Gordon Rollings, the voice of my childhood. When I hear your voice now, narrating "The Herbs" , it takes me right back. I play the Herbs to my own children. Thank you..gone but not forgotten. (Still living on in your work)
I had no idea he did that! Even though I had an album of The Herbs stories - and was an inveterate reader of credits from an early age - for some reason I always assumed it was Michael Bond who was narrating.
We watched a few of these (including the song and dance routine) in our music venue in Aberdare, South Wales, last night. The lads from the community radio station are thinking of playing ads for long-vanished products, just for fun. This stream popped up while we were searching, and it made us all smile with fond nostalgia. I used to love these ads when I was in my late teens. The other lads are a few years younger; we'd all forgotten there were so many of these clever and witty ads in one campaign. Many thanks for sharing them.
I grew up in Winchester, Hampshire. Didn't emigrate. By my reckoning, 1986 was about the right time to leave. All these ads would be deemed offensive or discriminatory today by precious lefty snowflakes.
Charles Pemberton. the stockier one was a friend of mine. He said that at the time these ads were so popular there was even talk of putting the two Yorkshiremen in a sit com.
Brilliant. It was a good pint in its day, we used to stop at a pub in Aberford, just off the A1 on the way to my grans in York that served a really good pint of it, nearly as good as the Three Ferrets.
Nice to see John Webster's work surviving on RUclips. And from the era before the 3MP rule oozed out the moronic focus group mind. The man was a genius and a gent. One of the few agency creatives I enjoyed working with. A straight talking Yorkshireman who enjoyed a quiet pint and a sandwich at lunchtime rather than some expensive Soho media hellhole. FYI John both wrote and art directed these ads, preferred to work as a one man band, very 'hands on' the entire production/post-production process.
Just rediscovered the genius of your dear ol' Dad with a DVD of him with Jimmy Clitheroe "That's My Boy" from 1963. A much loved, funny and familiar face from my childhood. I remember him well from Play School and The Herbs. A true Clown. God Bless all Clowns.
Thank you so much....I only wish he'd had the chance to revel in the accolades paid to him since his passing! I haven't sen this film but have heard of it of course and the working relationship with JImmy. Kind regards, Justin R
+Justin Rollings "That's My Boy" was an ITV Sit-Com series from 1963. Was amazed to find it on DVD as I had heard that all Jimmy Clitheroe's ITV series were wiped. Your Dad works well with Jimmy. Did they get on OK or was the little fellow a bit of a handful?
To be truly honest, I don't know. My father died in 1985, I was only 16 and never had much of a chance to speak to him about his working past. Only really finding out more as I get older.
+Justin Rollings He was a comedy great! You must get in touch with those left around who worked with him, to fill in the picture. I can still sing all those brilliant songs from The Herbs! All the best!
Love it ! Especially the Laurel and Hardy clip. As well as Gordon Rollings & Charlie Pemberton it is good to see Jane Freeman.... Aka Ivy from the Cafe in Last Of The Summer Wine.
happy to join any campaign to get these on again. Although I have a biased view, I really don't think John Smiths ads have ever been as good. Got to give thanks to Pemberton & Webster the writer too!
I remember the advert with the bunnie-wunnies. It was in the commercial break for Indianna Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark. Must have been 1985. (I taped it and so remembered the adverts!) VHS for all those youngsters.
I forgot how many of these there were! But remember every single one of them from my childhood. My dad used to love the one where he told the pint how lovely it was. I loved that dog! Better than bunny wunnies! ♥
Hi, I remember your dad, as went to school with grant and your dad and my uncle used to drink together every week end at the lamb inn, axbridge, will me and grant used to hang out in the skittles alley. Fond memories of that time in my life.
remember reading a ditty on the toilet walls in boot n' shoe it read 'drinking the john smiths in here is like making love in a boat, it's f*****g close to water'
Jane Freeman. John Comer! R.I.P I have forgotten lead actor's name - in all these adverts. But R.I.P. too. Almost the entire cast of The Last Of The Summer Wine TV series. He was bound to have been in it somewhere though not as a regular I imagine.
They must have been truly brilliant ads. They've managed to keep that half water, half dish-water brew going up to this day. It's so bad that I'd rather drink Doombar!!
These ads were only ever shown in the south of England. In the north they had other ads mocking southern beers. Doubt if they would dare show them today in the pc world we live in.
