Here are a handful of late 1950s/early 1960s animated TV commercials for such diverse products as pretzels, underarm deodorant, children’s cereal, Lucky Strike cigarettes and Beechnut chewing gum. The last mentioned features a nifty jazz score and the others are all witty and interestingly drawn. We’re beyond the lush and complex animation styles of the 30s and 40s and are beginning to lean into the more abstract, stripped-down style which would soon lead us to (gasp) Hannah-Barbara. Commericials are, for me, one of the best ways to grasp a particular time in our culture and America is still a happy and good-humored nation when these were made. Either that or everyone was on lot of Martini’s and pills and didn’t know any better. It’s probably the latter…