Adland has pulled together a fascinating collection of Super Bowl commercials starting in 1969 with Super Bowl III. Take a look at some of the earlier years and you won't see a lot of ads breaking new ground in special effects.
You may experience a bit of nostalgia, though, watching a 1969 Schlitz ad featuring McLean Stevenson of MASH fame or Henry Winkler (pre-Fonz and sporting a mustache) in a 1973 Schick ad. You'll also see ads for regional businesses, like a 1983 ad featuring E.G. Marshal for Albany Savings Bank, "the most experienced savings bank in New York state." And there are a few ads you won't see today: Winston and Salem cigarettes, for example.
And let's not forget Apple's famous, big-budget 1984 ad, directed by Ridley Scott, that many say changed advertising. Incidentally, that year included tech ads from Atari, ComputerLand, IBM, and Radio Shack (does anyone remember Tandy computers?)This is a really fun and interesting look at 40 years of advertising history and American culture. Take a look and let's see how this year's ads stand against their roots.