Tuesday, April 26, 2022

370. Pop from the Past: CLICQUOT CLUB

CLICQUOT CLUB was first produced in 1881 in Massachusetts, as a sparkling cider by LaCroix Fruit Farm. It was named “Clicquot”,after the French champagne “Veuve Clicquot”. After The Clicquot company was formed, the apple cider was dropped, in favor of a new drink—the Clicquot Club Ginger Ale. Other flavors followed: Cream Soda, Strawberry, Orange, Rootbeer, Lemon & Lime, and Grape. Its “Eskimo Boy” mascot, became one of the most recognizable brand characters in the U.S. 

It was distributed internationally in the 1950s, that led to its Philippine launch. Rafael Yabut‘s “Tayo’y Mag-aliw” radio program, aired over DZRH, promoted the product in a segment called “Clicquot’s Tayo’y Uminom Program”. Clicquot Club was gone by the early 1960s;  the company was eventually bought by the Cott Beverage Corporation of Connecticut in 1969.

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

369. MORE AMUSING BRAND NAMES YOU WON’T BELIEVE WERE USED IN THE PHILIPPINES (part IV)

Last of a 4-part series of some of the most amusing, unusual, and sometimes, weird-sounding names ever coined for real products, that were available in the Philippines –from the 1930s to the 1960s.

REUTER’S  SOAP. Brand Name For: Skin Soap

The early toilet soap designed to beautify a woman’s complexion is a trademark of Lanman & Kemp-Barclay & Co., Inc. The company, itself was founded in 1808 by Robert I. Murray and its business was conducted under the firm name Murray & Lanman in New York.  The brand name--REUTER’S SOAP-- has nothing to do with the world-famous news bureau. It was named after its creator, Dr. John Reuter. The classic bar soap was sold in the 1950s under its Spanish brand name, Jabon de Reuter, in the Philippines. The company still is in cooperation today with headquarters in Westwood, New Jersey, and continues to sell the soap.

SAKITALIS. Brand name for: Medical plaster

Now here’s another direct-to-the-point name for a pain-soothing medicated plaster—SAKITALIS (Aches away!).  The wordsmith had an easy time with this brand name, and even though it sounded like the aforementioned “Katialis”, it is still distinct in its category. SAKITALIS, which contains belladonna, was “the most effective plaster pan reliever”—in distinctive pink color! It was available in the late 1950s at all drugstores,  distributed by Colossal Drug Store. But the coming of made in Japan Salonpas, obliterated it, and by the 1970s, Salonpas became the dominant plaster brand, for its superior efficacy—not to mention its catchy, classy name that has become an everyday term for  a pain relieving plaster for all body parts.

SILENT NIGHT. A Brand Name for: Perfume and Lotion

Yes, Virginia, there is such a perfume brand called SILENT NIGHT, ‘ a perfume masterpiece made by Countess Maritza of New York, U.S.A.”. It was locally distributed in local stores in 1962. But wait,  there’s also a SILENT NIGHT Lotion to complement it. Like a line from the carol, was it also tender and mild,? With a name like that, how can you miss? As the ad suggests—“it’s best to give on Christmas!”. One wonders if it is inappropriate to give SILENT NIGHT on other occasions, say, like birthdays and Valentines,

TANSAN. A Brand Name for: Mineral Water

It’s okay to drink the TANSAN!!!The crown cap revolutionized the glass bottling industry when it was invented in 1897 by William Painter. The first drink that featured the crimped tin cap was called TANSAN, a bottled mineral water marketed by Clifford Wilkinson in the early 1900s. The brand name TANSAN–believed to be of Japanese origin–has now come to mean crown caps in Filipino. The product first came out in straight-sided bottles, and then in small, bulb-shaped green bottles with the name in relief.  In its 1920s ads, TANSAN was proclaimed as a 100% pure, sourced from “natural waters free from all earthly deposits.” Being “radium-active,” TANSAN possesses many medicinal qualities, proven against stomach disorders.

