Why isn't this line moving?

April 16, 2008 4:03 PM

Does anyone remember this traumatizing medical foundation advertisement from the '80s?

When I was a kid there was this ad (possibly a psa) for some medical foundation (I think) that involved a lot of people standing in a long line that didn't move. The ad implied that all of these people were waiting for treatment for this incurable disease, and would be waiting in line forever. I don't remember what the disease was. There was a wide variety of people, and there were kids who kept poking their heads to one side, as if they were checking to see if the line was moving.

This thing gave me nightmares for years, being one of the people eternally standing in line. Around this time, I also began my path to hypochondria.

I saw it in central IL, early-to-mid '80s. I don't think it was AIDS, some part of me thinks it was MS.

If anybody knows what I'm talking about, and can find it on YouTube, I'd like to see it again.

posted by hwyengr to health (2 comments total)

Sounds like a anti-socialized medicine campaign ad. But I don't remember it.

It wasn't a Wendy's "where's the beef" ad, was it?
posted by gjc at 6:30 PM on April 16

A wide variety of people, including kids, waiting on line eternally makes me think it might have been a PSA encouraging organ donation....
posted by ROTFL at 7:27 PM on April 16