Calgon Water Softener Commercial 1970s

Calgon commercial 1970s

This commercial was for Calgon water softener.
A Caucasian woman with an American accent asks "Mr. Lee" (played by Calvin Jung), a laundry shop owner, how he gets her shirts so clean. He replies, with what appears to be a Chinese accent, "Ancient Chinese secret."

The scene changes to Mrs. Lee, who is in an adjoining room. Mrs. Lee appears ethnically Chinese, but she speaks English with a thoroughly American accent, and explains to the audience that her husband's "ancient Chinese secret" is that he uses Calgon water softener.
Mrs. Lee ultimately gives the secret away by sticking her head into the front room where Mr. Lee and the customer are standing, and shouts "We need more Calgon!" To which the customer replies "Ancient Chinese secret, huh?" while Mr. Lee accepts the exposure with good humor.

The actress playing Mrs. Lee, Anne Miyamoto, was actually Japanese-American.

Calgon water softener adverts in the United Kingdom, Ireland and in the rest of Europe promote the product solely on the basis of saving washing machines from breakdown rather than any benefits to the clothing in the wash, although the products on sale are identical to those in the United States. In Portugal, the Calgon advertisement jingle is the same popular one, for almost 30 years. In Italy Calgon is called Calfort.

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[Dick Fageroni]

looks like two wongs CAN make it white

[theknightlynews]

The Canadian version of this commercial was almost the same, except the woman says, "Ancient Chinese secret, ehhhhh?"

[lmaka1]

is that true?

[soylentteal]

On another link with this ad, jackasses are posting "racist" this and "racist" that. My ass it was racist. Chinese laundries were common then (still many today) and this merely reflected that. If an Italian guy is pushing pizza, is that racist as well?

STOP GLOBAL WHINING

[corkskrewclubhouse93]

I know this eastern medicine store, Ancient Chinese Secret.

[novaguy1968]

I love the quality of the "wife's" voice...very pleasant to listen to...

[Peter Donnelly]

A young Calvin Jung.

[Mirkwoodelves]

This commercial is sort-of tolerant by not making them speak with a crazy Chinese accent, yet kind of racist by choosing the most Asian-looking people possible and making them wear Asian-ish clothing.

[Jack Bronham]

Yes!

[torchiest]

Anyone else weirded out by the fact that they apparently used to package laundry like meat from the butcher's shop?

[bluenotejazz]

Ah, the memories. Calgon, take me away to the 70's

[johe64]

She does realize that she is throwing her husband's cleaning business under the bus, doesn't she? She should have just kept quiet until that lady left... wow. I bet she loved her life after her husband's business went under.