In 2013, commercials are something we all skip through on our DVRs and computers in order to get to actual content. Back in the early 1940s, however, they were an exciting new way for companies to advertise their products in a different medium, which is why this vintage Bulova watch commercial is fascinating from both a historical and pop culture perspective. It was the first legal commercial to ever air in the world, and it was first broadcast in the U.S. on July 1, 1941.
The spot only runs for ten seconds, and it's shaky throughout—it only features a picture of the country and the name of the company, along with a voiceover from a very old-timey voice assuring viewers that "America runs on Bulova time." It was aired in the afternoon, just before a baseball game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Phillies.
It's thought that the commercial only reached a few thousand viewers, as not many people owned televisions sets at the time. Just think—this commercial was the first building block to creating the DVRs we now use to fast-forward through commercials! History is awesome.
You can check the commercial out above.
[via Mashable]
