The Real Mad Men of Advertising
A new Smithsonian Channel four-part series provides an inside look into the men and women who re-invented the advertising industry from post-WWII America through the 1980s.
- 2017-2017
- 1 season
- Smithsonian Channel
- Documentary
- TV-PG
A new Smithsonian Channel four-part series provides an inside look into the men and women who re-invented the advertising industry from post-WWII America through the 1980s.
Season 1 Episode Guide
4 Episodes 2017
Episode 1
The 1950s
Sun, Jan 8, 2017 51 mins
In a post-war world, advertisers tantalized consumers with visions of futuristic homes and cars, shiny jewelry, and the newest home appliances. Advertising harnessed buying power that created an unprecedented consumer boom.
Episode 2
The 1960s
Sun, Jan 15, 2017 51 mins
Examine '60s ad men and women and how they used wit and irony to reach a new audience, consequently revolutionizing the industry.
Episode 3
The 1970s
Sun, Jan 22, 2017 51 mins
In the beginning of the 1970s, advertisers' love affair with non-conformity continues to pay off, but change is in the air. Economic crisis, disillusionment, and federal and consumer watchdogs are forcing ad agencies to find new ways to reach customers. See how a decade of mistrust and government crackdowns inspires creative campaigns that will become a part of our national identity. From hilltop singers to heroic oil workers, '70s ad men and women found a way into the hearts of skeptical consumers.
Episode 4
The 1980s
Sun, Jan 29, 2017 51 mins
It's the Reagan Era, and political confidence fuels an era of heavy consumption. Madison Avenue promotes new categories of designer products in provocative ways and the explosion of cable television allows brands to target two demographics that have been ignored for decades: teens and Hispanic Americans. This decade of blockbuster Super Bowl ads, culture-busting mascots, and infomercial celebrities, was an age of advertising that is both far removed from the days of "Mad Men" and inextricably linked.