My fave's the Punk one, though the one i always remembered was the "now available in cannes". I think the last one they ever made was the Missus - who ran the cafe in "Last of the Summer wine" if memory seves (Jane Freeman?) after Arkwright's funeral & meeeting a youthful John Smith's drinker at the wake - can't remember what the tagline was though...
Jerry Hendy - when she met the youthful John Smith Drinker ( who descpided a pint of John Smith to her like Arkwright) , she ended the advert by saying ...."Some thing I always wanted.......( then looks at the camera)..... ........a TOYBOY!"
They missed the one off before Peter Kay about the contractors who had been working down south, though I think they only aired it in the north of England but was certainly the funniest.
Hmmm... Why have i only ever even the juggling dog one before.WeWere these regional?only shown on Yorkshire tv or something? (We got Granada) I didn't even know he was married to Ivy from last of the summer wine. Bet Sid would've been put out if he found out she was two timing him.
I get the feeling this campaign was ended by Gordon Rollings' death. Hence killing off Arkwright as well. Funny how Yorkshire punks have London accents.
Im looking for the advert where they say they have been working away in the antartic or something but they let the other pair go first as tay had been working away down south so need it more. . . anyone got it?
Hi David, I don't suppose you are still in contact with John Webster? If so, it would be really good to get in touch with him about his experiences working on these adverts. Kind regards, Justin
![Chuckyy - Devil Hours [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/f3wZGj0VnZU/mqdefault.jpg)
The quality of the writing on all of these ads, and the execution, was absolutely top-notch. Especially love the Laurel & Hardy parody. Brilliant.
Gordon Rollings, the voice of my childhood. When I hear your voice now, narrating "The Herbs" , it takes me right back. I play the Herbs to my own children. Thank you..gone but not forgotten. (Still living on in your work)
That's lovely to hear
I had no idea he did that! Even though I had an album of The Herbs stories - and was an inveterate reader of credits from an early age - for some reason I always assumed it was Michael Bond who was narrating.
Gordon Rollings , playschool and in a great play for today on milng racing pigeons which im.trying to locate he played oxfam.
What charm and inventiveness there is in these adverts. That yodelling dog at the end, made my day. But then again, maybe I should get out more.
We watched a few of these (including the song and dance routine) in our music venue in Aberdare, South Wales, last night. The lads from the community radio station are thinking of playing ads for long-vanished products, just for fun. This stream popped up while we were searching, and it made us all smile with fond nostalgia. I used to love these ads when I was in my late teens. The other lads are a few years younger; we'd all forgotten there were so many of these clever and witty ads in one campaign. Many thanks for sharing them.
You're welcome!
Classic collection..... thanks very much ..bought back so many memories especially of my dear departed dad who loved the odd John smiths.
Grew up in Basingstoke Hampshire. Emigrated 1986. Talk about nostalgia. Watching these brings back so many memories. I'm smiling 😹.
I grew up in Winchester, Hampshire. Didn't emigrate. By my reckoning, 1986 was about the right time to leave. All these ads would be deemed offensive or discriminatory today by precious lefty snowflakes.
Would be amazing to have these back on the box. Many thanks for collating.
I have always loved Gordon Rollings' face, wonderfully expressive - a fine comedian and actor - best of all, a Yorkshireman :-) Bless his heart.
You can always tell a Yorkshireman but you can't tell him much!
The dog in the last ad was my Rocky miss him very much, everybody fell in love with him on the day of filming....
Carol Steck God bless him. He was adorable.
Used to love him in that advert
He was so cute! ♥
I remember the John Smiths adverts my teens. Fond memories thank you for sharing .
Classic stuff here, I had forgot about these ads and especially liked the Laurel and Hardy type dance on the last one
Going down memory lane here. I've just seen all 6 episodes of Big Jim & the Figaro Club, & god I miss Gordon Rollings.
Ah that’s good to hear.
Charles Pemberton. the stockier one was a friend of mine.
He said that at the time these ads were so popular there was even talk of putting the two Yorkshiremen in a sit com.
I remember all these from when I was a kid,great memories, I remember them word for word, 😁👍👌
That settles it! I'm moving! I want a flat about five blocks from The Three Ferrets. I'd want closer but I've got to stay fit, you know....
a flat 🙄
Best beer campaign ever. Simple. 80's, the golden era in advertising.
Brilliant. It was a good pint in its day, we used to stop at a pub in Aberford, just off the A1 on the way to my grans in York that served a really good pint of it, nearly as good as the Three Ferrets.
Brilliant. I'd forgotten these. Love the exercise one, and the song and dance too.
