Boomers grew up with a little fellow named Speedy Alka-Seltzer. He was one of us. He was our friend in need.
Speedy was there when you ate too much, drank too much, had indigestion, heartburn, stomach aches, acid reflux, aches and pains, bad colds and especially a hangover. He was our friend when we had too much of any good thing.
Marketing – such as the promotion of Little Speedy – has played a big role in the prominence of Alka Seltzer in American medicine cabinets. Way back in 1932, Alka Seltzer promoted a radio show called Alka-Seltzer Comedy Star of Hollywood. But it was television and those many commercials that put Speedy Alka Seltzer on the map worldwide.
The character Speedy Alka Seltzer was introduced in 1951.The name fit the marketing theme that year of “Speedy Relief.” Between 1954 and 1964 Speedy Alka Seltzer appeared in over 200 television commercials.
You may remember some of these slogans.
“Relief is just a swallow away.”
“Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is.”
“No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach’s In)”
“Mamma Mia, that’s-a spicymeat-a ball-a!”
“I can’t believe I ate that whole thing!”
“Try it, you’ll like it!”
About 20 years ago, The Feds ended many of those great TV ads because they said Alka Seltzer was advertising remedies it couldn’t produce and that a fellow shouldn’t just take an Alka Seltzer anytime he wasn’t up to snuff. Ulcers, they said.
All I know is that around 1964 after a Carolina/Duke football game and way too much bourbon, Speedy Alka Seltzer was there for me when I really, really needed him.
And that’s what friends are for.