VICTOR STREDICKE – April 20, 1988
The sales and management folk at radio stations honored the folks who pay the bills _ advertisers _ at the third annual Soundies Awards last night at the Seattle Sheraton Hotel.
Ten one-minute commercials were honored from a list of 48 nominees heard on Seattle stations.
In a category for best presentation by an announcer, a fast-talker extolled banking at PeoplesBank. The agency was Elgin Syferd.
Copywriters write the commercials, and Jock Blaney and Tracy Schakohl, copywriters, won in this category for a Wendy’s commercial featuring an argument over hamburgers by two British blokes.
The same Wendy’s Restaurants commercial won for an ad “conceived and produced by a radio station.” The station was KPLZ.
A board meeting on “average airlines” won for humor. The sponsor was Alaska Airlines. The agency was Livingston & Co.
For the best use of sound in a commercial, a slamming jail door, titled “Rat on a Rat,” won for the Washington Bankers Association. The agency was Ehrig and Associates.
A Beefy Boy baritone extolling Dag’s Restaurants won for best use of music. Production company was KOMO Radio.
A pseudo-Ricardo Montalban sold “Puerto Seattle” and other local destinations for San Juan Airlines. This Steve Glade & Associates’ project was named the best campaign.
For public service, a conversation between an employer and a disabled worker was devised for the Developmental Disability Planning Council.
Drawing attention to the money that can be spent in developing these arresting one-minute commercial, a category called “From Under $1,000,” brought a winning do-it-yourself jingle by a Pizza Haven executive. The agency was Borders, Perin and Norrander.
And in a concluding indulgence in self-promotion, a spot for “radio self-promotion” was won by KZOK. Mark Edwards was creative director. The station’s own “commercial” used split-second snatches of classic rock songs to point up how quickly a discerning listener could know which station he was listening to.
Ken Boyington, a Seattle comic now working out of Los Angeles, was moderator.
Former radio columnist for the Seattle Times (1964-1989).
— View other articles by Victor Stredicke
