New Exhibit Showcases Six Decades Of Classic Commericals

CHICAGO (STMW) -- The Museum of Broadcast Communications is betting that people won't skip through its latest exhibit, "We'll Be Right Back ... 60 years of Television Commercials."

The new online exhibit debuts Wednesday at the museum's website, museum.tv. The exhibit has been culled from the MBC's archives of more than 10,000 commercials and nearly 100,000 hours of content.

The exhibit spans more than six decades, and showcases more than 100 of the best television commercials from the 1940s through today, a release from the museum said.

The online exhibit features classic spots from iconic brands such as Tootsie Roll Pops, Texaco, Tang, Life Cereal, McDonalds, Alka Seltzer, Budweiser, Apple, Gillette, and others, the release said.

It also offers a look at Super Bowl advertising featuring the most memorable spots from 1969 to 2010.

There is even a section featuring Chicago's most memorable local advertising, including Celozzi and Ettelson Chevrolet, Bert Weinman Ford, Victory Auto Wreckers, and TV Magic Cards with Marshall Brodien.

The online exhibit, "both celebrates and preserves our rich television heritage and supports the museum's educational mission," Museum of Broadcast Communications President and Founder Bruce DuMont said.

In addition to taking a trip back in time at this new exhibit, visitors can also get a look at the future and learn about the progress on the bricks and mortar museum, now under construction at State and Kinzie in the River North neighborhood.