Friday’s ad is by the Brewing Industry Foundation, from 1944, part of a series of ads the beer industry undertook during World War 2 under the title “Morale is a Lot of Little Things.” It was one of the first concerted efforts by the brewing industry after they were getting back on their feet after prohibition finally ended around a decade before. The series tried to show support for the troops and help with morale at home. And it must have worked, because the campaign won awards at the time. In this ad, a U.S. Marine is writing a letter home, reminiscing about the little things he was missing from home, like a hammock in the orchard, Mom’s bean suppers — again? — and teaching Mary how to hit a baseball with a bat. Oh, and “a refreshing glass of beer.”
