[PW] Ancient Chinese Secret Re: ? TV Catchphrases (Quotation Query #635)

[Dayle Henshel]

A quick Google search pulled this up first try: 

The Calgon Ancient Chinese Secret Commercial

The most famous Calgon commercial is the "Calgon, take me away!" ad. Running a close second is the "Ancient Chinese Secret" commercial. Answers.com explains:

The other famous advertisement is the commercial for Calgon water softener. A Caucasian woman with an American accent asks "Mr. Lee" (who owns a laundry shop) how he gets her shirts so clean. He replies, with what appears to be a Chinese accent "Ancient Chinese secret." The scene changes to Mrs. Lee, who is in an adjoining room. Mrs. Lee is also ethnically Chinese, but she speaks English with a thoroughly American accent, and explains to the audience that her husband's "ancient Chinese secret" is that he uses Calgon water softener. Mrs. Lee ultimately gives the secret away by sticking her head into the front room where Mr. Lee and the customer are standing, and shouts "We need more Calgon!" To which the customer replies "Ancient, Chinese secret, huh!" This commercial is one also remembered by people many years after it has aired. It has been viewed by some groups as continuing a stereotype that all laundry services are run by Chinese immigrants, but it could equally be viewed as a satire of that stereotype. In addition, this commercial was parodied in the television series Arrested Development (the "Sword of Destiny" episode from season 2) and the movie Wayne's World 2. 

That commercial displayed a sensitivity and finesse that was way ahead of its time. I couldn't find the video, or even an image of the original commercial for that matter, but you can find the audio on this page. And here's the SNL parody of this commercial with Jackie Chan ("If you tell anybody about this.. you're dead man!")

http://www.tommcmahon.net/nostalgia/index.html
(scroll down the page a little more than 3/4 of the way down) - dated  6/21/06

-----Original Message-----
>From: Dayle Irwin <decatur68 at earthlink.net>
>Sent: Nov 30, 2006 2:24 AM
>>
>I had a patron question several years while working the reference desk.
>We all looked in advertising books, television histories, quotation books, etc. until
>we finally had to give it up.  There was not much internet to search then.  Perhaps this
>query can help me with this, because it is still driving me bonkers.
>What was the product advertised with the catchphrase
>"Ancient Chinese secret, huh?"  
>I remember everybody saying it; we all did.  But we could not remember
>the product, other than it was a laundry aid.
>Can anyone out there help?
>