I swear, sometimes I think they’re doing it on purpose.
21 Comments
Certainly before my time, I had to Google it.
This was huge when I was a kid (10 in 1978) and where I learned of the existence of Orson Welles. Also, I believe, a Nostradamus doc he narrated around this time.
At least the costuming is period-accurate (1915).
But technically it’s Paul Masson who coined the phrase; Orson Welles was just the famous voice paid to say it.
I imagine those of us in our early 50s are the youngest ones who would get it. And of course it’s really not the first association I’d make with his name.
I don’t like this comic because it’s tough on the eye. You see, this is a very wearying one, it’s unpleasant to read. Unrewarding.
Welles acknowledged in the commercial that Paul Masson said it himself. I almost wonder if it should have been Paul Masson in the carriage as a baby. The name is certainly less known, but those who do know it likely associate it with wine and the commercial.
A hi-fi store near Boston did its own local TV commercial. The owner of the store was large and had an Orson Welles-worthy beard.
He appears sitting at a table with a glass of wine. “I will sell no stereo component before its time.”
An alarm clock goes off. He stands up, excited, and says “IT’S TIME!”
Hate to think there’d be anyone who knows Orson Welles primarily for those commercials. (First hearing of him when you were twelve is okay because presumably you soon learn who he *really* is.)
woozy, there might be even more people who know him primarily as the actor The Brain’s voice is based on.
He was in Casino Royale!
I’m not sure I’d ever heard of, let alone seen, the ad – but the line endures. Not sure I’d have associated Orson Welles with it either, but when I see the name associated with the line it’s an “Oh, right” feeling.
Oh, and when I saw your title, Bill, my first thought was “You mean 1878, right?” (for the clothes).
Orson Welles was born May 6, 1915, and I think the ladies’ clothes seem a bit early for that. (Nitpicking to be sure.)
What I first knew about him was the War of The Worlds broadcast. And as a result did not for quite a while distinguish him from H.G. Wells.
At this point Orson Welles is probably most famous for his “frozen peas” outtakes: https://youtu.be/tyko_oQ0da8 .
This was made into a Pinky and The Brain episode, which I saw on network television long before I knew of the Orson Welles clip.
Wait, what did he offer to do there if someone could explain the correct emphasis?
At this point, since it’s been such a long time since the wine and his whine, Welles is probably most famous for Citizen Kane and War of the Worlds again: these, after all, aren’t Geezer references.
@MiB: same here. Thank you: this is hilarious.
“Wait, what did he offer to do there if someone could explain the correct emphasis?”
The Brain offered to make cheese for him.
He was also the narrator of the wonderfully historically accurate (not really at all) film about the French Revolution – “Start the Revolution without Me” – a comedy.
And here is a callout to The War of the Worlds broadcast.
Comics I Don't Understand 
Certainly before my time, I had to Google it.
This was huge when I was a kid (10 in 1978) and where I learned of the existence of Orson Welles. Also, I believe, a Nostradamus doc he narrated around this time.
At least the costuming is period-accurate (1915).
But technically it’s Paul Masson who coined the phrase; Orson Welles was just the famous voice paid to say it.
I imagine those of us in our early 50s are the youngest ones who would get it. And of course it’s really not the first association I’d make with his name.
I don’t like this comic because it’s tough on the eye. You see, this is a very wearying one, it’s unpleasant to read. Unrewarding.
Welles acknowledged in the commercial that Paul Masson said it himself. I almost wonder if it should have been Paul Masson in the carriage as a baby. The name is certainly less known, but those who do know it likely associate it with wine and the commercial.
A hi-fi store near Boston did its own local TV commercial. The owner of the store was large and had an Orson Welles-worthy beard.
He appears sitting at a table with a glass of wine. “I will sell no stereo component before its time.”
An alarm clock goes off. He stands up, excited, and says “IT’S TIME!”
Hate to think there’d be anyone who knows Orson Welles primarily for those commercials. (First hearing of him when you were twelve is okay because presumably you soon learn who he *really* is.)
woozy, there might be even more people who know him primarily as the actor The Brain’s voice is based on.
He was in Casino Royale!
I’m not sure I’d ever heard of, let alone seen, the ad – but the line endures. Not sure I’d have associated Orson Welles with it either, but when I see the name associated with the line it’s an “Oh, right” feeling.
Oh, and when I saw your title, Bill, my first thought was “You mean 1878, right?” (for the clothes).
Orson Welles was born May 6, 1915, and I think the ladies’ clothes seem a bit early for that. (Nitpicking to be sure.)
What I first knew about him was the War of The Worlds broadcast. And as a result did not for quite a while distinguish him from H.G. Wells.
At this point Orson Welles is probably most famous for his “frozen peas” outtakes: https://youtu.be/tyko_oQ0da8 .
This was made into a Pinky and The Brain episode, which I saw on network television long before I knew of the Orson Welles clip.
Wait, what did he offer to do there if someone could explain the correct emphasis?
At this point, since it’s been such a long time since the wine and his whine, Welles is probably most famous for Citizen Kane and War of the Worlds again: these, after all, aren’t Geezer references.
@MiB: same here. Thank you: this is hilarious.
“Wait, what did he offer to do there if someone could explain the correct emphasis?”
The Brain offered to make cheese for him.
He was also the narrator of the wonderfully historically accurate (not really at all) film about the French Revolution – “Start the Revolution without Me” – a comedy.
And here is a callout to The War of the Worlds broadcast.