250th Anniversary Drone Show in Boston

Great View of the Show

On April 18, 2025, Boston's skyline transformed into a canvas of light and history as 400 drones danced above the harbor, commemorating the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s legendary Midnight Ride. This breathtaking spectacle was a highlight of the city's Boston 250 celebrations, honoring its pivotal role in the American Revolution.

A Night Where History Took Flight

The evening's festivities began with a reenactment of Revere's departure from his North End home, followed by a lantern procession to Langone Park. There, attendees were treated to a performance by musicians from the Boston Pops and a reading of the play Revolution’s Edge. As anticipation built, the Old North Church's steeple illuminated with the historic "two if by sea" signal, echoing the warning that once alerted colonists of British troop movements.

The Drone Show: Illuminating the Past

At 8:30 p.m., the sky over Boston Harbor came alive. The drones formed intricate patterns and images, including a lantern, a rider on horseback, and the Old North Church, narrating the story of Revere's ride through light and motion. This innovative tribute captivated spectators across the city, from the North End to Charlestown and East Boston.

Reliving the Experience

For those who missed this historic event or wish to relive the magic, here’s a video capturing the essence of the drone show:

This visual journey offers a glimpse into how Boston masterfully blended tradition with technology, paying homage to its revolutionary roots while embracing the future.

Continuing the Celebration

The Boston 250 festivities continue throughout the year, with events planned to commemorate other significant milestones of the American Revolution. From reenactments to educational programs, the city invites everyone to participate in honoring its rich history.

Stay tuned for more updates and reflections as Boston continues to celebrate its enduring legacy of freedom and innovation.

Flashback to 2000: Commercials, News Intros & Tech Ads!

Classic Dot Com Commercials

Take a ride back to the year 2000 with this collection of TV clips and commercials that aired around the San Francisco Bay Area. From local news intros to quirky tech ads and political spots, this mashup captures the look, sound, and mood of the new millennium.

Clips featured in this compilation:

• KTVU Mornings on 2 Promo
• KTVU Evening News intro (August 5, 2000)
• Benihana – An experience at every table
• FusionOne – Sync is Everything (Guy on the Street)
• FusionOne – Sync is Everything (Lady in the Ocean)
• Inktomi Essentials – Makes the Internet come alive
• Prop 38 School Vouchers – Pro-voucher argument
• Prop 38 School Vouchers – Featuring Gov. Gray Davis
• Verizon Wireless – New Single Rate
• Verizon Wireless – Mobile Web Launch
• Ricochet – High-Speed Mobile Access
• New York Life – The Company You Keep through the years
• KSFO – Rush Limbaugh moves to the left side of the dial
• KSFO – Lee Rodgers & Melanie Morgan
• A&W Root Beer – It’s Good to Be Thick Headed

Whether you're here for nostalgia, advertising research, or just a blast from the past, this collection is sure to bring back memories of flip phones, dial-up internet, and early 2000s energy.

1999 Classic Commercials

From the 1999 Academy Awards (71st).

Assorted commercials from the 1999 Academy Awards (recorded from VHS). Please be aware that the video quality may be lower due to the age of the tape and potential wear.

Commercials from April 20, 1999

Commercials on MSNBC

Commercials from MSNBC Coverage (April 20, 1999)

• MSNBC - When you really want to know
• Nissan - Jerry Hirshberg Nissan's Chief Designer
• Kinko's - Police create a quick presentation to resolve a hostage crisis.
• 10-10-321 - Harry Anderson with his Accountant Brother
• American General Financial Group - Live the Life you imagine
• Searle - Sleep Solutions from Searle - A breakthrough approach to sleep therapy that can actually help you re-establish good sleep habits.
• ERA Real Estate - Always There for You.
• MSNBC - Way ahead of CNN
• AT&T - net.working
• National Business Employment Weekly - Help find you the next job.
• MSNBC - Prime Time Newscast Promo with Brian Williams
• Time & Again 2000
• Xerox - Today's Agenda the Information Age.
• Cadillac - Catera, think big
• AXA - Worry free income for life
• Ecco Domani - Wine to meet people
• Total Raisin Bran - Has all the essential ingredients guys need.
• Dannon - Fruit on the Bottom
• PureTouch - Don't carry water bottles up the stairs.
• Compaq - Better Answers
• Fidelity Investments - Featuring Peter Lynch, Telis Bertsekas and Christine Schaulat
• Nextel - Minutes are rounded to the nearest second.
• GoodYear - Remember that slogan??
• Lycos - Good Boy! Now fetch...

2000 Olympic Commercials

From my VHS Collection

Various commercials that were playing during the 2000 Olympics, found on a VHS tape in my collection.

Listing

• Sprite Commercial - Featuring the dream team on the cans
• Ameritrade - No tricky pricing, just $8 a trade
• AT&T - The blue is removed from the logo with the tagline Boundless
• Home Depot - The Games bring us together. The joy unites us.
• PopSecret - Introducing PopSecret with Extra Butter - Land O’ Lakes butter
• GMC Sierra - Featuring Smart Braking.
• Net Zero - Free Internet for everyone. Defender of the Free World.
• Lucent Technologies - How fast do you want to go on the Internet?

