It's a cherished historical chestnut now, but when Converse had NBA stars rap to promote their new "Weapons," it changed the game.

Soap star Peter Bergman is also known for this one line in a Vicks Formula 44 commercial from four decades ago.

Television commercials from the 1980s and 1990s weren’t just advertising breaks – they were miniature cultural phenomena that shaped our memories and influenced popular culture. These brief snippets ...