Fantastic post and lovely comments below , I remember all these as a kid in Littlehampton. My favorite is when the wife is ironing in the background..
Andrew Beech - Ah, West Sussex’s very own LA. (Little ‘ampton).
Nice to see John Webster's work surviving on RUclips. And from the era before the 3MP rule oozed out the moronic focus group mind. The man was a genius and a gent. One of the few agency creatives I enjoyed working with. A straight talking Yorkshireman who enjoyed a quiet pint and a sandwich at lunchtime rather than some expensive Soho media hellhole. FYI John both wrote and art directed these ads, preferred to work as a one man band, very 'hands on' the entire production/post-production process.
Just rediscovered the genius of your dear ol' Dad with a DVD of him with Jimmy Clitheroe "That's My Boy" from 1963. A much loved, funny and familiar face from my childhood. I remember him well from Play School and The Herbs. A true Clown. God Bless all Clowns.
Thank you so much....I only wish he'd had the chance to revel in the accolades paid to him since his passing! I haven't sen this film but have heard of it of course and the working relationship with JImmy. Kind regards, Justin R
+Justin Rollings "That's My Boy" was an ITV Sit-Com series from 1963. Was amazed to find it on DVD as I had heard that all Jimmy Clitheroe's ITV series were wiped. Your Dad works well with Jimmy. Did they get on OK or was the little fellow a bit of a handful?
To be truly honest, I don't know. My father died in 1985, I was only 16 and never had much of a chance to speak to him about his working past. Only really finding out more as I get older.
+Justin Rollings He was a comedy great! You must get in touch with those left around who worked with him, to fill in the picture. I can still sing all those brilliant songs from The Herbs! All the best!
R.I.P Jane Freeman who has passed away aged 81. She played Arkwrights wife in the John Smiths adverts.
Love the advert that starts at 4:20. Good old fashioned Yorkshire sexism.
These adverts were great.
Probably wouldn't get away with doing ad's like this today.
I'm surprised they still even allow alcohol advertising at all, given how much else the health nannies have got their way over.
My favourite is the “bunny wunnies” :) one of my favourites growing up
This went on for the whole of the 1980's.
Yes. Great memories of London in mid 80s when John Smith's bitter was once fine.
A wonderful tribute to Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy.
Beautiful.... thanks for uploading all these, takes me back to a different planet.
I remember watching quite a few of these adverts when I was fostered in Littlehampton sometime in the late
1980s.
I remember the beach we stamped on,
In dearest darling #Littlehampton..
Love it ! Especially the Laurel and Hardy clip.
As well as Gordon Rollings & Charlie Pemberton it is good to see Jane Freeman.... Aka Ivy from the Cafe in Last Of The Summer Wine.
I remember Gordon showing me the scripts to some of these before they were filmed. Happy days!
happy to join any campaign to get these on again. Although I have a biased view, I really don't think John Smiths ads have ever been as good. Got to give thanks to Pemberton & Webster the writer too!
Fantastic! So nice to hear from people who were working on these..
Went out for a few last night. John Smith's on draught this advert came straight to mind. Ohh Arkwright
Brilliant. Loved Tonto especially.
I remember the advert with the bunnie-wunnies. It was in the commercial break for Indianna Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark. Must have been 1985. (I taped it and so remembered the adverts!) VHS for all those youngsters.
This is like some kind of comedy advert.
these are so awesome- thanks mate!
I only remember the dog juggling and jumping up ad when i was a kid, that one i know for sure was aired in the north as i live there!
I forgot how many of these there were! But remember every single one of them from my childhood. My dad used to love the one where he told the pint how lovely it was. I loved that dog! Better than bunny wunnies! ♥
Wonderful! Thanks for posting these.
Brilliant, thanks for the upload.
These ads brings back memories.
Best ads ever ..great memories
Ah the good days when blokes like this would just go to the pub. These days are sadly in the history books.
I remember these. My mum really liked the ones with the wife.
I love how it's the same cheesy tune on every clip. I love these adverts
Hi, I remember your dad, as went to school with grant and your dad and my uncle used to drink together every week end at the lamb inn, axbridge, will me and grant used to hang out in the skittles alley. Fond memories of that time in my life.
Love this video, it is quite interesting with the conversation - Those man are so funny..Cool!!
That were Champion that were.
our best sponsors
remember reading a ditty on the toilet walls in boot n' shoe it read 'drinking the john smiths in here is like making love in a boat, it's f*****g close to water'
The Three Ferrets is the Hermit at Burley Woodhead, Nr Ilkley!!
