Top Three Favorite Halloween Ads

Spooky Scary Skeletons are coming once again. That's right, Halloween is here. Time to break out the candy, costumes, and scary films. This also means that TV stations start playing Halloween ads and much like Christmas, there are classic ads that while not in rotation anymore that should still be remembered. Here are three this year that I picked out that are memorable.

Dunkin' Donuts

When you think Halloween, you don't usually think Doughnuts. But Dunkin' Donuts manages to do it.

This ad is more about build up and payoff while promoting their Halloween themed treats. The build up starts as the scene of them making donuts and decorating them are cut to outside where monsters walking presumably to the local Dunkin' Donuts, spooky sounds and effects are heard throughout the ad. The payoff? The door opening showing kids in costumes asking for a dozen doughnuts, much to the relief of the bakers.

The setting of a dark, scary night helps build up the mood and payoff as well. This ad is playing off of the classic horror films. The building of suspense and the use of classic monsters gives it away, but it fits the mood of the ad. Spooky, not scary, has some decent build up and a cute payoff to it. Much like the theme it is in it of itself, a classic ad.

Pizza Hut

While more fitting for Halloween parties, pizza is a staple for such events. In the nineties, Pizza Hut was the popular pizza chain at the time. From 1993-1997 they had a Mr.Bill like promotion called Pizza Head in The Pizza Head Show. Like Mr. Bill, Pizza Head is put into a situation, a pizza cutter named Steve tricks him into something and the ad ends with him in the result.

This one involves Pizza Head wanting to celebrate the end of his Trick or Treating night with a trip to Pizza Hut. That is when the Narrator mentions there is one last place to go and leads him to a haunted house, complete with a mummy, a scary painting, and a vampire named Count Steve. Pizza Head wants to just go to Pizza Hut when Count Steve turns into a bat and takes him away.

This is of course a more child friendly Halloween ad as while it does have some classic scary stuff in it that you would see around this time of year, but it isn't really scary and plays it safe. Not a bad thing as it is still a classic nineties Halloween ad.

McDonald's

As a kid in the nineties, the McDonald's candy pales were a staple when they were released around Halloween. However that is for another year. This time this one will be short and sweet.

This ad starts with kids in many different costumes eating their Happy Meals at McDonald's. Kids are talking about costumes and one doesn't know so Ronald mentions there's "already a daddy" and spins the girl around to turn her into a mummy and she asks him what he's going to wear, Ronald doesn't know what to wear. Just then a vulture dressed as a clown suggests a clown.

This ad is just simple and it fits what the company was aiming for in terms of style and mood at the time, fun and child friendly. The fun child friendly mood that fits both the brand and season. Not much else to say outside of cute and kid friendly.

While Halloween is the start if the back to back holiday season, it shouldn't be swiped to the side to make way for the largest of the three. Halloween all and all has its own charm and should be treated as such before it gets showed in the corner like Thanksgiving does. So until next time, live life and live nostalgic.

Looking for more from ThatDudeintheHoodie?

READ 137453 TIMES

The Dinosaur Kid

This is an interesting tale from the days of yonder, that's for sure.Let me take you back about 15 years; to when I was but a wee little lad who was s...

Apathetic Chorus

After the horrible debacle of the Christmas production the school was putting on another production in the spring of 1995. Another mandatory fifth t...

Team Sports

Good sportsmanship, keeping your eye on the ball, walking it off, these are the lessons to be learned on the field participating in sports such as T...

Wrestling with the 90's

It had to happen eventually, Hulk Hogan went from a shining golden warrior, to a dirty, scruffy thug, and with that, my experience of watching tough...

Play Something Newer

The school dances at my junior high were really awful! Well I can only attest for one and only dance. The Valentine’s Day dance of 1996. I was in s...

The Lion King 2 Simba's Pride: A History

In 1994 Walt Disney Pictures released an classic movie called The Lion King. It starred Simba, the heir to the Pride Land throne who just couldn't wai...

Kenner Action Toy Guide '91

Sometimes the anticipation of what can be is even more exciting than the real thing. I found this to often be the case when I would admire the back ...

Pee-wee Herman Fun Facts

“I know you are, but what am I?” A Pee-wee Herman fan. “I know you are, but what am I?” A Pee-wee Herman fan. “I know you are, but what am...

80s Pop Culture References in Family Guy

I have been watching Family Guy since it debuted back in 1999 and I am still amazed what they get away with for a show that airs in prime time on netw...

MOST RECENT RETRORATING FEATURED OFFICIAL

Go to page: