I remember mom used to buy Duz detergent because they always had some kind of giveaway. We had dish towels and two different kinds of glasses that came out of detergent. Mom collected a whole set of glasses that were an amber color and they were really thick, so we never broke any and she used them for a long time. Probably still has some. I'll have to look into that! :)

Ah, freebies. Gimmicks! Yes, the 60s was loaded with gimmicks and tricks. But they worked, didn’t they? I think we were a bit more gullible lot back then. Or we did not know how to respond. Marketing was crass, not at all subtle, and I think we all got a little more jaded as a result. It changed us. MAD magazine often used to lampoon commercials. In fact, it was often the bulk of their material, their bread and butter. So advertisers had to get better at their craft and a little more subtle and sophisticated. Commercials are much better today than back then. The 60s was great for all sorts of camp, from commercials to Batman, sitcoms, everything.

I remember balloons in some sort of pasta at age 3. Ron mentioned Gas stations elsewhere on this site. Howdy’s (a MacDonld’s knockoff in Maine in 60s and early 70s) offered free book covers. Freebies all over. Record albums sometimes had inserts. Sgt. Pepper had cutouts and a picture of the fab four in costume. The White Album had pictures again of the lads. Alice Cooper School’s Out had paper underwear on the LP. Billion Dollar Babies has some cut outs. George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass album had some stuff inside it as did the
Who’s Live at Leeds. Beach Boys Endless Summer had a poster. MAD had super specials with inserts at times. Kracker Jacks had prizes. I remember a lot of stuff at the candy store had prizes or the like.

Of course, we are all past that now, right? But some of the tactics are more subtle now. How about the 2 for $4 instead of $2 each? Encouraging everyone to buy 2 rather than one. Placing certain products at eye level for better sales? Packaging decoration is a major industry. Coupons? Finding good excuses to eat out. Go ahead, you deserve a break today. Pamper yourself. Yeah, I deserve it!

I think we look back at how great it was cause we had not been hurt as much back then and we were more innocent and nice. But as telemarketers with their dirty tricks bothering us at all hours continually hammer at us and each sales gimmick backfires, we become harder, more mistrusting, less willing to reach out or be open and nice. Predators cause us prey to pull back and withdraw.

I want my prizes back!!!

I sort of remember something about freebees in detergent boxes? But mostly the cereal boxes. I really remember the flintstone jelly jars, but they were just that! Jelly you buy at the store. I remember the National Geographics having the free maps in them. I didn't do much laundry back then, mom did mostly, so that is why my memory may be weak on this one? Personally, it was probably the sugar rush I got from stuffing my little hand in a new box of Puffa Puffa rice to get at the free plastic car that was inside. I'm sorry, that was Rice Krinkles? The sugar residue on my hand would foul my wee mind for many years!

Does anyone have any of the amber colored glasses with the waggon wheel design on the outside that they are willing to sale? My mom collected an 8 piece set of each of the four sizes (tea goblet, tall glass, medium glass, and small juice glass). My mom died back in 1995 and though my ex-husband was supposed to return the glasses to me since my mom gave them to me before we started dating, he never did. My sons found a few of the glasses, but my heart is broken since I never got the whole set back.

Please let me know if anyone has some that I could purchase to complete my mom's original gift to me.

Thank you so much!

Ah, the Baby Boomers, ( I'm one of them ). I think Scott is right. Much more innocent and unassuming back then. The various "scams" and tricks had not yet come into play. Although, the 50's and 60's sported the "fast-talking," and "snappy come back" saleman, we were a little more receptive back then, than we are now. "Identity theft." What? Lets face it, in this day and age, when EVERYBODY is selling something, it's nice to think about the good old days when a "freebie" was actually a little something extra, and was actually free. Great marketing. We used to get what we paid for and even more. Perhaps the reason for web sites like this, is because they are vital and necessary, to help us remember where we came from and how we got here. I love my cell phone, my microwave and my computer, but there is something to be said for the old fashioned way.

In fact, I still have some of the towels that came in the detergent boxes. I have sewn them together (they weren't very big) and use them as the kids get out of the pool.

I am trying to find out what year & manufacturer glass ware came out of that is clear approx. 8 & 12 oz. size and the glasses have an etched clear wheat looking pattern along the top of the glass. Someone suggested Oxydol, maybe late 50's or early 60's?