One of the drive-in intermission mainstays that doesn’t promote food is this one (below) for Pic mosquito coils. I’ve seen it a million times and it still amuses me, especially at the end when the doomed mosquito says, “Bye!” and drops to the floor, clutching a flower.
As a graphic designer by trade, I always watch for the quick glimpse of the Pic package at the end of the bit.
I’ve often wondered why the current package (below) doesn’t have a cartoon mosquito on it, for a little retro charm. It’s quite beautifully designed, but no fun at all. Even the logo is soulless.
Anyway, I recently discovered something on Ebay that I never thought I’d see: an actual Pic package – just like the one in the drive-in ad! I love the design; it’s simple and effective.
I love the mosquito too. He looks genuinely pissed.
Here’s another vintage Pic package currently on Ebay. It’s probably a little newer than the other one.
The addition of more color enhances it a bit. And unlike today’s modern package, this one is fun to look at. One mosquito has a bent stinger, and the others have packed their bags and are hitting the road.
4 comments:
The current day packaging is just like the problem with auto interiors not being colorful enough.Every car today is the same old gray,black or sand color...Very drab...I guess the companies don't want to offend anyone or any bug,animal or alien anymore.It really was better in the '50s and '60s.
I certainly enjoy the old packaging, but it's questionable whether showing cute and funny mosquitoes is really the way to motivate you to buy the product. The new one attempts to scare you into the purchase by mentioning Zika, but its downfall is, as you note, the generic quality of its graphics.
Anonymous: Unfortunately the current options of grey, black, and beige, both inside and outside of automobiles today is because that is what sells. I think it is a self-feeding spiral of what sells. Dealers only stock what people buy, so people buy without special ordering (you'd be surprised how many don't know you can do that), so the dealers stock what is bought, etc. I bought a 2103 Ford Fusion, special-ordered with the 6 speed manual because I wanted it, and there were none stocked by the dealers - because they don't sell (and they didn't promote that you could get them that way).
Aaron.....Even if you special order a car today,the factory still doesn't offer any other colors than what was mentioned above.....So there's no point in ordering a car because you still can't get a different color.I remember my parents cars were always colorful and color keyed to match the exterior.They had a gold '62 Chevy Impala with matching gold interior.And an off white '68 Chevy Caprice with a green bench seat interior.How about a black '60 Corvette with red vinyl buckets.Or a chocolate brown'74 Imperial with matching chocolate brown leather split bench seats....Yes the manufacturers don't even offer anything other than gray,black or beige for whatever color car you buy now....Life really was better in the '60s if not only for having colorful auto interiors.
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