Thursday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1948. On a historical theme — and part of their “Great Contributions to Good Taste” series — the ad suggests that “Oysters and lobsters gave the trail its start,” and by trail, they mean the entire west coast. Apparently the Wells Fargo stagecoach first delivered food before diversifying into banking.
Wednesday’s ad is our second ad for Froedtert Malt, or FroMalt, a Milwaukee maltster. They used to have at least three facilities and at least one closed in 2003, but I don’t know how many are left. This ad is from 1957. I’m not sure who Dan Parker is, but he looks like a very busy guy, and he looks like he could use a beer.
Tuesday’s ad is for Reading Premium Beer, from 1972. Reading Premium was my hometown beer, but closed in 1976, when I was a junior in high school, more’s the pity. This ad was just four years before they closed their doors, and it must have been an ad of desperation, trying to compete on price against seven brands far more established then they ever were. But at last they were still using my hands down favorite slogan of all time: “the friendly beer for modern people.”
Monday’s ad is for Ballantine Ale, from 1948. Using the Ballantine logo of three rings in a circus themed ad, this was a typical ad formula during this time period. One oddity: Either that’s a really tiny glass or it’s a nearly bottomless bottle of beer, because the glass is full, but the bottle is still more than two-thirds, possibly as much as three-quarters, full. That’s an impressive bottle. That seems more like a magic trick.
Friday’s ad is for Rheingold Beer, from 1955, and features Miss Rheingold from that year, Nancy Woodruff. The ad shows Miss Rheingold with what must be one of the ugliest Halloween Jack-O-Lantern’s I’ve ever seen. It looks more like a scarecrow than a pumpkin.
Thursday’s ad is for Rheingold Beer, from 1946, and features Miss Rheingold from that year, Rita Daigle. The ad shows Miss Rheingold looking bewitching as she’s lighting the candle for the Halloween jack-o-lantern. Happy Halloween.
Wednesday’s ad is from 1941, and was for the United States Brewers Foundation, a trade group. Showing two couples bowling with the catchy tagline “Right down their alley … a glass of mellow beer or ale!” Take a look at the guy with the pipe walking by in the background. He looks like he’s checking out the ladies as he’s carrying a pair of beer bottles past their alley.
Tuesday’s ad is for Miller High Life, from 1968. In what looks like another hunting lodge, or at least a rec. room, a group of middle-aged men are playing poker, or maybe bridge or even pinochle. But one of them is leaning against the fireplace, by the dog, as if he’s sitting out a hand, or perhaps already folded. The reason I know they’re middle-aged is because nobody else would have dressed like that in 1968, with slicked-down hair, button-down collars and such subdued colors. I don’t think I even realize they still made flannel shirts in the late sixties, although to be fair that turquoise cardigan is rather flamboyant. Sparkling … Flavorful … Distinctive! Indeed.
Monday’s ad is for Schlitz, from 1952. In what looks like a hunting lodge, or at least a rec. room, a younger couple sits on a couch drinking beer out of tall pilsner glasses, while an older gentlemen with a pipe appears to be showing off his red hat. He sure looks like he’s digging that hat, but the blonde couples’ smiles look more polite than sincere.
Friday’s ad is for Rheingold Beer, from 1959, and features Miss Rheingold from that year, Robbin Bain. The ad is set at an amusement park where Miss Rheingold has won a trio of stuffed animals on the Midway. The teddy bear I get, and the doll in the red snowsuit with the weird red elf hat is sort of understandable, but what the hell is that thing in her right hand? Is it Humpty Dumpty in a plaid outfit? Or what?