VIN DÉSILES. A Brand Name for: Tonic wine

The brand name of this revitalizing drink popular in the 1950s seem anachronistic as it sound like the name of contemporary Hollywood action star, Vin Diesel. But it was produced long before the action star of “XXX” and “The Fast and the Furious” was born.  VIN DÉSILES, a wine-based drink that claims to restore energy and appetite, and was distributed by Oceanic Commercial, Inc. in the Philippines. It may not have inspired the name of action star Vin Dieeel, but it sure is power-packed like him!

SOURCE: By the Author. Originally appeared on esquiremag.ph under the title: Funniest Filipino Brand Names in the 20th Century - Esquire , https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/lifestyle/old-brands-philippines-a2289-20190211-lfrm4


Saturday, April 2, 2022

368. Creative Guild’s TV Ad of the Month for Jun. 1996: JAG ANTI-FIT “Merman”

JIMENEZ DMB&B's winning ad for Jag Anti-Fit, aired June 1996
Jeans ad featuring merman makes waves

(from a PR article published in the Philippine Star and Manila Bulletin, Sep. 1996)

The new JAG Anti-Fit commercial is making waves, literally, with its focus on a mythological sea creature. Titled “Merman”, the ad is catching the fancy of viewers. It features a man shown swimming with a fishtail, then removing it afterwards to put on a pair of JAG Anti-Fit Jeans.

Using a merman as model for denim jeans is indeed a fresh idea,

Australian model MATT CHENEY, a competitive swimmer, and did all the swimming scenes in the ad.

“We had to think Anti-Fit. I think this is synonymous to being rugged, daring, comfortable and even controversial”, says Jun Reyes, the commercial’s director.

“When we say jeans, it usually refers to tight-fitting denims, so the idea behind the commercial is to show how we can feel comfortable with jeans”, adds Alex Castro, who collaborated with Reyes on the JAG ad. “ We fitted a man with the tail of a fish to show how constricting denims can be. It shows the limitation of movement. It is not relaxed, not comfortable. Then we show JAG breaks out of the denim stereotype”.

 WATCH JAG ANTI-FIT "MERMAN" TVC HERE:
Source: JAGJeansPh

To make the commercial work, the team relied on realistic props and materials. Says Reyes, “it took hours to put the fish tail on the model. He had to wake up at 4 a.m. for the make-up artist to work on him. We really made sure that the tail would appear as though it was a part of him. We used prosthetics so that the tail would look real. And the tail was detailed for the model so that it would not make him uncomfortable. We had a another tail on reserve in case it got damage. The model had to be carried by 4 men to the beach.

JAG ANTI-FIT "MERMAN' TVC SHOOTING IN BOLINAO, PANGASINAN

Choosing the ideal site for the commercial was also crucial. The shoot was shot in 2 locations: Anilao, Batangas for the underwater scenes, and Bolinao, Panagsinan for the beach scenes.

Reyes and Castro said the commercial was easy to do. They shot the underwater scene for a day, and the scenes above the water overnight.

Since models count a lot in the success of a commercial, JAG made sure they had a perfect merman in its ad. “We had to look for a model who is rugged and suave at the same time. These qualities we found in Matt Cheney, who is a swimmers and a model from Australia. He was paired with Carol Dunbar to add appeal to the commercial. Together, they epitomize the image of JAG—young, spirited, adventurous”, Reyes explains.

The prosthetic fish tail was molded on the model's body

Mythological creatures, gorgeous bods, and a cool concept. With all these elements combined, the JAG Anti-Fit commercial is already making a big splash on TV screens.

NOTE: JAG ANTI-FIT ‘MERMAN’ TVC was adjudged by the Creative Guild of the Philippines for the month of September 1996.

CREDITS:

AGENCY: JIMENEZ DMB&B

Copywriter: ALEX R. CASTRO / Art Director: NIKKO CORNELIO

Producer: PAUL SUAREZ / Account: ANNA DOMINGO

PRODUCTION HOUSE: UNITEL

Director: JUN REYES

D.O.P. BOY YÑIGUEZ, LEE BRIONES / Editor: IKE VENERACION

Production Design: TOMMY NG / Executive Producer: Deet Castillo

ADVERTISER: FIL-PACIFIC APPAREL INC.

Marketing Manager: Veng Taningco / President: Angeline Siy

SOURCESJAGJeansPh, youtube video /  Manila Buletin, The Phlippine STAR press releases.