Wednesday’s ad is for Falstaff, from some time in the late 1940s or 50s, I’m guessing. I think it’s most likely the original artwork for ad ad, and it’s signed by the well-known illustrator J.F. Kernan, who passed away in 1958. Kernan was also known for his many Saturday Evening Post covers, similar to Norman Rockwell. This one shows a hunter out in the woods, reaching for his rifle, which was resting on top of a case of Falstaff beer, as a deer runs by in the background.
Tuesday’s ad is for Molson, from 1957. The Canadian ad shows two couples watching sports on television — because it’s Canada they’re watching hockey, of course. With the “complete’s the picture” tagline, part of the ad is framed, so that one of the men can reach his long arm through that frame to reach for another bottle of Molson.
Monday’s ad is for Schlitz, from 1961. Showing a woman wearing too much makeup, and a party dress, lying in a hammock with a mug of beer, with a curious rhombohedron drawn around the can of Schlitz. I”m not even sure why.
Friday’s ad is for the Columbia Brewing Co. of St. Louis, Missouri, from 1896. I love these old 19th century ads that were such artistic marvels. It’s hard not to love such patriotic posturing, trying to rule the world of beer.
Thursday’s ad is for the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association, from the 1890s. I love these old 19th century ads that were such artistic marvels. Though I confess I’m not sure why there’s a baby about to fall, but who’s still hanging on to their empty glass.
Wednesday’s ad is for Schafer, from 1948. Yesterday, Porter and I just watched Blazing Saddles — me for the umpteenth time and Porter for the very first time — so a Hedy Lamarr (“that’s Hedley!“) seemed the perfect ad for the day.
Last Thursday, I helped the San Francisco Brewers Guild put together a fun event at the Old Mint with Flipside and the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society called Hops and History. My part during the event included being the moderator of a panel discussion about opening and running a brewery in the city of San Francisco.
Shaun O’Sullivan (21st Amendment), Shaun’s son Ryan, Dave McLean (magnolia), Keith Greggor (Anchor) and me. Below is the audio of our discussion.
One of my favorite parts of the evening was a gallery showing of local breweriana, provided by my friend Ken Harootunian, along with some pieces from Anchor Brewing and some labels from SF Brewers Guild executive director Brian Stechschulte.
Below are a few highlights from the gallery:
The gallery room.
Acme Beer.
Steam Beer wooden sign.
More Acme Beer artifacts.
The original artwork from a Lucky Lager ad.
Items from Rainier, Lucky Lager and Regal Pale Beer.
Lucky Lager. Ice Cold.
An old, pre-Prohibition, wooden keg and taps from Anchor, along with some additional steam beer artifacts.
Another Acme pin-up ad.
Tuesday’s ad is for Miller High Life, from 1949. The scene in the ad depicts a ceremonial burning of the mortgage — presumably because it’s now paid off and not in protest — with the assembled party goers toasting the event with beer, and making the comparison to champagne that Miller continually advanced as its selling point. It’s funny to think that there was a time when people actually paid off their mortgages in full and owned their homes outright, but it happened. It was even relatively common enough back then that it could be used in a beer ad. But when’s the last time you heard of that happening recently?
Monday’s ad is for Schlitz, from 1951. It’s an odd ad, showing “the little “extras’ that make Schlitz the best-liked beer in history,” a claim that’s awfully hard to prove. But those extras? Those are easier. It’2 1) extra clarity, 2) extra freshness, and 3) that extra clean taste.
Friday’s ad is for Blatz Beer, from 1953. Oddly, showing the evolution of bowling, equating that to the march of progress. In “modern times,” the bowlers of Milwaukee all drink Blatz, apparently. I love the red belt and red argyle socks that the “modern” man is wearing. Now that’s a modern outfit.
