I ask because this anecdote seems to be verbatim from the movie "Punch Drunk Love". Although the movie I mention was released in 2002: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0272338/
The film was inspired by an article in 'Time' magazine about David Phillips, a University of California civil engineer who stumbled upon a lucrative frequent-flyer promotion. By purchasing 12,150 cups of Healthy Choice pudding for just $3,000, he accumulated 1.25 million air-miles.
And let us not forget the Lazlo Hollyfeld from the 1985 classic The Real Genius (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089886/) who computerized his "no purchase necessary, enter as often as you like" way to millions in cash and prizes.
The short version: in 1975, at the dawn of the computer age, a group Caltech students used the school's IBM mainframe to print out 1.2 million entries to a McDonald's sweepstakes, stuffing them into the entry boxes at 98 separate restaurant locations. The students ended up winning 20% of the prizes, including a new car and $3000 worth of groceries.
(Actually, that was one of the many things that annoyed be about that film. When Adam Sandler was comparing all the different products to gain the miles, I yelled at the TV "Buy the freakin' puddings you moron." When he subsequently did, my wife looked at me like I was prescient; I made the mistake of telling her that element was based on a true story hence my foresight.)
The film was inspired by an article in 'Time' magazine about David Phillips, a University of California civil engineer who stumbled upon a lucrative frequent-flyer promotion. By purchasing 12,150 cups of Healthy Choice pudding for just $3,000, he accumulated 1.25 million air-miles.