"DENNIS THE MENACE" was originally sponsored by... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TV Knowledge Fan · 04-13-2006, 06:20 PM

...Kellogg's of Battle Creek (all seasons) and, beginning in the fall of 1960, Best Foods [for Skippy peanut butter, etc.] became its alternate sponsor.The cast did "intergrated" commercials for both at the end of each episode. Just thought you'd like to know!

treky · 05-10-2006, 02:05 AM

I didn't know that, I always thought it was sponsored by General Mills. I knew Best Foods was their alternate sponsor, though.

And, about the commercials, of course they made them! In the 50s and 60s cast members of TV shows had to make commercials for their sponsor(s), and they would mostly show one at the end of the episode. They didn't mind, as it was in their contract. Sometimes though, the sponsor would write them instead of the shows writers.

TV Knowledge Fan · 05-10-2006, 04:54 PM

...I remember a 1960-'61 Skippy commercial featuring "Dennis" and "Mr. Wilson".

He's relaxing in the back yard munching a bowl full of peanuts, and Dennis comes along eating a peanut butter sandwich. Somehow, he gets a skeptical Mr. Wilson to try the sandwich (made with SKIPPY, of course), and both of them enjoy a good sandwich together at the end. Warm, relaxed, performed in pantomime with nice music and narration by Frank Nelson, who tells us, "we're mighty proud to have Skippy as a sponsor" and "if you like peanuts, you'll love the taste of Skippy!". I doubt one of the Best Foods' ad men wrote that spot...I could be wrong.

treky · 05-11-2006, 01:24 AM

this is somewhat off-topic, but I remember seeing an episode of "MY FAVORITE MARTAIN"-which was also sponsored by Kellogs and Best foods-once, and after the shows beggining, they showed a little 15-second "spot" for Skippy (not a "cast commercial") and the announcer said "MY FAVORITE MARTIAN" "BROUGHT TO YOU BY SKIPPY PEANUT BUTTER!" then they showed a jar of it looking down, a hand comes down, unscrews the lid, removed it, then took a knife and wrote a big S on it.
For years, every time I open a brand new jar of peanut butter, I always do that to it!

TV Knowledge Fan · 05-11-2006, 06:10 PM

...was the "sponsor's billboard" (following the opening title), which was always eliminated from the syndicated version of the show {as with "DENNIS THE MENACE", where the animated "whirlwind" passes the Kellogg's logo and the announcer said, "Dennis The Menace is presented by Kellogg's...the Best To You each morning!"...and the vocal chorus adds, "K-E-DOUBLE L...O-DOUBLE GOOD..KELLOGG'S BEST TO YOU!!!"}. There was another billboard at the end of the show, usually AFTER the closing credits, which spotlighted various Kellogg's cereals in the lower corner of the screen as each production credit flashed by- the "whirlwind" was used in the syndicated version, of course.....and sometimes, the announcer would add, "See Kellogg's 'WHAT'S MY LINE?'- later tonight, over most of these stations!" {that was when "WML?" was sponsored by them on alternate Sunday nights}.

In the case of "MY FAVORITE MARTIAN", Kellogg's DID sponsor them the three seasons they were on CBS (1963-'66), after "DENNIS THE MENACE" was cancelled, in the same time period, along with Best Foods (for Skippy, etc.)- this is, as in "DENNIS", why there were so many "breakfast" scenes between Tim and Uncle Martin in the kitchen (the better to pitch, say, Kellogg's Corn Flakes at the end of an episode, which they did)- I don't remember them "pitching" Skippy, though....the "S" in the peanut butter I DO remember! I do know that, at one point, The Toni Company, makers of Toni Home Permanent and White Rain hair care products, replaced Best Foods as alternate sponsor, around the beginning of the second season in late 1964 {when "I'VE GOT A SECRET" was alternately sponsored by Toni at that time, announcer John Cannon reminded viewers to see "MY FAVORITE MARTIAN" on Sunday night "on most of these stations", also brought to you by Toni!}.

jehobden · 06-11-2006, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

this is somewhat off-topic, but I remember seeing an episode of "MY FAVORITE MARTAIN"-which was also sponsored by Kellogs and Best foods-once, and after the shows beggining, they showed a little 15-second "spot" for Skippy (not a "cast commercial") and the announcer said "MY FAVORITE MARTIAN" "BROUGHT TO YOU BY SKIPPY PEANUT BUTTER!" then they showed a jar of it looking down, a hand comes down, unscrews the lid, removed it, then took a knife and wrote a big S on it.
For years, every time I open a brand new jar of peanut butter, I always do that to it!

