Milt Josefsberg wrote the definitive biography of Jack Benny, which I own and
have read and re-read many, many times. In one chapter touching on the Jack
Benny radio program, he touches on product placement in old time radio. He
states that in the 40's product placement (of course on radio that meant
mentioning the name of a product verbally) became such a problem, that they
finally had to step in and tone it down a bit. He stated that the star, and
sometimes the writers, of a radio show would receive a generous supply of the
product that they mentioned on the show. He gave this example: Jack Benny:
"Rochester, please go turn on my Sunbeam Electric Blanket". Rochester:
"But Boss, you don't have an electric blanket". Jack Benny: "I do now".
That is probably why TAGS bent over backwards to avoid product placement. I
have noticed over the years, that all of the movie posters at the Grand were
altered to avoid the appearance of a real movie. All the products on the
shelf at Wally's gas station were covered or turned around to avoid showing the
label.
But in the show "Aunt Bee The Swinger", when John Canfield is first shown
talking to Floyd, and then especially after Helen comes over to join the crowd,
you can plainly see cans of Bab-O in the store window behind Floyd. Granted
you cannot see the front of the can with the name spelled out completely, but
you can see the distinctive green and white label, and the letters BA and O are
visible. That is the only product placement that I can ever remember seeing.
Orville Hendricks - Mount Pilot Butter and Egg Man. I mean, except for the
big sign on the side of my butter and egg truck, but I had to pay a lot of
money for them to show that.
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