Rewind: Young Christopher Reeve Sells $10 Dress Shirts in 1974 J.C. Penney Ad
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As J.C. Penney makes moves to overhaul its ad strategy and logo to refocus on its roots, it feels fitting to, for this edition of Ad Age Rewind, revisit the spots that aired during the retailer’s heyday in the 1970’s.
The department store was incorporated in 1913, named for its founder James Cash Penney. What began as a local presence in Wyoming and Utah expanded rapidly, with 1,000 locations around the country within 15 years. Some may not be aware that an early employee was Sam Walton of Walmart fame. Still, J.C. Penney’s peak didn’t come until the end of Mr. Penney’s life, with the launch of a catalog and broadening of merchandise to include auto parts, appliances and services like a photo center. As of 1973 it had more than 2,000 locations.
At about that time, J.C. Penney was prepping an ad blitz featuring a now very famous face. But back then he was just another young and handsome commercial actor.
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