[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYecfV3ubP8]
Apple’s Macintosh commercial that ran during the third quarter of Super Bowl XVIII has been heralded as one of the most memorable commercials of all time. Inspired by the George Orwell book of the same name, Apple’s “1984” commercial promised that the all-new Macintosh computer – which was to be introduced two days after the commercial’s airing – would show people “why 1984 won’t be like 1984.” It was considered by many to be a direct shot at IBM, which Apple considered to be selling bland, boring, uniform personal computers.
Though Steve Jobs loved the commercial, the story goes that when it was originally previewed for Apple’s board of directors, they all thought it was too dark and weird and none of them wanted to air it. Jobs offered to put up his own money for half of the airtime; Steve Wozniak apparently offered to put up the other half. The board eventually relented.
The ad ran nationally only one time — during its Super Bowl slot.
Fate: Apple’s line of Macintosh computers still exists today. The company itself is doing pretty well, too, believe it or not.