The Retroist » Woolworth

UK Woolworth Christmas Commercial (1981)

The Retroist — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:00:58 +0000

Woolworths were still plentiful in New Jersey when I was growing up in the 1980s. Oddly enough, as plentiful as they were , I remember very little about their commercial lineups. While browsing and looking for ones I did remember, I stumbled across this gem from the UK. I find it interesting enough seeing commercials for Woolworth that focus on different regions of the US, so one from the UK is a real treat. Not only do we get to see products and prices from a different country we get a heck of a musical Christmas treat.

Vintage Woolworth Halloween Ad

The Retroist — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:00:45 +0000

I spent a lot of time at Woolworth as a kid. As a young kid I would get ice cream and grilled cheese there with my Grandmother and as a college student I would buy cheap supplies and grilled cheese to get me through the lean times. It was a dark day when they finally shut their doors. So for all of you who had a great time at America’s corner store, perhaps you got your first Halloween costume there, here is a vintage Woolworth Halloween Ad that will take you back to their golden age.

I Always got My Halloween Costumes at Woolworth

The Retroist — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:06:13 +0000

Woolworth always had such great candy and costumes during Halloween. You see the awesome Darth Vader and Boba Fett costumes. Well I had the one they didn’t show. The very lame C3P0. If you thought the a prissy golden robot was sad, you should see a kid wearing a vinyl C3PO costume, begging for candy. Nothing sadder.

So if you lived in NJ between 1978-1981 I was that sorry looking kid in the ratty C3P0 costume that visited your house 4 times Trick or Treating. Oh and yes, I was the C3P0 who later that night stole your pumpkin and threw it into the Hackensack River. Whoppers are not a good treat! Seriously.

I know you want more commercial joy. Here is a second Woolworth commercial. Check out the Halloween record at the end, “Sounds to Make You Shiver”.

Here is a sample from “Sounds to Make You Shiver”. Shall we go then?

Happy Haunting