Arts & Sciences’ Mal Ward Puts Nostalgia on the Radar

As we continue this month's foray into all things nostalgic, Arts & Sciences' Managing Director/Partner Mal Ward looks to the past as he takes on a retro-themed edition of this week's Radar, featuring some classic commercials, a collection of cell phones and some seminal movies and TV shows.

What’s the advertising idea from your childhood you most remember?

I feel like this is a trick question to figure out how old I am, but fine, I get it, it’s a piece on nostalgia, and you cannot exactly ask some Millennial or work-from-home Gen Z-er about this. So, it’s a bit of a tie. First up is this 1981 men’s cologne masterpiece for Canoe [below]. This held all the promise, intrigue and, dare I say aspiration a 10-year-old me could want. If I could just get a sailboat and some nautical flags together, I’d be in business.

Next up is the Sam Breakstone campaign starring the great Michael Vale, who would go on to become the “Time to Make the Donuts” man. These ran forever, at least in New York, where I grew up. I loved the serial nature of the ads and, of course, the absurdity and humour. The simple reason these were good and still hold up is that they are entertaining.

More on shots!