Southern Maid Donuts - Elvis' only commercial
Posted by: Big B Bob
N 32° 28.830 W 093° 46.782
15S E 426738 N 3593965
Elvis did the only commercial of his life for any product on November 6, 1954, for Southern Maid Donuts, in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Waymark Code: WM3T94
Location: Louisiana, United States
Date Posted: 05/14/2008
Views: 6
Elvis’ association with Southern Maid Donuts started when he began regular
appearances on the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, LA in October 1954. Elvis
frequented The Southern Maid Donut store in town, getting an early foundation
for his well- publicized lifetime affinity for donuts.
Southern Maid Donuts began in Dallas, Texas in 1937, and the total of
company-owned and licensed stores now exceeds 100. The Southern Maid name came
about because the founders wanted a name that encompassed humble southern
traditions, memories, and feelings. The Louisiana Hayride was a perfect venue
for marketing their product, and Southern Maid Donuts provided large sponsorship
on the show’s radio broadcasts for several years. The radio spots featured a
strange little jingle that deserves some explanation.
One of Southern Maid Donuts claims to fame is the sign above their stores
with giant red neon letters lighting up the night sky - HOT, HOT, HOT. The
stores sell donuts, éclairs, bear claws, apple fritters and other goodies all
day long, starting at 6AM. But after 4PM, you can order a box of twelve glazed
donuts made especially for you and served to you piping hot. Southern Maid
Donuts have no preservatives. They are made to be eaten HOT, not saved for
later. Hot, light-textured donuts that literally melt in your mouth.
So, it follows that their radio jingle was: “You can get them piping hot
after 4PM, you can get them piping hot, Southern Maid Donuts hits the spot, you
can get them piping hot after 4PM.” A number of Louisiana Hayride performers
sang the jingle, including Minnie Pearl, Johnny Cash, and Johnny Horton. Elvis’
version aired on November 6, 1954.
To my knowledge, there is no remaining copy of Elvis singing the Southern
Maid Donut jingle. I wonder what that would be worth if it ever did surface. For
some reason, the Johnny Cash version of the jingle was preserved, and it can be
heard on the CD, The Best of the Louisiana Hayride, Volume 4.