Semi-OT: Retro General Mills cereals

[MarkTheShark]

Spotted this tonight at Target. They also had Honey Nut Cheerios, Wheaties and Golden Grahams. This is a promotion for a series of retro T-shirts:

https://www.cerealtee.com/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fShirts.aspx

Remember though, you can only order FIVE SHIRTS A DAY, while supplies last!:eek:

And in case you're wondering, they didn't "retro-ize" the cereal inside. It still has balloons and other shapes, etc.:p

[Mr. Semaj]

And in case you're wondering, they didn't "retro-ize" the cereal inside. It still has balloons and other shapes, etc.:p

Aww... :(

[Studio Toledo]

Aww... :(
Oh well, still kinda nice to have the old box art though. I remember the days when it was like this too. Before that purple horseshoe came over and spoiled things from then on (of course I didn't noticed blue diamonds were added in the mid 70's but we'll let that slide)! Might have to go to Target tomorrow if I have time!

[MarkTheShark]

Oh well, still kinda nice to have the old box art though. I remember the days when it was like this too. Before that purple horseshoe came over and spoiled things from then on (of course I didn't noticed blue diamonds were added in the mid 70's but we'll let that slide)! Might have to go to Target tomorrow if I have time!

I thought the blue diamonds came along in the early 1980s, but I could be wrong.

Woulda been kind of nice to see Sonny the Cuckoo Bird put his clothes back on too...maybe I'll send for a shirt and give it to him. But then I can only get four more today...

[MF TOON]

For $5 I'd order a Kix tee, but what kind of shirts do they use?

I hope they're not those ugly ringers.. It sort of looks like they are.

[Studio Toledo]

I thought the blue diamonds came along in the early 1980s, but I could be wrong.

Woulda been kind of nice to see Sonny the Cuckoo Bird put his clothes back on too...maybe I'll send for a shirt and give it to him. But then I can only get four more today...
Really, that was a dumb move for Big G!

[Studio Toledo]

For $5 I'd order a Kix tee, but what kind of shirts do they use?

I hope they're not those ugly ringers.. It sort of looks like they are.
Obviously they won't fit me at all if they're just the XL standard!

[Studio Toledo]

Having to go out and buy those boxes at Target today, I couldn't help but realized how OLD I am! These boxes brought back some pretty good memories inside (except for Wheaties obviously for being a much older design). I couldn't help but realize I couldn't recognized most of the marshmellows in Lucky Charms all of a sudden. The only one that looks original at all is pink hearts. Everything else is some weird newbie creation (like the green clovers getting stuck on light-green hats).

I think once General Mills got rid of it's classic triangle logo on the top-left of the boxes, it went downhill from there. I'm only glad they stopped making Trix in those fruit-shaped puffs, too bad there couldn't be a vintage box design for that or I'd buy it too!

[Marty26]

Having to go out and buy those boxes at Target today, I couldn't help but realized how OLD I am! These boxes brought back some pretty good memories inside (except for Wheaties obviously for being a much older design). I couldn't help but realize I couldn't recognized most of the marshmellows in Lucky Charms all of a sudden. The only one that looks original at all is pink hearts. Everything else is some weird newbie creation (like the green clovers getting stuck on light-green hats).

I think once General Mills got rid of it's classic triangle logo on the top-left of the boxes, it went downhill from there. I'm only glad they stopped making Trix in those fruit-shaped puffs, too bad there couldn't be a vintage box design for that or I'd buy it too!

Wasn't it in late-1989 that they got rid of that triangle logo? Honestly, I think it's good that they got rid of it. It started to look really dated by that time.

[MarkTheShark]

Wasn't it in late-1989 that they got rid of that triangle logo? Honestly, I think it's good that they got rid of it. It started to look really dated by that time.

That sounds about right, late 1980s. I remember being disappointed when that happened. It was also around the same time that General Mills started redesigning some of their box designs which had remained pretty much the same for a long time. I think Lucky was streamlined some time in the late 1970s or early 1980s into a line drawing closer to the other characters, but with the same basic pose. The Trix Rabbit had looked the same since the very late 1960s. Cocoa Puffs had its box design changed somewhat earlier (mid-1970s or so). Mind you, the cereals in general had their box designs updated numerous times, but pretty much from the late 1960s or early to mid-1970s to the late 1980s, they'd stayed pretty much the same for the most part (to my recollection).

(My history on this stuff isn't the greatest.)

As far as looking dated, you may be right...but then, I hadn't bought a box of Lucky Charms for probably close to 20 years, until a couple nights ago.

