Olympia Beer Commercial / "BUS" 1972

Olympia Beer Commercial "Bus" starring Joel Axelrod (guy on the bus), and Vega Maddux (lady on the bus). Director Bob Sage, who I was working for in production and was then cast as the guy on the bus when multiple interviews proved unsuccessful. Vocals were performed by Marty Cooper (voice of the Arrowhead H20 spots). All the extras on the bus were post doc geologists and geophysicists from the UCLA lab that I used to be a tech in when I was a working actor trying to enhance my income. Note that the guy at the bar and the guy napping in front of me on the bus is the same person (Ed Ruth) who I had worked with analyzing moon samples from one of the Apollo missions. The spot was shot on Wilshire Blvd, near Westwood, on one of the coldest days of the year. Vega and I were made to look hot by oiling our faces and then spritzing water on us. A best boy rigged a dichroic light on the end of a long pole that he hung out the window in front of me and then shined the light on my face so that it looked like searing hot sunlight (despite the freezing cold air blowing on my water splashed shirt). The commercial aired on all of the televised Dodger games that year (Oly was Dodger Stadium's beer that year), so that whenever I attended a game, I was instantly recognized...and often cheered. It was my "season of fame".

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• olympia
• beer

[awlemmon]

that was an awful dive

[bhossast]

The brother did'nt want to share with his wife.

[blaggard9]

I just love the look of "Oh, God, that looks good!" on his face.

[cochranexyz]

I miss regional breweries. Thank god bud and miller et al got so fucking big and arrogant and shitty: best thing that ever happened to the microbrew industry. Can't trust a beer brewed where all the other beer is brewed.

[TheUketube]

listen to the tape pitch down at the beginning of the commercial. oh how i would love to play a chord like that on the piano in real life.

[zhepster]

Oly the best cheap beer in the land!!

[bearswilleatme]

you mean there used to be black people in the pacific northwest?

[MrPisster]

damn, the one in sacramento just charged me 7.29 + CRV and taxes. I think I need to move.

[adirondack1965]

ah, I am oly and you are sven!

[inpublicduo]

now that's what i'm talkin bout. yeah, still union made and owned by pabst. similar to pbr but a little more flavor and spice. only 5.99 a 12 pack at whole foods