remind me of the voiceover for the Raid commercials (Danny Dark I believe). Dark was just as ruthless as this couple or worse and used a deadly tone of voice.

[AlbieGray]

Hilarious memories here. Kudos to Mary Jo Catlett (later known as Pearl on Diff'rent Strokes) who played the harried housewife with aplomb!

[shmuli9]

@AlbieGray And Mrs Ackerman in "Serial Mom" and the voice of "Mrs Puff" in "Spongebob Squarepants"

[PoorOldSot]

Thanks for posting...wasn't there another commercial similar to this one but had that lady who played George Kastanza mother from Seinfeld in it?