Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Beer In Ads #3663: Billy Martin & Jim Shoulders For Miller Lite

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Wednesday’s ad is for “Miller Lite,” from 1981. This ad was made for the Miller Brewing Co., and was part of their long-running “Tastes Great!…Less Filling!” advertising campaign. It was created in 1973 by the McCann-Erickson Worldwide ad agency and was ranked by Advertising Age magazine as the eighth best advertising campaign in history. They were primarily television commercials but they did create print ads to support the TV spots. They began with a trend of using former athletes along with a few notable celebrities that continued throughout the campaign. This one features American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager Billy Martin and American professional rodeo cowboy and rancher Jim Shoulders.

Beer In Ads #3662: Mickey Spillane For Miller Lite

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Tuesday’s ad is for “Miller Lite,” from 1981. This ad was made for the Miller Brewing Co., and was part of their long-running “Tastes Great!…Less Filling!” advertising campaign. It was created in 1973 by the McCann-Erickson Worldwide ad agency and was ranked by Advertising Age magazine as the eighth best advertising campaign in history. They were primarily television commercials but they did create print ads to support the TV spots. They began with a trend of using former athletes along with a few notable celebrities that continued throughout the campaign. This one features American crime novelist Mickey Spillane, whose stories often featured his signature detective character, Mike Hammer. As it happens, today is Spillane’s birthday.

Beer In Ads #3661: Alexis Argüello & Billy Martin For Miller Lite

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Monday’s ad is for “Miller Lite,” from 1981. This ad was made for the Miller Brewing Co., and was part of their long-running “Tastes Great!…Less Filling!” advertising campaign. It was created in 1973 by the McCann-Erickson Worldwide ad agency and was ranked by Advertising Age magazine as the eighth best advertising campaign in history. They were primarily television commercials but they did create print ads to support the TV spots. They began with a trend of using former athletes along with a few notable celebrities that continued throughout the campaign. This one features Nicaraguan professional boxer, and later politician, Alexis Argüello and American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager Billy Martin.

Beer In Ads #3660: Howard Johnson For Miller Lite

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Sunday’s ad is for “Miller Lite,” from 1985. This ad was made for the Miller Brewing Co., and was part of their long-running “Tastes Great!…Less Filling!” advertising campaign. It was created in 1973 by the McCann-Erickson Worldwide ad agency and was ranked by Advertising Age magazine as the eighth best advertising campaign in history. They were primarily television commercials but they did create print ads to support the TV spots. They began with a trend of using former athletes along with a few notable celebrities that continued throughout the campaign. This one features jazz musician Howard Johnson, shown in the ad with a baritone saxophone.

Beer In Ads #3659: Lori Bowen For Miller Lite

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Saturday’s ad is for “Miller Lite,” from 1985. This ad was made for the Miller Brewing Co., and was part of their long-running “Tastes Great!…Less Filling!” advertising campaign. It was created in 1973 by the McCann-Erickson Worldwide ad agency and was ranked by Advertising Age magazine as the eighth best advertising campaign in history. They were primarily television commercials but they did create print ads to support the TV spots. They began with a trend of using former athletes along with a few notable celebrities that continued throughout the campaign. This one features female champion bodybuilder Lori Bowen.

Beer In Ads #3658: Dave Cowens & Bob Lanier For Miller Lite

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Friday’s ad is for “Miller Lite,” from 1986. This ad was made for the Miller Brewing Co., and was part of their long-running “Tastes Great!…Less Filling!” advertising campaign. It was created in 1973 by the McCann-Erickson Worldwide ad agency and was ranked by Advertising Age magazine as the eighth best advertising campaign in history. They were primarily television commercials but they did create print ads to support the TV spots. They began with a trend of using former athletes along with a few notable celebrities that continued throughout the campaign. This one features former Boston Celtics basketball player Dave Cowens and Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks basketball player Bob Lanier.

Beer In Ads #3657: Bob Uecker For Miller Lite

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Thursday’s ad is for “Miller Lite,” from 1982. This ad was made for the Miller Brewing Co., and was part of their long-running “Tastes Great!…Less Filling!” advertising campaign. It was created in 1973 by the McCann-Erickson Worldwide ad agency and was ranked by Advertising Age magazine as the eighth best advertising campaign in history. They were primarily television commercials but they did create print ads to support the TV spots. They began with a trend of using former athletes along with a few notable celebrities that continued throughout the campaign. This one features former Major League Baseball player and current sportscaster, comedian, and actor Bob Uecker, a.k.a. “Mr. Baseball.”

Beer In Ads #3656: Bubba Smith For Miller Lite

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Wedesday’s ad is for “Miller Lite,” from 1978. This ad was made for the Miller Brewing Co., and was part of their long-running “Tastes Great!…Less Filling!” advertising campaign. It was created in 1973 by the McCann-Erickson Worldwide ad agency and was ranked by Advertising Age magazine as the eighth best advertising campaign in history. They were primarily television commercials but they did create print ads to support the TV spots. They began with a trend of using former athletes along with a few notable celebrities that continued throughout the campaign. This one features former football defensive end Bubba Smith.

Beer In Ads #3655: John Madden For Miller Lite

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Tuesday’s ad is for “Miller Lite,” from 1985. This ad was made for the Miller Brewing Co., and was part of their long-running “Tastes Great!…Less Filling!” advertising campaign. It was created in 1973 by the McCann-Erickson Worldwide ad agency and was ranked by Advertising Age magazine as the eighth best advertising campaign in history. They were primarily television commercials but they did create print ads to support the TV spots. They began with a trend of using former athletes along with a few notable celebrities that continued throughout the campaign. This one features former football coach John Madden.

Beer In Ads #3654: Matt Snell For Miller Lite

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Monday’s ad is for “Miller Lite,” from 1978. This ad was made for the Miller Brewing Co., and was part of their long-running “Tastes Great!…Less Filling!” advertising campaign. It was created in 1973 by the McCann-Erickson Worldwide ad agency and was ranked by Advertising Age magazine as the eighth best advertising campaign in history. They were primarily television commercials but they did create print ads to support the TV spots. The very first one featured former New York Jets running back Matt Snell, which began the trend of using former athletes along with a few notable celebrities that continued throughout the campaign. While Snell was in the first TV spot, I couldn’t find a print one apart from this later one that ran in a college newspaper.

Below is the very first Miller Lite ad from the Taste Great, Less Filling campaign.