Actually this is more on-topic than you may think, since "My Favorite Martian" replaced "Dennis the Menace" in the CBS Sunday night timeslot between "Lassie" & Ed Sullivan (7:30 PM ET). Kellogg's may have owned this timeslot in the same way that Procter & Gamble owned 8:30 PM Sunday night on NBC (There's a thread on the Mothers-in-Law board about this timeslot.), no matter which program filled the timeslot. "It's About Time" followed in the same timeslot after MFM was cancelled, but it just lasted one year.

04-13-2006, 06:20 PM	#1
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	"DENNIS THE MENACE" was originally sponsored by... ...Kellogg's of Battle Creek (all seasons) and, beginning in the fall of 1960, Best Foods [for Skippy peanut butter, etc.] became its alternate sponsor.The cast did "intergrated" commercials for both at the end of each episode. Just thought you'd like to know!

05-10-2006, 02:05 AM	#2
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I didn't know that, I always thought it was sponsored by General Mills. I knew Best Foods was their alternate sponsor, though. And, about the commercials, of course they made them! In the 50s and 60s cast members of TV shows had to make commercials for their sponsor(s), and they would mostly show one at the end of the episode. They didn't mind, as it was in their contract. Sometimes though, the sponsor would write them instead of the shows writers.
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her." Last edited by treky; 05-11-2006 at 01:12 AM.

05-10-2006, 04:54 PM	#3
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Sure, 'treky'.... ...I remember a 1960-'61 Skippy commercial featuring "Dennis" and "Mr. Wilson". He's relaxing in the back yard munching a bowl full of peanuts, and Dennis comes along eating a peanut butter sandwich. Somehow, he gets a skeptical Mr. Wilson to try the sandwich (made with SKIPPY, of course), and both of them enjoy a good sandwich together at the end. Warm, relaxed, performed in pantomime with nice music and narration by Frank Nelson, who tells us, "we're mighty proud to have Skippy as a sponsor" and "if you like peanuts, you'll love the taste of Skippy!". I doubt one of the Best Foods' ad men wrote that spot...I could be wrong.

05-11-2006, 06:10 PM	#5
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	That, 'treky'... ...was the "sponsor's billboard" (following the opening title), which was always eliminated from the syndicated version of the show {as with "DENNIS THE MENACE", where the animated "whirlwind" passes the Kellogg's logo and the announcer said, "Dennis The Menace is presented by Kellogg's...the Best To You each morning!"...and the vocal chorus adds, "K-E-DOUBLE L...O-DOUBLE GOOD..KELLOGG'S BEST TO YOU!!!"}. There was another billboard at the end of the show, usually AFTER the closing credits, which spotlighted various Kellogg's cereals in the lower corner of the screen as each production credit flashed by- the "whirlwind" was used in the syndicated version, of course.....and sometimes, the announcer would add, "See Kellogg's 'WHAT'S MY LINE?'- later tonight, over most of these stations!" {that was when "WML?" was sponsored by them on alternate Sunday nights}. In the case of "MY FAVORITE MARTIAN", Kellogg's DID sponsor them the three seasons they were on CBS (1963-'66), after "DENNIS THE MENACE" was cancelled, in the same time period, along with Best Foods (for Skippy, etc.)- this is, as in "DENNIS", why there were so many "breakfast" scenes between Tim and Uncle Martin in the kitchen (the better to pitch, say, Kellogg's Corn Flakes at the end of an episode, which they did)- I don't remember them "pitching" Skippy, though....the "S" in the peanut butter I DO remember! I do know that, at one point, The Toni Company, makers of Toni Home Permanent and White Rain hair care products, replaced Best Foods as alternate sponsor, around the beginning of the second season in late 1964 {when "I'VE GOT A SECRET" was alternately sponsored by Toni at that time, announcer John Cannon reminded viewers to see "MY FAVORITE MARTIAN" on Sunday night "on most of these stations", also brought to you by Toni!}.

05-11-2006, 01:24 AM	#4
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	this is somewhat off-topic, but I remember seeing an episode of "MY FAVORITE MARTAIN"-which was also sponsored by Kellogs and Best foods-once, and after the shows beggining, they showed a little 15-second "spot" for Skippy (not a "cast commercial") and the announcer said "MY FAVORITE MARTIAN" "BROUGHT TO YOU BY SKIPPY PEANUT BUTTER!" then they showed a jar of it looking down, a hand comes down, unscrews the lid, removed it, then took a knife and wrote a big S on it. For years, every time I open a brand new jar of peanut butter, I always do that to it!