1978 Kinney Shoe Store Commercial

[brunogallizzi]

My high school job it was fun working for that company . Hated to wear a suit to sell shoes but it was good money then

[JimAsian1]

R

Hi, I think that kid with the Baseball hat was on The Bad News Bears Go To Japan

[clarkbell]

0:07 They had escalators in 1978?

[MrStevenkane]

I was a Kinney shoe store manager----our shoes sucked, but I have to say, I made alot more money than most people realize you could make selling shoes.

And the perks ? Women, in suburban chicago what do most lonely jewish women do when their successful are away making big coin ? ---

Shoes.....and young shoe salesmen :)--

lol.

[Sheila1711]

I worked for Kinney Shoes for many years until my husband became an Auditor. I miss it a lot because you could get nylons, handbags with matching shoes.

[zshaw7549]

Wasn't the actor in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as Violet's dad?

[eddy909100]

@zshaw7549 no..

[leftforever]

I used to hang out at the Fox Hills Mall in 1975-77 and it looked just like it does in this commercial... brings back a lot of memories.

[mediamadman747]

Thanks, it looked like the Galleria in Sherman Oaks, but that mall may not be that old.

[reymatt76]

I was waiting for Naomi and Bubba to show up.

[NYKID10014]

RIP Ken Berry

[reymatt76]

@NYKID10014 Except that he's NOT dead!!!!

[leftforever]

@NYKID10014 Why would you post that? Ken Berry isn't dead!!!

[Victorian105]

That actor is Ken Berry who was in Herbie rides again

[newguy90]

Yah, that's Fox Hills Mall near LAX, long before they renovated it. There was a three story red structure - stone garden that can be seen in the background. It was a maze made up of glass partitions and mirrors that had to be navigated. There were also stairs between the floors and some benches.

[nspecter]

@newguy90 I used love going up that structure as a kid and also used to throw my coins at the bottom and make a wish.They should have kept it.

[NitekMuscle]

I remember when my City's two prime regional shopping centers, directly located across the street from each other, both featured Kinney Shoes and several other national retailers in their tenant directories.

[Tracymmo]

So funny that this shoe store commercial doesn't show any shoes.

[GetAtMe747]

Yeah I remember G.A.S.S. It stood for Great American Shoe Store Kinney's also had there version of Chuck Taylors call NBA's

[ford9572]

@MrKasperH "Great American Shoe Store" I think.

[MrKasperH]

What is the name of this song, I hope you can help me, thanks a lot!

[alijn7]

Loved Ken Berry from F-Troop and Mamma's Family, I used to love to shop and Kinney's shoes store at the Albee Square Mall in DownTown Brooklyn, New York. Thanks for the memories.

[reymatt76]

@pardyhardly I think you've been partying a bit much. that makes absolutely no sense darlin'.

[tedm1975]

Indoor shopping malls. Those were the days. Everything that you need all under one roof.

[ZayNova]

im 27 and I can remember getting shoes from that very same store. when mom couldnt afford Jordans and the "cool" shoes

[Alana8480]

I would shop anywhere with a commercial like that. lol

[nevetsnamffoc]

when shoes were great to wear and not made in china

[SouthOCmixdown]

That looks like the old Sherman Oaks Galleria. Great commercial. Lotsa good memories. Too bad we can never go back to that time.

[TheWinkBoss]

omg! I remember getting a pair of black suede GASS shoes in 1981 and I was so worried about getting them wet on my walk to school that I put sandwich bags on them. When I was close to school I took them off so nobody would see what a freak I was. So funny!

[regressing2apes]

too bad. now all you get are made in the far east shoes. im from beverly ma. we once has the united shoe machinery factory. they made the machines that sewed shoes. at one time the factory had 20 thousand world wide employees. now chinks can do it for a dime a day.

[JakeandElwoodBlues]

That's Ken Berry from Mama's Family!

[thatDonOguy]

One of the VERY FEW shopping malls I used to hang out. Nice see this in its better days!!

[ukendcx2000]

@thatDonOguy which mall?

