“The Cannon’s Name is Johnny Reb”

Published: March 11, 2017 12 comments

I assume this commercial for Remco’s Civil War cannon is from the centennial. Any of you out there own one and, if so, did it really get you the girl? I have my doubts.

[Uploaded to YouTube on March 10, 2017]

About the author: Thank you for taking the time to read this post. What next? Scroll down and join the discussion in the comments section. Looking for more Civil War content? You can follow me on Twitter. Check out my forthcoming book, Searching For Black Confederates: The Civil War’s Most Persistent Myth, which is the first book-length analysis of the black Confederate myth ever published. Pre-order your copy today.

12 comments… add one
  • Christian McWhirter Mar 11, 2017 @ 5:37

    Fun fact: I met my wife my firing a Confederate cannon at her. I suspect many of you have similar stories.

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    • Kevin Levin Mar 11, 2017 @ 5:44

      I assume you weren’t the same age as the kids in the commercials. 🙂

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  • Meg Groeling Mar 11, 2017 @ 8:47

    Gotta love the little nurse in her whites & cap!

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  • Andy Hall Mar 11, 2017 @ 9:06

    At twelve bucks, that was not a cheap toy (via measuringworth.com):

    Current data is only available till 2015. In 2015, the relative price worth of $11.98 from 1961 is:
    $94.90 using the Consumer Price Index
    $74.60 using the GDP deflator

    Current data is only available till 2015. In 2015, the relative amount consumers spend worth of $11.98 from 1961 is:
    $119.00 using the value of consumer bundle

    Current data is only available till 2015. In 2015, the relative wage or income worth of $11.98 from 1961 is:
    $109.00 using the unskilled wage
    $141.00 using the Production Worker Compensation
    $219.00 using the nominal GDP per capita

    Current data is only available till 2015. In 2015, the relative output worth of $11.98 from 1961 is:
    $384.00 using the relative share of GDP

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  • James Owen Mar 11, 2017 @ 16:37

    LoL! Looks like fun!

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  • David Tatum Jr Mar 12, 2017 @ 3:57

    I had one, I gave it to my grandson. Gotta protect the home front !

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    • David Tatum Jr Mar 12, 2017 @ 5:07

      Mr. Tatum,

      I don’t mind approving a harmless comment, but please don’t expect me to approve a link to your website on which you have trashed me in the past.

      CWM

      Reply Link
  • Neil Hamilton Mar 12, 2017 @ 17:52

    I had one too, but I renamed mine Billy Yank!

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  • hankc9174 Mar 13, 2017 @ 4:26

    also from the 60’s: I wonder how many eyes were put out by that cannon.

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  • bob carey Mar 13, 2017 @ 16:29

    I wonder why there weren’t any Black Confederate cannoneers portrayed in the commercial, Kevin maybe you can research this oversight on the part of Remco.
    BTW I am old enough to remember this toy and the commercial.

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  • Pete Oct 1, 2017 @ 20:43

    Well I just bought one of these with 4 plastic cannonballs and in working condition for $7 at the local Goodwill. It does shoot the cannonball around 30 plus feet!

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  • William McDougald Nov 22, 2019 @ 3:59

    Just picked one up in great condition, complete, nice box, with the HTF vinyl battle flag. It’s a chick magnet today just like it was in 1961.Oiled up the firing mechanism and it’ll shoot the cannon balls 35 feet, it’s brutal at close range and will leave a mark.

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