Author’s Note: In my research to answer a family question (e.g., settle a debate) about former Thompson’s Clam Bar located in Wychmere Harbor, Harwichport, MA, I came across this 2010 article about “warm memories of local television and radio ad jingles and slogans from yesteryear.” My mind immediately went back in time to connect the “then” of the article to the “now” of one of the finer points, those classic radio ad jingles. (And yes, I found the answer to the question/debate; Thompson’s Clam Bar served over 2,000 meals a day!)
Apparently my internal alarm clock is set to the radio frequency range of Ocean 104.7-Crafted for the Cape, a radio station that covers Cape Cod. The radio station begins to come in around Exit 4 on I-495 and Exit 18 on I-195 and my brain seemingly knew to change the channel during two recent drives. If you have not yet had the pleasure of a leisurely drive on Route 28 or 6A (without traffic) listening to this station, especially through the neighborhoods dotted with charming sea captains homes in Brewster along 6A, you should give it a try. Pandora, Sirius, and Podcasts can wait.
The music ranges from Frank Sinatra to the Beach Boys to the Grateful Dead to the Doobie Brothers, with a mix of helpful updates – weather and traffic – and local news, such as events and happenings. The radio station jockeys are a positive bunch. Even when reporting something not-so-good, they always seem to add a positive twist. For example, if there is rain in the forecast, they would say, “That [rain] will help keep those lawns green,” or, “it’s going to be more of a “shopper” than a “beacher.” Hard not to appreciate the change in attitude – potentially due to the change in latitude, right Jimmy? (Couldn’t resist.)
But what sets this radio station apart from others, is that many of their advertisers proudly market to the masses with delightful radio ad jingles. That’s right, the often corny, seldom funny and mostly adorable greatest generation-era jingles, are sprinkled throughout the daily programming. I can’t recall ever looking forward to a commercial, but turns out I rarely change the channel for the chance to catch one of these rare gems. As a creative soul, I have to give these businesses a shout-out for taking a chance and “jingling all the way!”
Here are a few favorite radio ad jingles to be on the look-out for…and another to take you back to yesteryear. You may even want to save some of these links when you need a happiness pick-me-up! Go:
If you like the flute, this jingles for you! On a side note, our family cottage was furnished with Barbo’s furniture for the better part of two decades. And we still have/use all of the furniture!
“Barbo’s….Barbo’s….for furniture you will live with….happily ever after!”
Bobby Byrne’s Restaurant and Pub
In this day and age, the fact that this establishment encourages talking in their ad is refreshing! Put down your phones, kids and adults, time to have a conversation again!
“Everbody’s eating, and drinking, and talking at Bobby Bryne’s!”
This is a “harder” take on a classic radio ad jingle (scroll down to the last song), though they are dealing with glass after all. The jingle is oddly catchy thanks to Dave Reed’s voice, and certainly memorable for the beats:
“Glass…Cape and Islands Glass…1-800-540-7742…that’s glass…Cape and Islands Glass…if you need glass…”
While this jingle may make you think twice about how your home is furnished, it’s a cozy little number:
“Surround your outdoor with comfort and style… Casual Designs”
Not terribly creative, but hey, singing three words still counts as a jingle in my book:
“Kent’s… Kent’s…Carpetland”
Clearly leading the pack, it’s hard not to sing along once you know the words. It’s also on our list of places to check out this summer since we always just drive by it on our way to the Outer Cape.
“The cape in the summer is magic,
The sun, and the sea and the wind on the shore,
These days are made for families,
That’s what we’re here for.
At the Lobster Claw Restaurant,
Great dining by the sea,
At the Lobster Claw Restaurant,
We’re one big family.”
As a 9-year-old, I can attest that this ad got me with just two views. So much so, I worked over my father to drive 30 minutes for pancakes! He still remembers the syrup on the menus, as do some of our good friends, Frank and Jess with a similar experience.
“Who’s cooking breakfast as fast as he can,
Who’s cooking breakfast it’s the pancake man,
Any time of day,
You can you can,
Join us for breakfast at the pancake man,
I said the pancake man!”
I dare someone to listen to both this jingle and their recent ad about how air conditioning saves you money, and not give them a call:
“Stay cool…stay cool…with Scudder Taylor fuel.”
This cheery jingle would be on the same level of the Lobster Claw except for one huge problem; I have not heard it on the airwaves since the spring. Bring it back!:
“Lobster…scallops…and clams…at Seafood Sam’s!”
But the ultimate jingle is none other than the aforementioned classic, former Thompson’s Clam Bar. This one is personal for me. As a kid in the 1980s, with a birthday on August 30th, and at a time when kids went back to school after Labor Day, I spent many birthdays not just on the Cape, but at Thompson’s Clam Bar.
My parents and grandparents loved this place — and so did us kids. The food was piled high, lucky patrons were seated on an outdoor deck overlooking Wychmere Harbor, with sailboats regularly floating by quietly practically next to the tables! For birthday desserts, they created an ice cream scoop(s) birthday cake which forced everyone to dig in quickly before it melted. No one passed on dessert at Thompson’s! And I swear, their entire wait staff came over to the tables to sing happy birthday. It was the ultimate exclamation mark for a kid lucky enough to spend a summer and birthday on Cape Cod. My eyes are tearing as I write this and a chill just whipped through my body. Ahh, Thompson’s Clam Bar, a true lost treasure that I have not thought about for a long time until now.
Taking you back to the good old days, when kids went back to school after Labor Day, and a tower of fried clams, fries, rings and slaw ran you only $9.99. Let’s go to Thompson’s Clam Bar!
“Hey, where you going,
I’m going to Thompson’s Clam Bar,
Because that’s where the tastiest clams are.
Is the seafood good?
The best by far,
Lets go, to Thompson’s Clam Bar.
Take route 28 to the clam bar sign,
For the happiest eating from noon to 9,
At Wychmere Harbor in Harwichport,
That’s where you’ll find Thompson’s Clam Bar.
Hey, where you going,
I’m going where the tastiest clams are,
Thompsons, Where?, Thompsons Clam Bar, in Harwichport!”
What is your favorite Cape Cod memory of yesteryear?