[stuart5150]

It's the Mama's family dude.

[TheSanityInspector]

There once was a Kinney shoes commercial featuring Bill Bixby. It showed him and some dancers running through some dance steps from history, ending up with disco. I'd love to see it again.

[TheSanityInspector]

Idiot me! It featured Ken Berry, same as this, and is available elsewhere on YT. First time I'd seen it in, christ, 35 years!

[apeaape]

good old kinneys

[buddyboy55]

Ahhhh, Kinney shoes and bell bottoms...a match made in heaven!

[fishdoglai1]

the skate park picking up garbage job, the what's in store thrift shop, pizzarama and tony's corner store with sona kunar working there, getting payed $20.00 dollars an hour for 12 hours each day, then works in his sonny's comic and arcade store for $20.00 dollars each day for 12 hours only in kitimat, b.c, canada. sonny's kunar's tony's corner store in kitimat, b.c, canada commercial.

[ymt09]

Ahhhhh....the old G.A.S.S. shoes! My very 1st pair of "earth shoes" that I proudly wore with my flared Levi jeans! Circa 1978!

[uselessman73]

Oh My God, They Killed Kinney!

[ilovegoodsax]

I just threw away a pair of shoes called the "Colorado". They were a Birkenstocks knock-off sold at Kinney. This was my second pair. I bought the first pair around 1991 (wanted a pair of real Birki's but couldn't afford them). I can't quite remember when I bought this pair of Colorados, but I know it was the mid-90s. The old Kinney store where I bought these shoes is still standing; of course, another retailer occupies it now. Kinney reminds me of a simplier time. Ahhh..sweet memories.

[roddog310]

Kinney's had a shoe called G.A.S.S. At 13 years old, I didn't know it meant. At 43 years old, I finally figured it out..."Great American Shoe Store"! Great commercial!

[tranurse]

i had a pair too. i was in the 2nd grade. we used to cover the g, on the sole and laugh, since it was a bad word. oh well, we were entertained by very little.

[METALMAN4Wii]

and then walmart came and put this guy and 50 other stores out of business !

[wc10k]

If only i had feet

[METALMAN4Wii]

wow I hope your kidding because that would be sad !

[justentime77]

Lol! I was actually an assistant manager for Kinney's in San Diego back in the 80's. They were owned by Woolworths, who also owns The Foot Locker.

[rickhuck64]

This is what the Fox Hills Mall looked like when it first opened. It is interesting commercial and brings back alot of memories. Of course now, the Mall has been remodeled. A friend of mine worked at that Kinney shoes back in the day.

[uebergeek]

It's very strange seeing a mall in this commercial... free(?) advertising for other chains. As to the debate over where the mall was, I'll vote for the one in LA. There's a Musicland store in the commercial; Musicland would have had California stores at that time, but I don't *think* they were in NJ then.

[sneakers55]

@uebergeek Musicland is also gone. Too much online competition. Not infrequently, you can buy a physical CD from Amazon for less than buying a legal digital download.

[1DNETTA]

On the Wikipedia website, it was said that this commercial was filmed @ the Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, NJ......

[reymatt76]

@1DNETTA No it doesn't. Actually, it says that it was filmed at the Westfield Culver City, formerly Westfield Fox Hills, formerly Fox Hills Mall. Just look up "Westfield Culver City" on WIKIPEDIA, then at the bottom click on the link that says "Kinney Commercial filmed here" or something and you'll click right over to this commercial. Not that I care or anything, and not that Wikipedia is very accurate, but they don't generally film television in NJ for starters...

[johnnydollar666]

g.a.s.s. was what it was all about.

[wutzernutzer]

This is where we always got our shoes when we went to the mall.

[BishopHatto]

I had to get my shoes from that store. They sold these one pair of shoes with G.A.S.S. on the bottom. after a while the "G" would wear off and then it would just say "A.S.S." Oh the trama!!

[GAFFYGAGGLES]

whats worse i'm having a flashback of the 70s or i just saw vern from mamas famliy just singing

[mrmoore1970]

Awesome! Ken Berry from "Mama's Place." I remember Kinney "The Great American Shoe Store" right here in Philadelphia, PA when I was a kid, along with Fayva, Thom McAn among others.

