Classic(ally Bad) TV Commercials: If It’s From Space, It’s Got to Be Good!
We all know Tang got a big boost in sales from NASA in the 1960’s and 1970’s, but a lesser-known space-inspired product is this wonderfully mysterious stick of stuff known as “Space Food Sticks”.
It was 1968, and with NASA inching closer and closer to landing man on the moon, anything somehow associated with the space program was a hot item. In this case, Pillsbury contracted with NASA to make healthy energy snacks for the astronauts, and this is what they came up with. The sticks were basically Slim-Jim-shaped energy bars with the texture of a Tootsie Roll. Some people absolutely loved the chocolate, caramel, or peanut butter flavoring while one You Tube commenter described it as tasting like “flour and water”. Mmmmm…. yummy!
What’s most interesting about this commercial, other than reminding us that anything associated with the space race would sell back then, is the crude special effects. Since Pillsbury was working with NASA, couldn’t they use NASA footage of a rocket launch or a space walk? What’s the deal with all of the Buck Rogers effects? In the opening shot you can practically see the string holding up the lunar rover. And since when does an astronaut eat his food with his helmet on? What kind of clod does that? And if you don’t believe an astronaut crams these things into his helmet for a snack, then why not believe this kid or football player or working mom? Hey wait a minute… why isn’t the football player eating this with his helmet on?
After showing us a bunch of unhealthy snacks your kids shouldn’t be eating (probably all Pillsbury products) the announcer tells us about the exciting “chewy” snacks as our model snaps one in two like it was a stick from an oak tree. Is this what Pillsbury calls chewy? A snack that goes “snap”? Yikes! No matter what the texture, consistancy, or taste of the space food stick, it was a hit with kids and managed to last a few years.
What’s even more amazing is the space food stick has made a comeback and even has a fanclub following. I guess everyone has their own favorite childhood memories, but this one escapes me. I was actually recently at the Kennedy Space Center gift shop and saw some these and my stomach turned. But to each their own, as I did end up purchasing astronaut ice cream and I know that tastes like flavored styrofoam. I just won’t eat it with a helmet on.
