20 of the best ads ever from the George Patterson agency

George PattersonIn an industry where new people arrive every day, the greats are sometimes quickly forgotten.

For some, the name GPY&R is these days more associated with WPP’s legal squabble with Pacific Equity Partners. But George Patterson is arguably Australia’s greatest agency ever.

And as next week’s 75th anniversary party approaches next week, the agency has put some of its greatest moments up on YouTube. It’s worth the time checking out this top 20, I promise. They don’t make ‘em like that any more…

1. OTC Memories – the first Aussie ad to win the Grand prix at the Cannes Lions

 

2. Fosters – Paul Hogan

 

3. National – Abba

 

4. VB

 

5. Football, Meatpies, Kangaroos and Holden Cars

 

6. Shell: Steve McQueen

 

7. Carlton Draught – The Big Ad

 

8. Yellow Pages Go Go Mobile

 

9.  Smith’s chips Gobbledok

10. Schweppes – Burst

  

11. Colgate Ajax – Steptoe & Son

 

 

 12. Colgate – Mrs Marsh

 

13. Colgate Lemon Charged

14. Optus Power of Yes

15. NAB – Never Lose Sight

16. Twisties

17. Big M (I don’t think they’d get away with this now)

18. VB Boonie

19. AFL History of Australia

20. Olympics – Morocco

November 6th, 2009 at 11:38 am

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Comments


  1. re: turn on
    6 Nov 09
    12:23 pm

    2. Apt that the first TVC I remember is the OTC Memories ad. Comes across a little maudlin now, but the Grand Prix is deserved if it still evokes childhood recollections 25 years later. Had no idea until seeing now that it obliquely refers to the self-exile of many families from the Greek military junta, but I guess it poignantly tapped into any immigrant experience.

  2. Anonymous
    6 Nov 09
    1:41 pm

    3. Some really great work from one of only a handful of truly great Australian agencies. Though I am surprised to see “AFL History of Australia” in the top 20. Surely the ad from this year is bigger, better, and more reflective of the status of George Patts in the industry?

  3. Zac Martin
    6 Nov 09
    3:00 pm

    4. This is why I want to get into advertising. For a bunch of “traditionalists”, they’re some amazing work in there.

  4. fnar fnar
    9 Nov 09
    1:44 pm

    5. The AFL History of Australia campaign isn’t fit to carry the recent AFL ad’s award bucket.

  5. Dave Bathur
    9 Nov 09
    1:58 pm

    6. I’ve always worked in ‘digital’. I’ve never touched TV, possibly never will. But I’m a big fan of Peter Heathwood’s work.

  6. Legosity
    10 Nov 09
    7:13 pm

    7. What a great trip down memory lane.
    Some fantastic work in there – well done to Patts & congrats!

    (its OK to cringe at some of the older ones right?)

  7. Tee Cygnese
    11 Nov 09
    5:00 pm

    8. Does “Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and Chevrolet”, from Campbell Ewald, USA, , sound at all like “Football , Meat Pies, Kangaroos and Holden Cars” of a later date?

    And Patts claim it as one of theirs!

  8. anothermous
    12 Nov 09
    10:35 am

    9. this collection, featuring only one ad from this century is testament to how little they have done in the last ten years… sad to see a once mighty premiership team now wooden spooners. Pity they don’t hand out awards for embarrassing management decisions and poor leadership

  9. liam
    17 Nov 09
    3:21 pm

    10. Loved this,

    How about some more agencies? top 10?

  10. Simon
    19 Nov 09
    2:13 pm

    11. Um, anothermous, seem to think Bid Ad, Schweppes Burst, VB Boonie, AFL were all from this century. I’m no mathematician, but that makes 20% of the top 20 from the last 10 years. A pretty fair proportion for an agency that’s been around 75 years.