A pre-Halloween treat: Roto-Rooter's 'The Raving' turns 30
Plus a couple of bonus renditions of Edgar Allan Poe's creepy classic
By Paul McNamara on Fri, 10/23/09 - 4:28pm.
It's a week before Halloween (my birthday) and that's all the excuse I need to veer off topic as we head into the weekend.
(This Year's 25 Geekiest 25th Anniversaries)
A few days ago, my wife Julie forwarded me an e-mail newsletter from Roto-Rooter -- I didn't ask why she's on such a list -- because it had useful tips about how and how not to dispose of Jack-o-Lantern innards. That was interesting enough, I thought, given that such advice could only serve to reduce the demand for Roto-Rooter's services, but what caught my eye was another item near the bottom of the newsletter: "Did you know ... In 1979, Roto-Rooter created a popular TV commercial called 'The Raving,' which was inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem 'The Raven.' It's still popular today."
Sure, I remember the ad, but if you don't, here it is:
Very clever ... and it holds up well 30 years later.
Searching for the clip on YouTube led me to an incredibly wide assortment of "The Raven" treatments, including this one by horror master Vincent Price:
And then there's this incredibly creepy animated version:
More? You say you want more?
Try "The Simpson's" with James Earl Jones (not sure about copyright on that one). And Christopher Walken's voice was made for this.
How did we ever amuse ourselves without the Internet?
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The Raven
After seeing that commercial clip I do remember it from way back when...especially that part about finding a "package store".
By coincidence, while reading/viewing this post, a grackle landed on my office window sill and pecked ar the window...
Oh, and Vincent Price ROCKS...everyone else, meh.
Radio Raven
Wow 30!
I remember lying in bed half awake listening to the radio alarm clock and hearing the ad. I was laughing so hard by the end, I bounced out of bed. Morning usually comes hard for me.
Thanks for a great memory (and link)1
I can't believe it was that
I can't believe it was that long ago...I was a teenager and I still remember the commercial. RotoRooter still has great commercials. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Recommend you a nice little trick designed for Halloween
Recommend you a nice little trick designed for Halloween
Halloween of 2009 is on the way, have you done adequate preparation for the costumes and masks which will be used in Halloween parties? Are you tired of using the old tricks to joke on your friends, colleagues, classmates, and someone else? Are you looking forward to receive a unique way to scare your acquaintances and leave them an impressive memory? If so, it’s my pleasure to recommend one to you, because this trick brought me great contrast while watching its beginning part and the ending part, which horrified and shocked me a lot. In my experiences, it’s effective and available to terrify all types of people, even the ones who are boasting daring. You can have a try about it previously. Click here to get it.
http://www.pavtube.com/halloween/difference.swf
Of course, if your friends are too scary to view the special horrible items, I suggest you not to use this one, and you can consider providing them with an interesting game instead of the grisly trick. I know one game, it offers different kinds of Halloween presents, everyone has chance to get a lovely gift by clicking on the pumpkins hanging over the page. There are totally 4 chances for each person, if your friends are lucky enough, they must be satisfactory to gain an exquisite Halloween gift. Why not do it? You can click here to open this game.
http://www.pavtube.com/halloween/halloween.html
Well, hope the two of my recommendations can bring you and your friends with special Halloween experiences and memories. Good luck and happy Halloween!
More related articles: Pavtube Halloween
http://www.pavtube.com/halloween/
I enjoyed the links
That was a great commercial. And Vincent Price was, ah... (I have to say it) priceless!
Thanks for the diversion.
rotor rooter
Hey, that was great! Whoever created the roto rooter commercial was very clever. That commercial would still work today. It held my attention for the full 30 seconds. Bravo! Thanks for sharing that with us. StumbleUpon just floated it in front of my face. Well done!
Cheryl
www.thatgirlisfunny.com
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