Dan Lebath that’s this years summer holiday sorted then!
On windy days, that guy has to wear weighted shoes. Those ears!
I still knew the song routine 40 years after the advert! Advertising is so lazy and boring now!
"Now available in cannes".
Good one.
Proof that the better the adverts……..the worse the beer.
“He’s got in with the wrong crowd” 😂
I asked John Smith's if their beers were available in the US, particularly in the NYC area. Sadly, they aren't and they've no plans to export them.
No one wants to go to ny.
Fucking legend 😊😊
Class!
The very urbane Tony Britton doing the voiceover the pack shots at the end of each one.
Remember the song and dance routine that was inspired by Laurel and Hardy in Way out West great stuff.
Jane Freeman. John Comer! R.I.P I have forgotten lead actor's name - in all these adverts. But R.I.P. too. Almost the entire cast of The Last Of The Summer Wine TV series. He was bound to have been in it somewhere though not as a regular I imagine.
imagine ads like this now!
i remember ALL of these!! fuck - i spent too much time indoors.
brilliant
Marvelous compelation thank you uploader, i bet you drink carling black label lol
They must have been truly brilliant ads. They've managed to keep that half water, half dish-water brew going up to this day. It's so bad that I'd rather drink Doombar!!
These ads were only ever shown in the south of England. In the north they had other ads mocking southern beers. Doubt if they would dare show them today in the pc world we live in.
My fave's the Punk one, though the one i always remembered was the "now available in cannes".
I think the last one they ever made was the Missus - who ran the cafe in "Last of the Summer wine" if memory seves (Jane Freeman?) after Arkwright's funeral & meeeting a youthful John Smith's drinker at the wake - can't remember what the tagline was though...
Yes, it was a tribute to Arkwright
Jerry Hendy - when she met the youthful John Smith Drinker ( who descpided a pint of John Smith to her like Arkwright) , she ended the advert by saying ...."Some thing I always wanted.......( then looks at the camera).....
........a TOYBOY!"
Bloody hilarious , my sides need a john smiths xD
6:10 Doesn't Judy from "As Time Goes By" look different, her Mum Jean would be shocked! 🤣👍
Arkright xD Bloody hilarious ty cheers
Lol talking to his Pint, she bashes him with iron xD
ehhhhhhhhhhh bloody genius!
Gallons of this, CINCUSNAVEUR London...
the commomn mayflower, who told you that? john Smith xD
"the three ferrets" xD
They missed the one off before Peter Kay about the contractors who had been working down south, though I think they only aired it in the north of England but was certainly the funniest.
Pretty funny. Not bad commercials
Wasn’t there one to the tune of stop the Calvary got to see my mate called smith ?
Hmmm... Why have i only ever even the juggling dog one before.WeWere these regional?only shown on Yorkshire tv or something? (We got Granada)
I didn't even know he was married to Ivy from last of the summer wine. Bet Sid would've been put out if he found out she was two timing him.
Type in
John Smith - Peter Kay Collection
7.44 has he got a adidas New Yorker / Colorado on looks like it but no name or badge on banner
I get the feeling this campaign was ended by Gordon Rollings' death. Hence killing off Arkwright as well.
Funny how Yorkshire punks have London accents.
Who said they were Yorkshire punks?
It was a bit of a cliche at the time, probably due to Sid Snot & Gizzard Puke.
Class
These days it's all adverts about Cancer and Funeral policies
Only if your jobless and watch dave on weekdays.
You made the best comment by a mile.
brilliant, everyone lol;)
0.49 in does anyone have a clue where this is please thought it could be holmfirth but not sure
Im looking for the advert where they say they have been working away in the antartic or something but they let the other pair go first as tay had been working away down south so need it more. . . anyone got it?
Anyone know who is doing the voiceover at the end of each ad?
does anyone know what the music is for all the early ads
if i mention Carling black label he gonna riot xD
I recognise Jane Freeman in these adverts.
Ivy from last of the summer wine did Gordon drawings ever do summer wine he d been great
The good old days ?
;His fishing caps missing
6:04 Anyone know who those two punk girls are, and if they've appeared in anything else since?
Hi David,
I don't suppose you are still in contact with John Webster?
If so, it would be really good to get in touch with him about his experiences working on these adverts.
Kind regards,
Justin
Proper factory brew. Non of this real ale beardy shite we have been bullied to drink nowadays. Bring back courage best , boddingtons etc
3 ferrets lol