The Bangor Savings Bank Christmas kittens: the greatest holiday commercial ever made

[jpak]

http://hashtagmaine.bangordailynews.com/2014/12/10/youtube/the-bangor-savings-bank-christmas-kittens-the-greatest-holiday-commercial-ever-made/

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According to the BDN archives, these cute little fluffballs belonged to a woman named Barbara Harris, who loaned the kittens (named Willie and Waylon, little outlaws that they were) to the ad agency tasked with making a commercial for the bank. According to a Facebook post by Bangor Savings linking to the beloved ad, it was filmed in 1980. According to the person who uploaded the above YouTube video, Eric Jurgensen, who was the cameraman for the commercial, the concept was created by Maine ad man Jack Havey, who later took the kitties to his camp on Maranacook Lake. The kittens, who would now be 34 years old, are obviously not available for comment.

The ad ran for more than two decades until it was retired in 2006, since, despite it’s epic levels of cuteness, it’s pretty old-fashioned looking, and Bangor Savings Bank hasn’t called itself “The Source” for decades. Thanks to the magic of the Internet, however, those fuzzy little rascals can live on in perpetuity, and BSB has smartly brought the ad back each holiday season as a reminder that they made your childhood magical. And probably caused thousands of young Maine children over the years to beg, plead and otherwise manipulate their parents into getting them a kitten.

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[PoliticAverse]

1. I remember when banks gave out TVs for large deposits, I didn't know some banks gave out kittens. nt

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. I loved that commercial when I was a kid!

[jpak]

3. Me too

One Christmas when I was young, we had a litter of kittens that age that did some serious damage to the Christmas tree on Christmas morning.

It was hilarious...bad kitties!

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. I have an 18 pounder who bends the boughs on our fake tree, knocks

it over, then plays soccer with the ornaments. His little sister helps with that. Also, he chews on the strands of lights!

[jpak]

5. That's why I only have window lights this year.

They tore open their catnip presents already.

bad kitties...

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Ayuh. Hubby came home to feathers everywhere and Gizmo playing

with what was left of the toy!

[Fla Dem]

6. I was loving the commercial, then

after it was over read the comments. I then got a sad on to learn those precious kittens are no longer with us.

[shenmue]

8. I too has a sad

[jpak]

9. They are immortal to those that saw these commercials back in the day.

Snuggle your furbabies tonight.

[raven mad]

10. Love this!

Maine Coons are the best cats EVER (says this crazy cat lady who's had 4, only one still with us).