Vintage Broadway Commercials (50)

WHAT?!?! This commercial is better than Tim Burton's movie. Angela Lansbury 4eva.

We need a drag queen remake of this commercial. Shot-for-shot and wig-for-wig.

You think it can't get campier, and then you get a Baywatch joke. What a blessing!

Back when Lin-Manuel Miranda was just a promising youngster and not a global sensation.

From 1972!! Back when Grease was a new show that you had to explain to people via ads.

'Chicago' is a sexy show, but is this commercial? Maybe it was back then!

WHAT IS THIS? The plummy narration. The sexy dancing. Was everyone high?

It's great how they make you wait to see Carol Channing. Don't touch that dial!

This ad came out right after the film, and it clearly wants us to FORGET the film.

Zippy and cute, and those furs are everything.

This show is forgotten, but clearly, it needs a revival with RuPaul in the Eartha Kitt role.

Who is this smooth New York daddy doing the narration?

Honestly, these ads make the show seem pretty great.

These commercials are like a "Little House" marathon, and the singing is amazing. SOLD!

The "mom-and-dad disco" vibe makes this commercial better than Beethoven.

Why does the narrator hate on Evita at the end? She "only" seduced a country?!?! That's hard work!

There was a golden time in America when TV would show a 90 second ad with Jerry Orbach and tap da...

Fact: The wigs and dresses in this commercial launched several religions.

WHY DOES SHE SAY 'EXCUSE ME' AT :23?!?! Was that a mistake? An in-joke? The mind reels!

Yes, the Pulitzer-winning comic strip was adapted into a musical filled with satire, songs, and M...

This show doesn't tell you anything about the show, but Ellen Greene is serving it.

Look, it's Alfonso Ribeiro, BEFORE he played Carlton on "The Fresh Prince"!

Honestly, this show looks fabulous. Dancing, Gowns. A giant soup can. When's the revival comingl?!?!

Of all the roller skate musicals (The Rink, Xanadu, etc.), THIS one is the craziest. And that's s...

This commercial is amazing. We're not good enough for this show.

This is awesome, because it includes credits that are longer than the commercial itself.

According to this vintage ad, you can FINALLY get tickets to "Phantom"!

It's such a sexy ad that it's kind of surprising when they mention a murder. But that's the point...

Huh. You'd think Gregory Hines would've been in this commercial.

This ad is about how hard it is to get tickets, and then they don't show you a second of the show...

Without this musical, there would probably be no "Spring Awakening."

This ad seems generic until you get to Michael Damian's head bopping. Then it becomes legendary.

The Harlequin Romance realness is astonishing.

If you didn't know the story, this ad would make you think Big is about a giant piano.

This was on a VHS of "The Lion King II," and that little girl REALLY wants you to see the show. A...

This commercial LOVES a montage.

What a coy little ad! Peekaboo, we (almost) see you!

We should all pray for lighting as good as Harvey Fierstein's lighting.

This may be the best use of the word "bitch" in any commercial.

That narrator's voice is really gravelly, so you know he's cool.

This commercial is zippy and funny and rude, which is exactly right.

The subtext in all this production's advertising was "See Daniel Radcliffe naked!"

This play was good practice for Kerry Washington's work on "Scandal."

This is a reminder to watch the documentary film about this show. It's so good!

Man, this show was great. The ad is too -- stylish and a little dangerous.

Patti Murin is serving you so much pep, and it's exactly right.

That opening note from Audra makes this the best commercial of all time.

In 30 seconds, this ad communicates the aesthetic style of an unusual show, which is not easy!

You don't see ANY of the play, but this ad makes you understand the play's tone and story. Pretty...

Those puppets are so damned majestic!