One other aside...I really started noticing a change in the way the commercials were being animated in the late 1980s, with more detail, shadows and a more "realistic" film-like look to the characters, which I always felt was directly influenced by Who Framed Roger Rabbit, which did the same thing with its animated characters (more live-action type shadows, etc.) One key difference with that film, though, is that the animated characters were interacting a lot with live-action humans with live-action backgrounds. But it did start influencing everything.

[Marty26]

That sounds about right, late 1980s. I remember being disappointed when that happened. It was also around the same time that General Mills started redesigning some of their box designs which had remained pretty much the same for a long time. I think Lucky was streamlined some time in the late 1970s or early 1980s into a line drawing closer to the other characters, but with the same basic pose. The Trix Rabbit had looked the same since the very late 1960s. Cocoa Puffs had its box design changed somewhat earlier (mid-1970s or so). Mind you, the cereals in general had their box designs updated numerous times, but pretty much from the late 1960s or early to mid-1970s to the late 1980s, they'd stayed pretty much the same for the most part (to my recollection).

(My history on this stuff isn't the greatest.)

As far as looking dated, you may be right...but then, I hadn't bought a box of Lucky Charms for probably close to 20 years, until a couple nights ago.

One other aside...I really started noticing a change in the way the commercials were being animated in the late 1980s, with more detail, shadows and a more "realistic" film-like look to the characters, which I always felt was directly influenced by Who Framed Roger Rabbit, which did the same thing with its animated characters (more live-action type shadows, etc.) One key difference with that film, though, is that the animated characters were interacting a lot with live-action humans with live-action backgrounds. But it did start influencing everything.

Actually, I think General Mills STOPPED using cartoon characters interacting with live action humans around the very late 1980's. In most of their 80's commercials, they would have a cartoon character interacting with (usually two) live action kids. Starting around 1992, however, they dropped the live action kids altogether and made their commercials consist entirely of cartoon characters.

[Studio Toledo]

Wasn't it in late-1989 that they got rid of that triangle logo? Honestly, I think it's good that they got rid of it. It started to look really dated by that time.
This is where I feel so indifferent. I think it was a bad choice to ditch just that part alone.

[Studio Toledo]

That sounds about right, late 1980s. I remember being disappointed when that happened.
Glad to see someone agrees with me!

It was also around the same time that General Mills started redesigning some of their box designs which had remained pretty much the same for a long time. I think Lucky was streamlined some time in the late 1970s or early 1980s into a line drawing closer to the other characters, but with the same basic pose. The Trix Rabbit had looked the same since the very late 1960s. Cocoa Puffs had its box design changed somewhat earlier (mid-1970s or so). Mind you, the cereals in general had their box designs updated numerous times, but pretty much from the late 1960s or early to mid-1970s to the late 1980s, they'd stayed pretty much the same for the most part (to my recollection).
(My history on this stuff isn't the greatest.)
Still it seems about right.

As far as looking dated, you may be right...but then, I hadn't bought a box of Lucky Charms for probably close to 20 years, until a couple nights ago.
Hope it tasted good!

One other aside...I really started noticing a change in the way the commercials were being animated in the late 1980s, with more detail, shadows and a more "realistic" film-like look to the characters, which I always felt was directly influenced by Who Framed Roger Rabbit, which did the same thing with its animated characters (more live-action type shadows, etc.) One key difference with that film, though, is that the animated characters were interacting a lot with live-action humans with live-action backgrounds. But it did start influencing everything.
I think so too.

[Studio Toledo]

Actually, I think General Mills STOPPED using cartoon characters interacting with live action humans around the very late 1980's. In most of their 80's commercials, they would have a cartoon character interacting with (usually two) live action kids. Starting around 1992, however, they dropped the live action kids altogether and made their commercials consist entirely of cartoon characters.
Sad to hear. Remember being amused by those antics!

[Mr. Semaj]

Having to go out and buy those boxes at Target today, I couldn't help but realized how OLD I am! These boxes brought back some pretty good memories inside (except for Wheaties obviously for being a much older design). I couldn't help but realize I couldn't recognized most of the marshmellows in Lucky Charms all of a sudden. The only one that looks original at all is pink hearts. Everything else is some weird newbie creation (like the green clovers getting stuck on light-green hats).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVZ_VYgjF8k

I think once General Mills got rid of it's classic triangle logo on the top-left of the boxes, it went downhill from there. I'm only glad they stopped making Trix in those fruit-shaped puffs, too bad there couldn't be a vintage box design for that or I'd buy it too!

I was glad when they changed the Trix shapes back to regular puffs, except no one I know seemed to remember that that's how they used to be.