Watch the Commercials

Larry Anderson's JawDroppers: Relive the Magic of the Classic Infomercial

Learn about the iconic 2000s infomercial that taught easy magic tricks with everyday items.

Remember the late-night infomercials of the early 2000s? One that stands out is Larry Anderson's "JawDroppers." This series of instructional videos promised to teach anyone the secrets of performing mind-boggling magic tricks with everyday items.

In September 2000, these infomercials were in their prime, captivating viewers with the promise of mastering the art of illusion. Larry Anderson, a seasoned magician and Hollywood magic consultant, presented a friendly and accessible approach to learning magic. The appeal of "JawDroppers" lay in its focus on practical, easy-to-learn tricks that could be performed in any social setting.

Here's what made the "JawDroppers" infomercial memorable:

• Everyday Magic: The emphasis was on using ordinary objects, making the tricks relatable and achievable.
• Clear Instruction: Larry Anderson's teaching style was clear and concise, breaking down each trick into easy-to-follow steps.
• The Infomercial Vibe: The classic infomercial format, with its enthusiastic presentation and audience reactions, added to the entertainment value.

Essentially, it was a way for people to learn some really fun party tricks.

Watch the Video

September 22, 2000 Commericals

Lots of Commercial on a VHS Tape from the 2000s

Assorted commercials from September 22, 2000 from my VHS collection

• Will & Grace - promotion before the third season starts on October 12, 2000.
• COVAD - What would you do with faster Internet?
• Power Mac G4 Cube - Announced in July 2000. This is one of the early commercials on network TV.
• IBM Thinkpad - What can't you say about the IBM Thinkpad?
• Schick Xtreme III - Featuring Andre Agassi
• KTVU FOX 2 - The Original 10o'clock News Promotion with Dennis Richmond
• Nissan XTerra - Going off road is easy on the Nissan Xterra
• Ortega Skillet Fajitas - Easy way to make Fajitas.
• Toyota Tacoma - Featuring Steve Young going camping with pizza delivery guy.
• Levi's 569 - Loose Straight Jeans
• Verizon Wireless - Launching a new wireless company - started on April 4, 2000.
• Homedepot - featuring the Delta Faucets
• Gateway Computers - People have rights.

KRON-TV News on April 14, 1997

Sports and Circular File

Brief segment of the April 14, 1997 Sports and in the Circular File.

Sports Segment (April 14, 1997):

• Tim Wakefield and the Boston Red Sox defeated the Oakland A's at Fenway Park. Notably, there were no seats on the Green Monster at the time.
• Tiger Woods attended the opening of an All Star Cafe in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
• An interview with his Stanford golf coach revealed Woods practiced putting on the basketball court. (Donald Trump makes a brief appearence.)

Wildlife Segment:

• A brief feature on the rare blue lobster.

Circular File:

• Miloš Forman is considering directing a new film about Andy Kaufman.
• Introducing a new beer flavored with hemp seeds.
• New research involving monkeys.

More January 2001 Commercials

Last of the collection from a VHS tape

I was watching a VHS tape dated January 22, 2001, which contained six hours of recorded shows. While reviewing it, I discovered some great classic commercials worth sharing:

Now Playing

Featuring

• Hostess - Rino sees a Hostess Cupcake
• Heinz EZ Squirt - The mess on the guys car.
• The Jetta - Cool feature to open all the windows
• 1-800-Collect - Save a Buck or Two
• Suzanne Sommers - Ultra Track Workout machine.
• Ruffles - Bigger Ridges! Better for Dipping
• Michelob light - "That's why he put Michelob light in his resume."
• Today's Carnival - "We can shop"
• Jack in the Box - Liquid Sandwiches & You can't stop progress.

Rediscover Classic 2001 TV Commercials

A Nostalgic Look at Vintage Ads from a Lost VHS Tape

I recently watched a six-hour VHS tape from January 22, 2001, and discovered a treasure trove of classic commercials that bring back pure nostalgia. These vintage ads capture the essence of early 2000s television, from fast food favorites to tech innovations.

Here are some highlights from the tape:

• KRON News Morning Promo - A fun parody of Banana Boat (Day-O).
  
• KTVU 6 PM News Promo - KTVU's Best in the Nation TV promotion featuring Dennis Richmond.
  
• EarthLink Internet - "People used to think the world was flat… then came Magellan. Now it's your turn."
  
• AOL 6.0 - Featuring parental controls and legendary customer service. So easy to use, no wonder it's #1!
  
• Triscuit Commercial - "The perfect snack while waiting for pizza - 30 minutes or 3.5 hours in dog time!"
  
• Miller Time - Featuring the "In Your Dreams" Miller Time ad and the "Inappropriate Miller Time" commercial.
  
• XFL Promo on NBC - Real football, no limits. The XFL debuts on February 3rd!
  
• Jack in the Box - A hilarious fast food convention skit featuring Brad, the $25K per nugget consultant.
  
• Men's Wearhouse - Featuring the iconic George Zimmer: "You'll like the way you look. I guarantee it."

These commercials are a time capsule of early 2000s advertising, showcasing major brands and trends of the era. Do you remember seeing any of these on TV?