[palmercomm]

That's "Mama's Family".

[WAIATA4U]

I completely forgot about this shoe store!!! I remember going with mom to Kinney Shoe Store for Adidas--the "shell" top"--@ Eastridge Mall SJ, Ca.

[HorrorLinda]

You still see buildings standing that CLEARLY used to be Kinney Shoes lol they're unique just like all the vacant Denny's

[Rhenoism]

Wow. Commericals were better in the 70s. Remember the old McD's commerical "YOU DESERVE A BREAK TODAY" with all the actors cleaning up? Best commercial ever, save for maybe Coke's "like to teach the world to sing".

[nomadcowatbk]

Shoe store like foot locker are always the last to leave dead malls

[nspecter]

man i miss those maze like stairs at the fox hills mall that lead to the 2nd and 3rd floor most of these new bootys don't know nothing abot that.

[kirkenbunken]

I remember this commercial. Great flashback!

[MGHSHour2]

For All Of You Interested In Kinney Shoes, I Made (Fanfare) A Group About Kinney Shoe Stores

[hondolespaul]

Could you please send me a link, MGHSHour2?

[MGHSHour2]

all links to all my groups have been sent, hondolespaul

[hondolespaul]

Thanks!

[Wasp11]

But where are all the zombies?

[elcid1984]

um . . . a dance number for shoes?

[kungfukop]

it's Ken Berry from F-Troop!!

[joebradio]

I guess it was a pit stop between Mayberry R.F.D. and Mama's Family.. man's gotta make a living, right?

[Kuahmel]

Kinney has basically fully transformed into Foot Locker's group of stores (including Champs, Foot Action, and the Eastbay mail order company)

[sneakers55]

@Kuahmel Have a phone number that once belonged to Kinney Shoes. I have had it since 1994. Still get phone calls. Stupid Internet-based directory sites never purge their listings even after complaints.

[jbkidd2006]

The stairway maze thingy was the bomb. Right near the Hot Dog on a Stick. Went to the mall the 2nd day it was open. Carls Jr. was right near the toy store and you could smell the crinkle cut fries while raising hell in the toy store. My grandma got her ass kicked there in the parking garage, by someone breaking into our car. The customer service/info desk told me to "hold on" as i was yelling for someone to help us (I was only 10). Alot of the Lakers would come into the Footlocker.

[palmercomm]

Well, did you see Ken Berry?

[bill9808]

Amazing, this was definitely filmed at the Fox Hills Mall. At 10 or 11 seconds, in the background you will see lighted red maze-like novelty cube stairway. It was 2 stories high, directionless and connected to none of the floors and just had 2 small benches. Ah memories ! !

[DeniedX1974]

Flashbacks....

[jb2134]

Wow, has that mall changed. Does anyone remember that huge orange structure in the middle, near the food court? It went up 2 or 3 levels (at :10 in the video). And that corner by the pennys, there was a fun arcade, carls jr and toy store down there. Fun area as a kid in the 80's.

[adventuregirl76]

haha that is so retro

[bcostin]

I vaguely remember this, especially the end. The guy in the white suit has a definite Professor Harold Hill "Music Man" vibe.

[UptonGirl4]

The guy with the "Music Man Vibe" is Ken Berry, who did, indeed, play the "Music Man" in one or more productions. He's retired now, but a terrific song and dance man who got less recognition than he deserved.

[bcostin]

Cool, thanks for the information. The Music Man is one of my favorites. I'll have to look up Ken Berry.

[kascnef82]

according to wikipedia, the ad was shot at Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, NJ.

[jdaksiewicz]

i think wikipedia is wrong, this was shot in Fox Hills Mall in Culver City, CA

[kascnef82]

thanks for the info.

[mokos23]

wow even the stores in the background are out of business, i remember musicland.

[nomadcowatbk]

Did Kinney also own those stores, they got a lot of free advertising in this ad

[mchris65]

I remember this one...but was that Gary Coleman?

