1984 Apple Computer Ad, January 22, 1984

There was little warning. The unhappy board members at Apple were insistent that the whole thing be killed without airing, thinking it best to forget the $800,000 spent producing the one minute commercial. Directed by Ridley Scott, the young director had just wrapped his futuristic epic Blade Runner and was teamed with advertising group Chiat/Day.

The concept was appropriate if risky. The new year brought a resurgence in George Orwell's classic novel 1984. Big Brother was on everyone's mind, but could it sell computers?

The atmosphere of the ad was dark and ominous. As a theater of mind controlled citizens stare and chant at Big Brother on a large screen, a lone runner in red gallops through the corridor, ultimately slinging a sledge hammer to the screen, destoying it. It aired just once on national television, during the Super Bowl, as a afterthought to burn the commercial while still getting some use from it; but, it began an institution. Commercials played during the Super Bowl have become as important to viewers as the game. The commercial put Apple on the map as well as creative director Lee Clow, who was responsible for this and the later Energizer Bunny and Taco Bell chihuahua campaigns.

Like A Virgin, September 14, 1984

By 1985, MTV had revolutionized the music industry. Video had killed the radio star, and, naturally, MTV decided it was time to hand out some awards. The first MTV Video Music Awards was hosted by Bette Midler and Dan Ackroyd, setting the tone that this was not your parents' Grammy show, but a youthful celebration of everything edgy, decadent, and dangerous. It was a perfect fit for their "virgin" broadcast that newcomer Madonna debut her single from her second album.

On September 14, 1984, fans and video artist filled New York City's Radio City Music Hall to watch rock stars David Bowie, Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper inaugarate the latest incarnation of Hollywood self-indulgence. Catching everyone by surprise, however, was the relatively new star, Madonna.

Rising from the stage on a giant wedding cake, a fully-veiled Madonna launched into "Like a Virgin" in full wedding attire and a "Boy Toy" belt buckle. As she stripped her wedding veil, Madonna introduced herself to the world as true performance artist. By the song's end, Madonna was literally writhing and grinding on the stage floor. Audiences at home and in the auditorium went wild, and the performance catapulted Madonna into the stratosphere. Not since Elvis had a television performance caught America so off-guard. It would hardly be the last time that Madonna would push the envelope and stir up controversy.