Such musical people......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRLCUjCVBGI
CMStPnPSuch musical people...... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRLCUjCVBGI
They were good a clapping. Singing not so much!
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Now all we need is a musical about PSR..haha
Must have been a west of the Mississippi TV ad, I don't remember it at all.
I think the commercial was corny beyond belief and probably not cost-effective. I mean, how effective was it to buy & pitch TV ad spots, ostensibly promoting freight train service, to a viewing audience containing no one, or nearly no one, in a position to buy what the company's selling? Whatever that is.
Yet as an example of high-1970's culture (no pun intended), the commercial is downright entertaining. What on earth we we thinking in the '70's when we were dressing ourselves or styling our hair?
NKP guy I think the commercial was corny beyond belief and probably not cost-effective. I mean, how effective was it to buy & pitch TV ad spots, ostensibly promoting freight train service, to a viewing audience containing no one, or nearly no one, in a position to buy what the company's selling? Whatever that is. Yet as an example of high-1970's culture (no pun intended), the commercial is downright entertaining. What on earth we we thinking in the '70's when we were dressing ourselves or styling our hair?
Back then it was more about PR than selling anything. Railroads were and are an important part of the community, and at the time it was deemed worthwhile to remind people of that.
Corny for sure, but is today's polished marketing and spin any better? I don't think so. Businesses generally no longer connect on a personal level like they did 50 years ago.
If they did that nowadays, it would be a duet since everyone else got furloughted!
There were several variations of this commercial and it aired on Denver TV stations frequently, and most likely thorughout UP's territory. At least UP had enough obviously contented employees to form a singing group. But, talk about nostalgia, what about that ending motto "We Can Handle It"? Of course, it was true, in spades. Now the company spends its time contumaciously deciding why it cannot.
(from the days when the employees cared about their company and their image in the communities they served ... instead of spreadsheet watchers dictating terms instead of managing in the real world all the while sucking up to the Wall Street trash looking for a fast buck and not caring about the long term viability of the company.)
Recall The Norfolk Southern RR's own folk Group? 'The LAWMEN' ?
see limked @https://www.norfolksouthern.com/en/commitments/in-your-community/rail-fans/ns-lawmen-band
Since 1951...and apparently, still 'kickin':
see photo spread @ https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=NS+RR+Folk+Singers+%22+Lawmen%22%3F&ia=images&iax=images
and this is a compendium of their music: @ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmksExWK1UA55z5NpHlTkj-FCddjlxvgW
I loved these commercials when they aired. I remember at least two versions. But I think I remember they were shorter than this one.
It's already been stated, but back then the railroads cared a lot about the public image. Union Pacific was just one of the railroads that put out expensive calendars and other things advertising the company.
In the modern day, I guess the best example of an expensive public relations effort is the restoration and running of the Big Boy. Union Pacific gets nothing out of the program except a good public image. They draw crowds of young and old in every city the locomotive visits. Is that worth the expense? I'd say yes, but I'm not a shareholder, either.
York1 John
York1I loved these commercials when they aired. I remember at least two versions. But I think I remember they were shorter than this one. It's already been stated, but back then the railroads cared a lot about the public image. Union Pacific was just one of the railroads that put out expensive calendars and other things advertising the company. In the modern day, I guess the best example of an expensive public relations effort is the restoration and running of the Big Boy. Union Pacific gets nothing out of the program except a good public image. They draw crowds of young and old in every city the locomotive visits. Is that worth the expense? I'd say yes, but I'm not a shareholder, either.
The 'public' perceptions of railroads are two pronged.
1. They don't exist anymore!2. They only exist to block road crossing for hours, days, weeks.
Anything the carriers can do to present themselves as a critical element of the economy of localities and the country.
Except for the Mom & Pop style shops on 'Main Street' the public perception of all other businesses is that they are nameless, faceless billion dollar money machines that don't give two s..ts about anything but the money they extract.
About 2 years ago, the creator of this ad campaign for UP passed away. William Dale Fries Jr, went on to make some country music albums under the name C. W. McCall.
His song writing partner, although possibly not on the ad campaign, Chip Davis went on to create the Mannheim Steamroller albums.
Jeff
If I remember correctly, C W McCall was responsible for a rather ridiculous song titled "Convoy".
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