Thursday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1908, when it appears they launched a number of historically themed ads. This one features our 7th president, Andrew Jackson, and equates him with “Liquid Life,” “The National Drink of America.”
Monday’s ad is from the long-running “Where there’s Life …” series for Budweiser, this one from the mid-1950s, I believe. They did few ads of this type, with scene shown through a full glass of beer, and in this one it’s square dancing. Yee haw.
Saturday’s ad is the last (that I know of) in the Budweiser historical series from 1908. The black and white ad is text-heavy and includes a history lesson on James Monroe, our fifth president and the architect of the Monroe Doctrine. After the requisite historical bit, it launches into this priceless series of claims:
WHEN old Mother Earth grows better malting barley than northern soil produces —
WHEN the fertile valleys and verdant mountain slopes of Old Bohemia grow better hops —
WHEN natures produces better and purer waters —
WHEN brew-science has been developed to a higher art —
THEN, and not till then, will it be possible to produce a better beer than Budweiser.
Good luck with that.
Friday’s ad is another in the Budweiser historical series from 1908. The black and white ad is text-heavy and includes a history lesson on John Adams, our second president and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The ad makes the curious appeal that any dealer who carries Budweiser will realize less profits than selling other beers. Why? “Because it costs more money at the brewery than any other beer made. A royal brew of malt and hops whose absolute sovereignty has never been challenged.” Interesting strategy. One other anachronistic feature of advertising a century ago. The advert ran in a publication called Pearson’s Advertiser. At the very bottom of the page it includes this gem. “You will confer a favor by mentioning PEARSON’S when you write to advertisers.”
Thursday’s ad is another in the Budweiser historical series from 1908. The black and white ad is text-heavy and includes a history lesson on William Penn, who founded the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. After discussing Penn, the ad copy switches to hops. “Lupulin has created a stir in the medical world because of its great Tonic properties for stomach disorders. It is found in the highest and most effective form in Saazer Hops, grown in the province of Saaz, Bohemia. The Anheuser Busch Brewing Ass’n, St. Louis, U.S.A. import more of these hops than all other breweries in the United States, and use them exclusively in their famous Budweiser.” Anybody know if ABI still uses an Saaz — er, Saazer — hops? I know they own hopfields in the Hallertau (I’ve been to those) and also in Idaho (ditto), but in the Czech Republic?
Wednesday’s ad is another in the Budweiser historical series from 1908. The black and white ad is text-heavy and includes a history lesson on James Madison, our fourth president and one of the architects of the Constitution, often referred to as the “father of the Constitution.” It ends with some terrifically jingoistic ad copy. “The drink that delights your palate and aids the digestion of your food. Drink the drink of your forefathers; the drink of the nobelst men that ever lived; the drink of the great triumphant nations; the pure, nourishing and refreshing juices of American barley fields; the home drink of all civilized nations.” Are you feeling thirty and patriotic yet?
Tuesday’s ad is another old one for Budweiser, also from 1908. The black and white ad is text-heavy and includes a history lesson on Otto von Bismarck, though I doubt the ad would have run after World War I. This was just a few years before anti-German sentiment peaked because of the war, and so many of the successful breweries in America were started by German immigrants, and Anheuser-Busch was no exception. But they loved him. “Like all Germans he believed in good eating and drinking, hence the juices of malt and hops were never absent from his table.”
Monday’s ad is an old one for Budweiser, from the 1908. The black and white ad is text-heavy and includes a history lesson on Washington, along with this beautiful ad copy. “It shines like liquid gold — it sparkles like amber dew — it quickens with life — a right lusty beer — brewed conscientiously for over fifty years from barley and hops only.” But they’re not done yet. “It prolongs youth and preserves physical charm — giving strength to muscle, mind and bone — a right royal beverage for the home.”
Tuesday’s election day ad is for Budweiser, from 1952. But the stubborn postures and acrimonious stares on the two political mascots are as recognizable today as they apparently were sixty years ago. Even though politics seem more divisive today than ever before, maybe there were always this bad? I don’t know if Budweiser has the power to get us all together, but perhaps craft beer?
The same artwork was also used in another ad, with a different headline, “Keep Cool.” Given that the two political mascots are sitting on a block of ice, it seems likely that this may have actually been the earlier or original ad.
Wednesday’s ad is for Budweiser, another Halloween ad from the 1950s or early 60s. This one’s part of A-B’s “where there’s life … there’s Bud” series. Showing the makings of a Halloween party, with loads of cheese on plates, and a can of Bud being poured into a glass. The expression of the woman watching the beer is pretty funny, along with the tagline. “Say cheese. Or anything else good to eat.”
