Wednesday’s ad is another one for Schlitz, from 1956. The beautiful illustration is by Haddon Sundblom, who’s most famous for his depiction of Santa Claus for Coca-Cola, which pretty much set the standard for how we think of him today, in red and white, not coincidentally Coke’s colors, too. In this ad, a young couple looks like they’re having a romantic lunch date, holding hands as the order. But while the young woman is staring longingly at her date, he’s eying the beer that;s just arrived at the table. There’s only one beer on the tray, so presumably it’s for him. I predict this relationship will fail, if she won’t join him for a beer.
