brooklyndodgermemories

One of the fun things about the Brooklyn Dodger game tapes I have is listening to the live and taped Schaefer Beer commercials and jingles. During some games, it sounds like Al Helfer and Jerry Dogget have been sampling the product. Its a lot of fun to listen to.

I use to see Mel Allen actually drink the Ballantine.

There was a time when they could do that.

but it wasn't when Mel was doing "live" spots after the Yankee games. one of my first jobs was with Wm. Esty Advtertising, the home of all new Irish Catholics looking to get into the advertising business (there was a line in the application form requesting: "Parish".) Esty, at the time, handled Ballantine and I was a sub-junior-assistant copy writer (gofer) on the account. I remember all the real writers marvelling at the way Mel did the live spots at the end of the game. he would sit in the open booth, sweating, tie loosened, looking lovingly at a Pilsner glass of Ballantine while he delivered the lines. it was described as "making love to a glass of beer." I remember one of the writers saying, "hell, he couldn't do any better if he was allowed to drink it on camera," which, at the time, he wasn't. it's a testament to Mel's selling ability that he is remembered as actually drinking the beer. he only did that with his eyes.

Excellent story Judge. I do remember that Mel had makeup on his tongue when I spoke with him immediately after a game once. His tongue looked as if he had been sucking on a cherry lollipop for an hour.

BTW, when did Mel start wearing his hairpiece?

I'm not too sure about Mel's toupe. it probably "came up to the bigs" around the time he started doing more and more TV. as far a his tongue, if only some of the stories are true, I think we're all safer operating under the "ignorance is bliss" clause.

I remember Mel always wearing his straw fedora, tilted back on his dome in a rakish angle. Then, years later, he had that hairpiece (which surprisingly looked very fake).

Mel in his hat...................

Mel in his wig........................

Gee, you mean that isn't his real hair?

If men only realized how easily their hairpieces are detected...........................even when they are very expensive and well-done, I can always tell right away. One (if not more) of our members here wears one..........................very well done, but noticable immediately.

what was it, my frequent use of transitive verbs?