Old National and Miami Area ADVERTISEMENTS - All Years - click on image to view Photo Gallery by Don Boyd at pbase.com

Old National and Miami Area ADVERTISEMENTS - All Years - click on image to view

Old advertisements bring back old memories of growing up down here in South Florida. Thanks to George W. Young for sending a large number of the images below.

For those of you who are new to computing and/or surfing the internet, this is just one page of many pages of photos on this site. The home page for our Old Hialeah/Old Miami galleries is at < https://pbase.com/donboyd/memories and all the oldie galleries spin off from that page. You can also click on the yellow colored >>Memories of Old Hialeah, Old Miami and Old South Florida Photo Galleries << at top of any page to get back to the main oldies page to search other galleries.

Old National Advertisements

Old LOCAL Advertisements in the MIAMI area

comment |

LoLo		17-Sep-2016 01:13
My sister used to look like that little girl in the ad. My dad used to tell her it was made for her because we had a little black dog at the time.

Don Boyd		14-Aug-2016 05:56
The link below is the Miami Herald story of Tommy Thompson's death and funeral service and his role in developing the new idea for Coppertone's ad campaign featuring the little girl and the dog. This article also cements my opinion that Robyn Porter was indeed the original model since Tommy's daughter was too young at the time. Hialeah commercial artist Pete Porter is mentioned as being the artist for the final ad and that he used his daughter Robyn for the final artwork: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/obituaries/article95422237.html Don .

Guest		13-Jan-2016 19:55
I remember this Advertisements...it was next to "El Refujio" Freedom Tower... where my family and I (brothers and sister) pick up our food and love the American Cheeseeeeeee and peanut butter....oh my it was sooooo good... love thus memories... I'm glad I find this link.... bring back lots of memories of my of Old Miami Town... came from cuba November 1965

Don Boyd		14-Dec-2015 18:40
Thank you for the information, Tom. I knew that Robyn worked at Florida Keys Electric but didn't know she dated your brother. Thank you for the information about J. N. Chamberlain being your great great grandfather. I'll note that on his photos that are on this site as I run across them. Don .

Guest		14-Dec-2015 08:11
Don robin porter works for fl.keys electric she dated my brother in 1969 pr so talked to her recently,also j.n.chamberlain photographer late 1800 is my great grand father tom chamberlain

Peter Sandler		03-Jun-2015 01:55
I went to school with Robyn and am on the same page with her in the DuPuis yearbook (Peter Sandler). I had been friends with her through the early years. Back then I heard the rumor that she was the Coppertone ad girl but all of us just ascribed it to her physical resemblance and didn't know whether to take it seriously. I never asked her about it because it seemed embarrassing at the time and we were all just little squirts. She was always very cute and very nice - see her Girl Scout uniform in that yearbook picture. It's funny that I have told that story about the rumor many times over the years when recalling my Hialeah days but until I saw the entries on this page I never really knew if the story was true. Thanks everyone! Now I can affirm that the story was historical fact!

Don Boyd		04-Nov-2014 03:11
Jodie Foster was born in 1962, about 10 or more years after the original Coppertone ads and billboards featuring the girl and the dog were introduced by Coppertone. She may have some involvement with the company in the mid-1960's but she was certainly not the original model. Don .

Guest		05-Oct-2014 01:54
I thought Jodi Foster (actress) was the child model for the Coppertone Ad at NW 42nd Ave (Lejeune Rd)???

Lydia Gail Flowers		08-Jul-2012 01:15
I remember the copper tone girl I thought the was nice. Many people of already born with a beautiful copper tone.. My daughters,Nefertiti and Lydia, both have copper tone colors :)

Guest		23-Jan-2012 02:48
My father, William Walton Fecht, took the original picture of the Coppertone Ad. It was my sister, who posed for the picture, with the dog pinned to her bathing suit. It was taken at the shores of Miami Beach. The agency, decided to use our dad's photo & turned it into a drawing. Also, it was in black and white, not in color. My mother, Gloria Fecht, was a model for Coronet Modeling Agency. My brother & two sisters would get modeling jobs through our mother.

Don Boyd		26-Jul-2011 05:42
Yes, Mary Anne C, under the DuPuis photo at:http://www.pbase.com/donboyd/image/114082660 I have a caption about Harry Casey Jr. being in the photo. But the majority of the discussions on this page are about the Coppertone girl (Robyn Porter, whose dad Pete Porter was the original artist) and that is why Harry Casey of K. C. and the Sunshine Band was not mentioned. Don

Mary Anne C		13-Mar-2011 04:06
Don, did you notice that Harry Casey Jr. (of K. C. and the Sunshine Band) was the first photos on the DuPuis Elementary page you linked to below? My dad worked with his dad at the Hialeah P. O. on E. 1st Ave. across from the home news.

