Mr Tomato Sandwich?
April 3, 2019 11:58 AM Subscribe
AFN Europe, late 70s/early 80s: Mr Tomato Sandwich? Or just Mandela Effect?
As a USAF kid in Germany for most of the 70s through '81, the weird PSAs AFN/AFRTS would show instead of commercials amused me.
I am *highly confident* that the string of PSAs with Darth Vader and a stormtrooper talking about life on Planet USA were real. No problem there. "Prejudice is something America can do without?" Sure that was real too, even though I can't find either on the intarwebz.
But the other day I mentioned to biscotti this other one, in which some serviceman was going to invest in Mr Tomato Sandwich, which for some reason was being hawked by Dan Aykroyd, and which was a cautionary tale about not investing in obvious scams. And... I find that I'm no longer sure that this existed, or whether I somehow confabulated this out of... something. The whole thing is just off-kilter enough that I Have Doubts.
Does anyone who was stationed or whose family was stationed in Germany/the European theater remember seeing this?
As a USAF kid in Germany for most of the 70s through '81, the weird PSAs AFN/AFRTS would show instead of commercials amused me.
I am *highly confident* that the string of PSAs with Darth Vader and a stormtrooper talking about life on Planet USA were real. No problem there. "Prejudice is something America can do without?" Sure that was real too, even though I can't find either on the intarwebz.
But the other day I mentioned to biscotti this other one, in which some serviceman was going to invest in Mr Tomato Sandwich, which for some reason was being hawked by Dan Aykroyd, and which was a cautionary tale about not investing in obvious scams. And... I find that I'm no longer sure that this existed, or whether I somehow confabulated this out of... something. The whole thing is just off-kilter enough that I Have Doubts.
Does anyone who was stationed or whose family was stationed in Germany/the European theater remember seeing this?
Best answer: "I still recall vividly a public service announcement from the Armed Forces Network (AFN) that was broadcast frequently in the 1980s on the U.S. military bases throughout Europe, where I was stationed. Its catchy rap-style tag line went, "Don't shop when you're hungry — no, no, no!""
(You're not the only one who remembers. Sadly, there's no Mr. Tomato Sandwich here in an AFN PSA compilation.)
posted by MonkeyToes at 1:52 PM on April 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
(You're not the only one who remembers. Sadly, there's no Mr. Tomato Sandwich here in an AFN PSA compilation.)
posted by MonkeyToes at 1:52 PM on April 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I'll take even one person remembering this as enough evidence that I haven't eaten all the crazy pills.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 4:52 AM on April 4, 2019
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 4:52 AM on April 4, 2019
YouTube turned up a surprising number of AFN/AFRTS command information spots, though most are later than you're looking for. This one is the first of a three-part compilation; might be worth looking through the videos posted by afrtsfan.
Interesting question. Dan Aykroyd has a Twitter presence, if you want to shoot him a "Settle a bet..." message.
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:48 AM on April 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
Interesting question. Dan Aykroyd has a Twitter presence, if you want to shoot him a "Settle a bet..." message.
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:48 AM on April 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
Thank you for asking this! I have been haunted by the memory of Gilda Radner as Emily Latela complaining about “truth in lending” on AFRTS but have found no evidence on You Tube.
posted by K0dama at 8:29 AM on April 4, 2019
posted by K0dama at 8:29 AM on April 4, 2019
Response by poster: I think I remember that one too, so you're at least in good company.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 11:12 AM on April 4, 2019
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 11:12 AM on April 4, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
I expect the number of mefites who remember late-70s/early-80s AFN is... weensy.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 1:29 PM on April 3, 2019