Halloween brings out some of the year’s best ads. It’s no wonder why more candy is purchased in the days leading up to the holiday than any other days of the year with all of the sweets we see on television and in print. In honor of All Hallow’s Eve, we’ve chosen our all-time favorite Halloween ads—past or present, television or print—and what makes them memorable. See the picks from Part 1 here.
LAUREN: Pizza Hut, The Pizza Head Show: Goosebumps, 1997
I owe many of my bookish tendencies to the “Book It!” program at Pizza Hut, which entitled me to eat an entire (personal) pizza whenever I finished a book. So one Halloween ad I remember in particular is a spooky Pizza Head commercial (which I am now realizing is based on SNL’s Mr. Bill). This spot features a Goosebumps Kid’s Pack, inspired by my favorite author at the time, R.L. Stein.
GREG: Budweiser, Halloween, 1953
I love the old-time, classic 1950s illustration of this ad. And it’s Budweiser—come on! Theirs are some of the greatest ads for any brand ever.
MICHELLE: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Scariest Part of Halloween, 2008
The Reese’s campaign is one of my favorite TV campaigns of all time, but this Halloween spot was the best because it tapped into one of the undeniable truths about Halloween – no one wants to part with their Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. I remember sitting on the floor trading candy with friends after trick-or-treating, and everyone wanted the Reese’s – that stuff was, and always will be, a valuable commodity.
NICK: Riverside Properties, Halloween, 1999
Often ads against drunk driving (or nowadays, distracted driving) can be very negative and sometimes pedantic. This one is appropriately lighthearted for Halloween, which sets it apart from other ads of its kind. It gets your attention, and you get the message instantly.
PATTI: Reese’s Pieces, E.T., 2002
The sweet and endearing alien who came on the scene in 1982 in Spielberg’s blockbuster hit “E.T., The Extra-Terrestrial” is one of my favorite Sci-Fi characters (along with “R2D2” of Star Wars fame). And we share a common bond – junk food!
Product placement as a form of advertising started with this movie. The story of how Mars, Inc. missed a huge marketing opportunity when they chose not to be associated with the film, and how Hershey’s, their competitor, dramatically improved their sales, is a classic example of the power of this type of advertising.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYmSlbH4bEY&feature=youtu.be