Elviza		02-Jan-2011 21:14
Hi Don, Do you happen to have an original shot of the Don Bailey carpet ad- before they added underwear? I just realized that it was based on a 1972 Burt Reynolds Cosmo photo, which I had seen before but never connected the two. I just know I remember seeing those ads all throughout my childhood and then driving past one day and suddenly underwear had appeared.

robyn barnett		25-Aug-2010 16:01
Well...the kudos goes to the Artisit Pete Porter who did the work for Tally Embry Advertising and NBC Inside Edition did a commentary on it in Aug 1993. Robyn, her dad Pete Porter, and Joyce Balletine's daughter were on TV but credit was given to Joyce who refused to comment or be on the show. Why?? Makes you wonder..the original artisit was Pete Porter, Joyce did do a remake of the original but she should not get credit as the original artist. Thanks to all the people that knew Robyn and was part of her life...and thanks for this blog.

Guest		12-Apr-2010 03:40
I worked at Eastern Airlines up to March 89, and she(Robin) was a stock clerk in the tool/parts bin in the narrow body overhaul facility(bldg. 22.) I believe at the time, she was marrying a fellow mechanic, and yes, she was still cute as ever. Rob

gary		13-Mar-2010 09:02
I was told that Jimmy James design this ad in his garage and sold it to coppertone which allow him to go into the bus bench business and owned all the bus benches in dade and broward which gave him the name the bus bench baron. He also open Brothers night club on 36th st. and lejuene rd.

Dave		12-Feb-2010 03:22
I worked on nw 26 street and Lejeune rd in the seventies/early eighties. The Coppertone girl was right on 42 ave(LeJeune rd) so that passengers on arriving airlines could see it as they were about to land at MIA

Donna Jones Pope		07-Dec-2009 14:32
I knew Robin Porter in DuPuis elementary and remember going to her house and seeing a picture of that ad. She told me at that time that she was the girl in that picture. Her dad who was an artist was there and confirmed that she was the model for that picture.

Don Boyd		22-Jun-2009 04:19
Robyn Porter's sixth grade photo at DuPuis Elementary in Hialeah is now up at: http://www.pbase.com/donboyd/image/114082660

Guest		02-Dec-2008 19:56
Someone needs to correct WikiPedia. They have the wrong information about the original Coppertone girl. It was definitely Robin Porter. I went to Palm Springs Middle School with her in Hialeah in the 60's. I saw the original artwork that her father Pete designed. He told me himself. Robin was shy about it because she was teased by kids. I too would love to connect with Robin again, she was a cute girl and nice friend. I wonder if she's the same Robin Porter that works at Nautilus School in Miami Beach?

BetsyR		07-Sep-2008 19:23
The original little girl and pup were created in 1953 at Tally Embry Advertising agency in Miami. My husband worked there and was part of the team. I know it was that year as he returned North at Thanksgiving and did not go back to Florida and Tally Embry. The billboard (outdoor ad) was in 1959 and that artwork was supposedly done by Joyce Ballantyne Brand. It was "recreated" because the original illustration was lost in a fire. There was a contest to find a new illustrator for the billboard version and the above mentioned woman won. She did not "create" the ad as she, her daughter and others have stated in all sorts of media and the internet. See:http://www.mimoboulevard.org/index.php/news/Coppertone_Girl_Update

Danny		03-Jul-2008 11:26
I had the pleasure of being Pete Porter's neighbor. I remember all the stories he would tell me and going into his studio and seeing all the great works of art. I saw the original pictures for the coppertone girl with my house in the background. You could not find a more kinder and genuine person than Pete. I feel honored have known Pete and will always cherish the stories at the back fence where are yards met. I was sad when he died. I copied a few of his paintings from when he was in the war. They are just the best. I know he is painting great works of art in heaven,,,,,God Bless you Pete

Guest		17-Jun-2008 14:40
Jeff is correct. I'm Tally Embry's daughter and I can tell you for sure that my dad created the Coppertone ad you are speaking of and his artist was Pete Porter.

Jeff		19-May-2008 05:42
Ron... I can't believe how long it's taken for me to answer you... I knew about the Tally Embrey Advertising Agency because my late friend Al Eckhardt (of Allied Signs) did work for Embry over the years... The company that owned Coppertone was Plough, Inc. - however there's no guarantee that they still own the brand... Where Coppertone's original slogan was "Don't be a Paleface" and originally utilized a side view of an Indian chief in headdress for their logo, they added "Tan - don't burn - use Coppertone" in later campaigns. Solaircaine's slogan was: "For sunburn pain, there's Solarcaine"... The one that must have really been a sunburn problem was Lanotan [with lanolin]... Considering lanolin is an oil made from animal by-product [I believe it's sheep], that's like sitting inside a deep fryer after a day at the beach... Another Florida favorite (before we learned about the danger from UVA and UVB rays) was Sea and Ski...

