Public Service Announcements

Nearly every PSA winds up being viewed as humor by the target audience, a la Reefer Madness. The only really effective ones I've seen are "The Truth" anti-smoking campaign, and that's mostly because it's primarily a "huge evil corporations are trying to addict you for profit" campaign.

P.J. O'Roarke had a wonderful piece about Ecstasy, and he pointed out why drugs lose their appeal - that pot might do a fine job on teenage ennui, but there are no drugs that can help with adult problems, like debt.

 

Hmmm. Teenage ennui at 52.... So, that's my problem. My ennui didn't grow up. Think I'll need to get a grant for a PSA!

 

With a side order of applesausch. That's schwell.

 

Q: When did "Smokey the Bear" become "Smokey Bear"?
I will offer three:

"Take a Bite Out of Crime - McGruff The Crime Dog: "The Gilstraps"
(PSA, 1981),

 

They are still doing great PSA's in Canada to this very day, just not as
"cartoony":

"Astar from the Planet Danger" - War Amps of Canada
and...

 

"Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod - BodyBreak"

 

One of the great 'Charlie Says' PSA

 

Uncle Lou in "I've had my fun"

 

civil defense shelters

remember the little gold and black circles that were on just about every building that had a basement.

ever think about how much effort and expense went into those things? makes you wonder now if things might have been a bit worse that we all thought.

 

Louie the Lightning Bug!

 

I still wish I could find the singing plants that used to be on Channel 50 from Detroit. They would sing "My leaves are full of poison, these leaves you do not eat..."

 

I wonder if @PaulKTF and @driverdrummer remember this one:

 

I finally figured out how to post video thanks to beccabear67!

Here is a blasting cap PSA

 

That was a school film. PSAs were a minute long at best. Like the Willie Mays blasting cap ad I posted up thread.

 

Yep I remember that from 1st grade, loved those Arbor Day ads.

 

Some big thumbs up for you my friend! I remember the same commercial from when I was younger as well.

 

Jack Sheldon from Schoolhouse Rock!

 

You could learn a lot from a dummy...

 

After years of searching I have finally found the poison PSA I remember from Detroit’s WKBD channel 50 ......