[ramblux]

Wow, I'm surprised that the mall still looks pretty much the same.

[Funky770]

Ladies and germs...that was Vinton Harper

[JWLJN]

It is a great commercial.

What DOES the little boy say, though? Bibbin'? Skippin'? Pimpin'? I can't make it out.

[UptonGirl4]

Okay - you MAY be kidding - but if not, he says: "Playing Baseball."

[litlnemo]

Wow, I do remember that Kinney's song. "Great American Shoe Store"... maybe it was, then.

[travbeav]

That is an awesome (and catchy might I add) retro ad tune! Thanks for posting it!

[KenBerryFan]

Ken Berry rocks! Thanx so much!

[ginger1961]

I remember he did a skin care lotion ad in nothing but a towel singing and dancing. Anyone else remember that one?

[UptonGirl4]

Ken Berry did?!  Well, if anyone has a video of that I sure hope they upload it. >grin<

[ginger1961]

I remember he was in a towel, and there were about five other people in towels too. A young boy and

girl about ten years old, a woman as a partner for Ken, and I think two senior citizens.

[UptonGirl4]

Ah! I see -- A kind of "family sauna" scene.

[Sparkina]

UptonGirl, I respect your opinion, but I don't think he lppkd all that sensational in his bare torso. Now, if they remade that commercial with RICARDO ANTONIO CHAVIRA in a towel and a bare torso, singing and dancing, well that would make THIS lady's eyes sparkle like enchanted crystals!

[Sparkina]

Sorry about the repeat post but I made a typo UptonGirl, I respect your opinion, but I don't think Ken Berry looked all that sensational in his bare torso. Now, if they remade that commercial with RICARDO ANTONIO CHAVIRA in a towel and a bare torso, singing and dancing, well that would make THIS lady's eyes sparkle like enchanted crystals!

[Sparkina]

I remember that. It was for Nivea skin care and the jingle sounded very Broadway-esque. Didn't know he was the gentleman from the commercial though

[bigdaddybf]

this was shot in Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, NJ my dad was the manager of this store at the time

[Sparkina]

Mamories! He sounded so Broadway-esque

[plastictabs]

hey, Sparkina, it sounds 'Broadway-esque' because it's a takeoff of The Music Man.

[Truthy]

Nostalgia!! I remember getting my shoes at that Kinney store at the Fox Hills Mall back in the day.

Thanks for uploading this, what a trip.

[exoticatikiroom]

Kinney Shoes had been purchased by the F.W. Woolworth Co. in 1963. Kinney specialty spinoff chain Foot Locker began outselling it, and a year after Woolworth changed its corporate name to Venator, it closed all the Kinney Shoe stores. Woolworth later renamed itself after its leading retail chain in 2001, and is today known as Foot Locker, Inc. http://r-rwebdesign.com/kinney­/index.html

[exoticatikiroom]

On September 16, 1998, Venator Group (Woolworth renamed) announced: "Kinney and Footquarters To Close Its Operations: The Company announced today that it is exiting its Specialty Footwear operations including 467 Kinney Shoe stores and 103 Footquarters stores." Kinney Shoe Corporation would no longer serve as the Great American Shoe Store.

[stephanie1977]

I agree the person to his right does look like ellen degeneres

[Fulc]

Yep, it's Ken Berry from F Troop and Mama's Family. He was a pretty strong song-and-dance man as well as comedic actor, back in the day.

Kinney Shoes was pretty prevalent south of the 49th as well... pretty much every mall in North America had one, which makes you wonder how they could have gone out of business....

[nomadcowatbk]

Foot Locker seems to be last leave dying malls

[dangerbird71]

So cool!

[cpowers94]

I remeber this store. There were locations in almost every mall in Saskatchewan.

[Voc83]

Holly crap! is that Ken Berry? who played Vinton Harper on Mama's Family?

[Trimac20]

which mall was that filmed in?

[beckigreen]

awesome commercial

[sandyu73]

Is one of the back up dancers Ellen Degenerous ?