Gunilla Knuttson (or is that Knudson?)
Ads for men’s shaving cream featuring beautiful women. Thanks to the ad men of Madison Avenue, that was the theme of an ongoing campaign for Noxzema.
From 1967 until 1973, the “Noxzema Girl,” as the models were referred to, was a woman (and 1961 “Miss Sweden) named Gunilla Knutsson, who urged male viewers to “Take it off… take it all off.” She was presumably referring to their facial hair. (For those searching her on the interweb, her last name also shows up as “Knudson,” “Knudsen” and “Knutson.” A not-very comprehensive listing of her screen credits appears on IMDB.)
In this 1967 spot, the model purrs, “Nothing takes it off like Noxzema Medicated Shave…” The ad is accompanied by the David Rose jazz instrumental, “The Stripper,” a #1 pop hit from 1962.
Related: 10 great 1960s instrumental hits
A few years later, Knuttson was paired for the campaign with a famous bachelor, Joe Namath, where she says, “Men… watch Joe Namath get creamed.”
Somehow, we don’t think that’s really her singing the updated theme song.
For Super Bowl VII in 1973, Namath was paired with future Charlie’s Angels star, Farrah Fawcett, for another edition of the campaign, with the phrase (and song), “Let Noxzema cream your face.” The model and actress would have been around 26; Broadway Joe just 29.
Fawcett was born February 2, 1947. She died from cancer at age 62 on June 25, 2009, the same day that Michael Jackson died. Joe Willie Namath—as Howard Cosell was fond of calling him—was born May 31, 1943. On January 12, 1969, after guaranteeing a victory, #12 did indeed lead the New York Jets to an upset win over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, a win that sealed his reputation as a football legend.
3 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationJoe Namath was the best when it came down to commercials and broadcasting. Happy Birthday to one of the Greats. Cheers Stick
Which is all the more upsetting as the only place one can get a can of Noxema is occasionally on eBay. For north of $100.00.
Walmart. carries Noxzema for 3.97 a jar…