• March 30, 2011

The American Advertising Federation is inducting General Motors into the Advertising Hall of Fame Wednesday night during ceremonies in New York City. GM joins Procter & Gamble Co. as the only corporations selected in the federation's 62-year history.

GM advertising "firsts" include the first car song to make it big, "In My Merry Oldsmobile" Sponsorship of television programs including "The Dinah Shore Show" and "Bonanza"; sponsorship of a major sporting event, the PGA tour; sponsorship of an attraction at Walt Disney World, "Test Track presented by General Motors"; partnership with "The Oprah Winfrey Show" to give away 276 Pontiac G6 cars in one show; campaigns like "See the U.S.A. in Your Chevrolet" and "Like a Rock"; and branded entertainment programs like "Transformers."

"Throughout its storied history, GM has continually set new standards in advertising, promotion and marketing," said James Edmund Datri, president and CEO, American Advertising Federation.--Karl Greenberg