Advertising

Live Like Lucy

          The head line for the ad, read, Live Like Lucy, how effective was it?  Back in the 50’s, probably very effective.  The cover for Life magazine had a picture of the Arnaz family featuring Lucy.  So it probably grabbed more than a few customers.

          Television during the 50’s opened up more doors for advertisers.  Now customers could see how the Hollywood types lived.  So many people want to emulate the rich and the TV gave the average person a glimpse into how the rich and famous lived. 

          No longer was it just voices coming over the radio, now one could watch these voices and didn’t have to wait for the latest magazine to come with pictures of the stars.  The world of instant gratification was on it s way.  Click the on switch and Hollywood showed in a flickering screen in all its glory.

          Stars of the little screen had more ways to make money, they could promote products, travel the country promoting their shows as they promoted the products.  The effect of the media on the masses was just beginning.  Advertisers were exercising a new control over consumers that they had never experienced before.  The media was growing in influence over the masses that watched the little screen of television. 

          Live Like Lucy, was but one way the mass medium influenced people’s decisions.  The influence of the mass media was just taking root in the lives of people. 

          Not only was Lucy being used to sell magazines, she was also selling furniture and a lifestyle. 

          Side note, look at the price of the bedroom set.

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