Topic awaiting preservation: Free Brochures From Pueblo, Colorado

I was just doing some travel research when I came across the good old town name of Pueblo, Colorado. Instantly, it triggered a long-since-accessed memory of a number of cryptic TV commercials -- probably back in the early 80s -- advertising free brochures about various topics.

"To receive a free brochure, write to Random Subject, Pueblo, Colorado."

Anyone else recall those commercials? Better yet, if anyone can come up with some archives, I'd love to see them.

Heck, I'd like to see any references at all to those commercials -- been doing some searching and I seem to be the only one so far to remember them. (Found the Federal Citizen Information Center, the source of the brochures, but again, no reference to the commercials.)

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The "Catalogue" public service ads of free things from the US Government : ("Write to Pueblo, Colorado"!) One, gently spoofing old mystery movies set on trains, is a gem. (circa 1980?)

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And finally........ Just for Wes

No Sig ?

(Edited by axleclarkeuk on 08-03-2005 07:02)

That's so great. I love the internet (shame about the quality, though).

awesome

edit - another for wes, I think: didn't you once ask what the heck a carsophagus was? Ran across this sctrictly by chance a second ago.



(Edited by JKMabry on 08-03-2005 20:17)

How did I miss that part of the site? You guys are my heros.

I didn't know they were still making those lousy commercials. Are they airing in your necks of the woods?

JKM -- I don't think I did, but good to know all the same.

Only because you said it was book research, you should know the technical difference (in the US) between PSAs, Public Service Announcements (not Prostate Specific Antigen), and commercials.

A PSA is an announcement by a government or not-for-profit organization and is placed on-air for free. A commercial is by a business and is strictly pay-for-play.

Back 70s when I was in FM radio, (and the public airwaves were still considered public) the FCC placed a quota on the number of PSAs that had to be aired in order for the station to retain their license. The rules changed in the 80s (I think. I'd already dropped out of the business by then.) and stations filled all those slots with paid commercials.

Interestingly, nowadays the only regulation I know of (remembering I'm no longer in the business) has to do with placement of political ads during election season. The station must give over so many to paid, political ads and give them priority over ordinary sponsors.

Yet another example of your Congress, hard at work placing their needs over those of the public they alledgedly serve.

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You guys are my heros.

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Its been a long time since i have been anyones hero, mind if i run with that for a while ?

No Sig ?