Friday’s ad is for Ballantine, from 1947. In the background the three Ballantine rings are being used to play horseshoes, while in the foreground a man who’s a dead ringer for Will Rogers in a bow tie is reaching out for a beer. The tagline, “I’ll take Ballantine Ale,” neatly works as both slogan and as a description of what’s going on in the ad.
Thursday’s ad is also for Budweiser, from 1956. Anheuser-Busch did a few of these ads, with a scene shown through a glass of beer. This one appears to be a musical rehearsal or party where the attendees are singing a lot. It uses the “Where there’s Life … there’s Budweiser” slogan that was popular in the Fifties, but I love the tagline at the bottom best of all. “Treat Yourself A Little Better….”
Wednesday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1951. With the tagline “Something more than Beer” followed by “… a mark of good taste,” a couple is apparently unwrapping wedding gifts. The expression on the woman’s face is priceless as she looks over a statue she’s just opened, while her new hubby arrives to rescue her with a tray of beers and snacks.
Tuesday’s ad is for Blatz, from 1953. Apparently Milwaukee in olden days had Sousaphone players wearing Lederhosen serenading restaurant diners but nowadays, thanks to Blatz, it’s a violinist. I’m sure I’m in the minority here, but I actually love a good oompah band. I also have to wonder. How did they fill two pilsner glasses with only one bottle of beer?
Monday’s ad is for the Barley and Malt Institute, from 1959. It appears that the now-defunct trade group for barley growers ran these ads for just a couple of years and that was it. Perhaps they decided they weren’t worth it or they didn’t get anything out of them, but they certainly were some great ads, at least in my humble opinion.
Friday’s ad is also for Schlitz, this one from 1943. Using the return of the Swallows — the birds — to introduce the idea of “happy swallows,” the swallowing of their beer … with “no bitterness.”
Thursday’s ad is for another one for Schlitz, this one from 1959. Apparently the way to “Know the Real Joy of Good Living” is to be near a mountain lake. And wear pink.
Wednesday’s ad is for also for Schlitz, from 1953. It’s a more low key Schlitzerland ad, showing a cocktail party under way. With the tagline in the bottom lefthand corner — “Life is Wonderful in Schlitzerland, U.S.A.” — even the dogs and cats are happy.
Tuesday’s ad is for Schlitz, from 1957. Furthering their murdering of the English language in Schlitzerland, shake hands with your “Schlitzsaler,” the man who sells the beer. “A man in your community you should know” indeed.
Monday’s ad is for Pete’s Wicked Summer Ale, from 2001. Since it’s opening day for the 2013 baseball season, I thought a baseball-themed ad seemed topical for today, and this one also includes former Playboy playmate Crista Nicole, who was the centerfold in May of that same year.