[JIM ENGEL]

You can just buy those shirts at stores like URBAN OUTFITTERS...

[MarkTheShark]

You can just buy those shirts at stores like URBAN OUTFITTERS...

Will they sell you more than five a day?

(Sorry, it just cracks me up that they're so optimistic about the demand for these. The box is a lot more interesting to me than the shirts.):)

But hey, if a contemporary remake of George Of The Jungle led to the original show being on DVD...

[Studio Toledo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVZ_VYgjF8k
Cool, didn't remember if he did this vid or not, though I personally felt he was a little too hard on reviewing "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game" for the NES since I still enjoyed it despite the 8-bit limitations. But yeah, anything after the purple horseshoe started to get a little out of hand.

I was glad when they changed the Trix shapes back to regular puffs, except no one I know seemed to remember that that's how they used to be.
Glad I was of the last generation to know/had that!

[Marty26]

Sad to hear. Remember being amused by those antics!

What's even sadder is that a lot of the "kids" in General Mills's 90's commercials were hideously drawn.

[Studio Toledo]

Will they sell you more than five a day?

(Sorry, it just cracks me up that they're so optimistic about the demand for these. The box is a lot more interesting to me than the shirts.):)
The only thing that would make it complete is if it had the pre-Nutrition Facts label on the side I remember so well (when everything was teeny-tiny text and of little importance to a five year old)!

But hey, if a contemporary remake of George Of The Jungle led to the original show being on DVD...
Perhaps the classic commercials might show up out of knowhere on TV before we know it!

[Studio Toledo]

What's even sadder is that a lot of the "kids" in General Mills's 90's commercials were hideously drawn.
I could never get into cereals after that point (now that I was in high school)!

Being reminded a Golden Grahams ad (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0H_hqN54Gs) from '79 showed up on a Canadian TV station last year that one guy stuck up on YouTube for all to see!

[FlapperPrower]

I seem to recall Rocky and Bullwinkle sponsoring General Mills cereals alot in the 60's.

[Marty26]

I could never get into cereals after that point (now that I was in high school)!

Being reminded a Golden Grahams ad (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0H_hqN54Gs) from '79 showed up on a Canadian TV station last year that one guy stuck up on YouTube for all to see!

Hmmmm, looks like a typical late-70's/early-80's commercial. Particularly with the little boy's haircut.

[Marty26]

This is an old Trix ad from, I believe, 1980 (according to a website, 1980's the year General Mills introduced Grapety Purple in Trix, so it's safe to say that's the year this commercial aired): YouTube - Trix Cereal Phone Operator Commercial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sor4LVtLBSo) .

If you didn't know this, you probably would never guess the commercial's from 1980. Since the picture/sound quality and structure make it look considerably newer.

[Studio Toledo]

This is an old Trix ad from, I believe, 1980 (according to a website, 1980's the year General Mills introduced Grapety Purple in Trix, so it's safe to say that's the year this commercial aired): YouTube - Trix Cereal Phone Operator Commercial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sor4LVtLBSo) .

If you didn't know this, you probably would never guess the commercial's from 1980. Since the picture/sound quality and structure make it look considerably newer.
Really, that ad still looks effective!

[Marty26]

Here's a fun suggestion for everybody. Google "Commercial 1981" in Youtube. Watch such 1981 commercials as the KFC commercial (the one with the avator of that cute dark-haired woman with the ponytail) and the American Express commercial. It's amazing how a lot of these commercials, despite being almost 30 years old, could've easily aired even today while blending in well with today's crop of commercials. And yet, actual TV shows, movies and music from that same year (and later) look, sound, and feel so much more old/dated. I honestly wonder how well shows like The A-Team and Mork & Mindy blended in with these commercials.

[Studio Toledo]

Here's a fun suggestion for everybody. Google "Commercial 1981" in Youtube. Watch such 1981 commercials as the KFC commercial (the one with the avator of that cute dark-haired woman with the ponytail) and the American Express commercial. It's amazing how a lot of these commercials, despite being almost 30 years old, could've easily aired even today while blending in well with today's crop of commercials. And yet, actual TV shows, movies and music from that same year (and later) look, sound, and feel so much more old/dated. I honestly wonder how well shows like The A-Team and Mork & Mindy blended in with these commercials.
It was called "charm", something we don't have anymore.

[Marty26]

It was called "charm", something we don't have anymore.

