Although it did not have horses jumping fences, the series finale of the popular AMC show “Mad Men” had a steeplechase connection.
At the end a seven-year run, “Mad Men” principal character Don Draper is meditating on a hilltop and has the inspiration for Coca-Cola’s iconic 1971 “Hilltop” ad, featuring the song “I’d like to buy the world a Coke” and a cast of about 500.
In real life, the creator of the “Hilltop” ad was steeplechase owner and National Steeplechase Association regular member Bill Backer, then McCann Erickson’s creative director for the Coca-Cola account. He told the Wall Street Journal on Monday that he has been besieged by calls to his Virginia farm after the show ran. He discussed his inspiration and “Mad Men” with Slate’s Laura Bennett. Here’s the link:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2015/05/18/mad_men_finale_and_coke_an_interview_with_the_real_life_ad_man_who_created.html?wpsrc=slatest_newsletter&sid=5388f3e0dd52b8e411009912