Monday’s ad is another one for Guinness, this time from 1937. This is an odd little ad. A couple — who to my eyes look almost identical except for their clothing — had to stop while bicycling through the countryside. While he tried to fix the bike, she sensibly fixed lunch. Yet he seems chuffed that she’s not eager to share, even calling her lazy. Not a great date.
Sunday’s ad is still another one for Guinness, this time from 1957. Two fit couples relaxing at the beach with tomatoes, eggs, oranges and bread … and, of course, Guinness. But look in the background. What the hell is that blow-up horse?
Saturday’s ad is yet another one for Guinness, this time from 1953. Queen Elizabeth II was crowned queen in 1952 aftwer her father died, and the coronation was held in June of 1953. That same year, Guinness published this poster of trivia loosely related to the coronation and, of course, to Guinness. You could even send away for a free copy to hand on your wall.
Thursday’s ad is another one for Guinness, also from 1956. Presenting the “Guinness Guide To Steaks,” featuring seven different steak dishes, a few of which I’d never even heard of, meaning I either need to get out more or common steak dishes have changed a lot in the last sixty years since the ad was published.
Wednesday’s ad is for Guinness, from 1956. What a lovely story, 1950s style. “The Young Hostess made a lovely deep fry.” But it doesn’t end there, it just builds. Then “her husband brought home the Guinness.” And how did the story end? “Their guests had a perfect meal. And very nice, too!” I know I’m hungry, especially for those “crisp, crunchy chips!”
Tuesday’s ad is for the English brewer’s “Beer is Best” campaign, from 1949. The campaign began in 1933, and ran for 30 years, and this one included landlord “Fred Green” — whoever that is — who apparently greets every patron with a “good evening” and a “cheerful smile.” I definitely want to go to that pub.
Monday’s ad is another one for Guinness, from 1956. “Guinness! That’s Just What This Meal Was Needing.” Two couples are in the garden at a “cosy-looking pub” with a table of bread, cheese and fruit. One of the men — who reminds me a little of Matt Damon — got the first round and is delivering four pints of Guinness. I especially love this copy. “Nothing is added. Nothing is taken away. Every drop you drink is the real thing.” Are they going for Goldilocks or ripping off Coca-Cola thirteen years before Coke debuted “It’s the Real Thing.” Maybe Guinness should be suing them?
Sunday’s ad is for Guinness, from sometime in the 1940s. It’s more of a two-strip comic than an ad, and a relatively fun one at that. Cheap bastard. But at least the horse looks happy, and so does the man. I guess he’s smiling since he just saved himself 1/-.
Saturday’s ad is for Carlsberg, from 1955. This is the third one of these narrow Carlsberg ads from the same time using the tagline “The Call is for Carlsberg. Lager at its best!” The weird horn players are apparently a parody of the Luur Players statue in Denmark, although they claim it’s “famous” I couldn’t find any information about it on a quick search, not even that it just exists, so maybe they were trying to be funny.
Friday’s ad is for Guinness, from maybe the 1950s or early 1960s. The artwork has that “It’s a Small World” vibe, with the style of illustration and each couple wearing their authentic cultural costumes. Especially when you consider the American couple in their cowboy suits, big hats and a cigarette hanging from the dude’s unshaved face. Yeah, that’s how all Americans look. As I understand it, the world and his wife essentially means a lot of people, which makes sense in the context of the copy: “The World And His Wife Enjoy Guinness.” The phrase always reminds me of the Elvis Costello song The World and His Wife from the 1983 album “Punch the Clock.”