I guess the one big difference I see between commercials then (1981) and now is that commercials are now considerably more low brow. Back then, there'd be some cute commercial jingle (usually sung by a choir) and you'd see friendly people enjoying the product being advertised. Now, a lot of commercials have Nirvana-style punk/rock music and try to have some kind of MTV-style "attitude." Still, it's amazing that the picture and sound quality at the time really weren't much worse than they are today. Or may be that's just Youtube and my HD computer monitor. I wasn't even born until one year after 1981, so I never saw any of these commercials on TV before. Perhaps the picture and sound quality were inferior on TV to what they were in those Youtube videos?

[MarkTheShark]

This is an old Trix ad from, I believe, 1980 (according to a website, 1980's the year General Mills introduced Grapety Purple in Trix, so it's safe to say that's the year this commercial aired): YouTube - Trix Cereal Phone Operator Commercial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sor4LVtLBSo) .

If you didn't know this, you probably would never guess the commercial's from 1980. Since the picture/sound quality and structure make it look considerably newer.

I wouldn't necessarily trust info like that from the internet. Some webmasters do their homework; many don't. Still, that could be right. (I don't recall myself.)

[Marty26]

I wouldn't necessarily trust info like that from the internet. Some webmasters do their homework; many don't. Still, that could be right. (I don't recall myself.)

Every other 80's commercial I've seen for Trix had Grapety Grape as one of the flavors. I even remember one commercial from around 1987 (may be 1988?) where the kids modified the "Silly Rabbit, Trix are for kids" line by saying, "Silly. Trix aren't for rabbits." I actually used to think THAT was the original slogan for the cereal, but I was wrong (it was just some kind of temporary modification that, I guess, didn't sit well with the public so it only lasted for may be two commercials). So 1980 doesn't seem too unlikely for that commercial to have aired. Though, again, it looks surprisingly modern for an almost 30 year old commercial.

You're correct about how sometimes websites like Wikipedia can be wrong. In Wikipedia's "Trix" page, they only mention two instances where the rabbit was able to eat Trix. There was one more in the early-90's where he won a British bicycle race (where the prize was a trophy full of Trix) and the kids voted on whether or not he would still get the Trix trophy. They voted "Yes", so he happily indulged. There were also several commercials where the rabbit did get to eat a bite of Trix, but then the kids would take his bowl away from him.

[Mark J]

Look at the kids haircuts and clothes and you will know it is the early 1980's. We all wore shirts like that in the early 1980's - big horizontal stripe, different color collar. Hideous.

[Studio Toledo]

Look at the kids haircuts and clothes and you will know it is the early 1980's. We all wore shirts like that in the early 1980's - big horizontal stripe, different color collar. Hideous.
Heh, I remember enjoying that look persoanlly.

[Marty26]

Look at the kids haircuts and clothes and you will know it is the early 1980's. We all wore shirts like that in the early 1980's - big horizontal stripe, different color collar. Hideous.

Throughout most of the 70's and even up to the early-80's, boys also had considerably longer hair. The mid-70's in particular had them wearing that "shaggy hair style."

[gilligan fanati]

Saw that the other day, cool stuff.

[Bobby Bickert]

I remember when Lucky Charms had only 4 kinds/colors of marshmallows, and Trix, Froot Loops, and Fruity Pebbles had only 3 colors of cereal.

[Mr. Semaj]

I visited a Hot Topic at the local mall, and in celebration for St. Patrick's Day, they're selling some vintage Lucky Charms T-Shirts. They feature the first five marshmellow shapes (pink hearts, orange stars, yellow moons, green clovers, and blue diamonds).

I remember when Lucky Charms had only 4 kinds/colors of marshmallows, and Trix, Froot Loops, and Fruity Pebbles had only 3 colors of cereal.

I remember Trix and Fruity Pebbles having five colors and Froot Loops having three. The strange thing about all three is that blue was the last color added to the mix. (I even recall that "vote" they had for the Trix cereal.)

[Marty26]

I visited a Hot Topic at the local mall, and in celebration for St. Patrick's Day, they're selling some vintage Lucky Charms T-Shirts. They feature the first five marshmellow shapes (pink hearts, orange stars, yellow moons, green clovers, and blue diamonds).



I remember Trix and Fruity Pebbles having five colors and Froot Loops having three. The strange thing about all three is that blue was the last color added to the mix. (I even recall that "vote" they had for the Trix cereal.)

Are you referring to the commercial where half the kids are voting for Wild Berry Red, the other half are voting for Blue Berry Blue, and the Trix Rabbit wears a dual-colored hat to make sure he wins?

[Mr. Semaj]

Yep, that one.

[Marty26]

Yep, that one.

What was actually the outcome of that?

[Mr. Semaj]

They "combined" the results to make Wildberry Blue.

I take it they were going to pick blue anyway, since the cereal already has Raspberry Red.