Micael		09-Apr-2008 21:02
I just can't believe that I happened across this string by accident!!, but I CAN tell you (FOR SURE) that the Coppertone Girl in the add IS Robin Porter. She was my girlfriend (and my "1st" true love) when I was in the 10th grade in Hialeah. I also saw the original ad drawings and clippings at Robin's parent's house. They were framed and hanging in the hallway. Robin had actually never said anything about it until I saw the clippings and asked her about it. She said that she didn't tell me because she didn't want me to like her just because of the ad. ... No problem there,, because I was already infatuated by her, and yes,,, she made my tail wag too!! I use to tease her about the Coppertone thing all the time, and I still have awesome memories of our time together. I would love to know how (and where) Robin is today. Robin,, if you happen to see this,,, Remember "The Pink Panther"?? micster1@bellsouth.net Mic

Gotya		26-Mar-2008 16:44
Curtis G - So, what's your point?

CURTIS G.		09-Mar-2008 12:05
YES, THIS LITTLE GIRL IS ROBIN PORTER. I WAS MARRIED TO HER ONCE AND I SAW THE ACTUAL DRAWINGS ON RICE PAPER THAT HER FATHER, PETE PORTER, DREW OF HER AND HER DOG IN THEIR BACK YARD. PETE WORKED FOR THE ADVERTISING AGENCY BUT IT WAS DEFINITLY ROBIN. I VERFIED IT WHEN I PLAYED THE PART OF THE DOG!

s		20-Feb-2008 05:28
The girl in the Coppertone ad, we at Gables High knew, was Chris Embry, daughter of Embry...Last I saw her, believe it or not, she was wearing a cute brown A-line outfit and beret--the uniform of a National Airlines Stewardess. She was always nice, refined, charming, to all who knew her.

Lillll		09-Jan-2008 16:05
The person who tried to ban this add was ALICE WAINRIGHT (spelled name wrong), who was either a county or city commisioner at the time... I grew up in Miami & moved PSL six years ago. That woman put up a big ruckus over this add... Liz Perkins (Port St Lucie, Fl)

Guest		08-Jan-2008 23:06
I believe the Coppertone sign that was near the Howard Johnson on the way to the beach was removed due to complaints from people who found it offensive. Those people must be going crazy now considering what we see on billboards today.

Guest		04-Jan-2008 23:46
Many thanks for the Coppertone ad. I remember it for so many years. This brings back so many happy times with family in Miami Beach. Wish those times were still here. Helene

Guest		24-Dec-2007 11:32
I came to this country in 1959 from Cuba, lived at 14th avenue and 2nd street SW, graduated from Ada Merritt Jr. High in 1961 and Miami High in 1964. In 1965 worked at Coppertone on LeJeune and 20th street, moved to NYC and was back to Miami in 1972. This site brought back great memories of the Magic City.

RON LOFTIS		29-Oct-2007 15:37
Jeff, Where did you get your info on the tally embry agency? My step father, JOHN D. SWEET was the art director for E B ELLIOTT OUT DOOR ADV. IN THE EARLY 1950s HE DID THE EARLY WORK FOR COPPERTONE BEFORE THEY WERE BOUGHT OUT BUY THE CO. THAT OWNS THEM NOW .HE DID THE ORGINALOUT DOOR ADS FOR COPPERTONE AN SOLARCANE. I STILL HAVE THE ORGINAL SOLARCANE BABY PORTRATE HE BECAME THE TRADE MARK FOR SOLAR CANE ALSO RON

Jeff		22-Aug-2007 03:51
There's been plenty of speculation, assumption and false "heirs-to-the-throne" as to who the little girl was in the Coppertone ads. One thing is fact: The original ad campaign was conceived by the Tally Embry Advertising Agency. Tally Embry was also involved in aviation (Embry-Riddle School of Aviation) and auto sales (Tally Embry Ford). Tally Embry Ford was also know at various times as J.D. Ball Ford, Aldo Ford and Metro Ford...

Guest		23-Jul-2007 19:56
The little girl's name is Robin Porter and she graduated from HHS in 1969 when I did. Her father worked for an ad agency that put together this ad campaign. She got kidded a lot in school over this picture.

click on thumbnails for full image

Type your message and click Add Comment

It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest. Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help	private comment