Thursday’s ad is for Japanese beer, possibly Nippon Beer, and is from around the 1950s, give or take. It’s always great seeing Santa Claus holding an armful of beer bottles, but what on earth is that unholy orange soda doing there?
Jay R. Brooks on Beer
Isn’t that the classic Santa Claus image from Coca-Cola?
Looks to be a direct swipe from this Coke ad on the back of a 1950s National Geographic magazine:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1950-Coca-Cola-Christmas-Vintage-Coke-Bottle-Santa-Claus-Classic-1950s-Ad-/291024999802
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sManOWdqtaQ/UaLOO0v-AaI/AAAAAAAAW3U/C-T-2D2rcXc/s1600/1950s%20Santa%20Claus%20Christmas%20Vintage%20Coca%20Cola%20Advertisement%20From%20National%20Geographic%20Back%20Page%2061.JPG
also same image, different ad reprinted in http://www.ajc.com/photo/business/are-the-cola-wars-back-coke-icon-santa-orders-a-pe/pcP7X/