We've come a long way in terms of the quality of insurance ads on television but there were also quite a few gems from yesteryear too.
Insurance companies in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s also used a variety of strategies to win your business. Advertisements ranged from funny stories to tragic ones that inspired potential and current clients to buy a policy or up their coverage levels. Here's a look at some of our favorite commercials from the past.
Who's riding that bike?
This Aetna Life Insurance commercial ran sometime in the 1970s and centers on a bike and the people who built it, sold it, and the family that bought it. We love how the people are a bit freaked out by the riderless bike. Clearly the commercial was made before the days when bike helmets became both fashionable and mandatory for children to wear. Also, do they still sell those white belts that dad is wearing in the video?
Bambi in an auto boneyard
The Hartford came out with this auto insurance commercial in about 1973, featuring their mascot roaming through a junkyard full of wrecked cars. The commercial uses some interesting stats to inspire you to increase your insurance coverages. Apparently the the buck's agent didn't think the automobile graveyard setting was beneath his client's stature.
Listen to the 'Mony Man'
This 1960s Mutual of New York (MONY) Life Insurance commercial tells the tale of a Pennsylvanian who reflects on the good advice he got from his insurance company back when he was a young bachelor. A wife, five kids, and a barking dog later - he was definitely glad he bought the policy. Note to director: Television commercials are better when they're actual video, not slideshows!
Stayin' Alive? Not
A young John Travolta stars in this Mutual of New York commercial as a young man whose dad envisions a bright future for him. Well, that is until dad unexpectedly dies without a good life insurance policy to take care of his family. The result? The boy's future nosedives and he's forced into menial labor at a local luncheonet.
Allstate double feature
We love these two old Allstate commercials. The first clip is circa 1960s/early 1970s and is a hoot. A businessman gets picked up by his family at the airport and the ride home turns into a conversation about how his house and everything they own is a big smoking pile or rubble. Surprise!
The second ad would arguably scare anyone into upping their coverage limits. Get a load of the 'Hawaii Five O" style music. This commercial is both cool and slightly terrifying at the same time, well, except for the part where a young hooligan dumps a can of paint on your house. Well, we guess it could happen.
Totally '80s Partnership
Wassau Insurance's circa 1980 commercial really does show you that partnerships do work. However, we particularly enjoyed the bicycle for two scene and the man in a tie white water canoeing (at least it looks like a canoe).
You're still in good hands
Here's a little gem of a cartoon commercial from Allstate in 1958. You don't hear voice overs like these anymore. Note to readers: Avoid trying to contain a tire blow out by physically holding on to the tire (or putting your face in front of it). Ouch.