Thursday’s ad is from 1957, for the British brand Mackeson’s Stout. It’s a simple black and white line drawing of a hand holding a titled glass of stout, having consumed a portion of it, maybe as much as half. The tagline, “You’ll like it better!,” begs the question, better than what exactly? Who was their main competition in 1947? Other stouts, or lighter-colored beers?
Wednesday’s Independence Day ad is also from 1976, a series of bicentennial stickers for Budweiser’s 70s pitchman Budman. The six are known collectively as the “Budman Patriot Set.” Happy Independence Day!
The Fife Player
Crossing the Delaware?
Flying the flag
Betsey “Bud” Ross
Paul Revere lighting the lamp in the North Church.
Fixing the Liberty Bell?
Tuesday’s ad is from 1976, a bicentennial Pabst Blue Ribbon sticker showing two fife players and a drummer drumming on a glass of beer. I’m not sure why they’re dressed like Superman or have capes or all have mustaches, but they do look patriotic. Happy Independence Day tomorrow!
Monday’s ad is from 1956 and is for Budweiser. It’s a pretty cool image — an illustration I believe — showing several couples dancing with a band behind them providing music to tap their toes to. But the scene is distorted because we’re seeing it through the golden hues of a glass of beer.
Friday’s ad concludes our week of Rheingold Beer ads, this one from 1956, featuring Miss Rheingold from that year Hillie Merritt. Standing in front of a colorful garden, she’s about to get on a bicycle built for two. I wonder who the second person is?
Thursday’s ad is still another one for Rheingold Beer, this one from 1951, featuring Miss Rheingold from that year Elsie Gammon. I’m not exactly sure what she’s holding in her right hand — a can of sauce, spices, or a grenade? — but her left hand holds a ginormous fork while chicken appears to be on the spit above the barbecue. But is that light blue hotpad appear to be on the grille itself? And yet it doesn’t appear to be burning.
Wednesday’s ad is yet another one for Rheingold Beer, this one from 1954, featuring Miss Rheingold from that year Adrienne Garrett. She’s holding tightly to the reins of a foal, standing in front of a barn. Though she’s certainly smiling, with her body language she doesn’t look convincingly at ease down on the farm.
Tuesday’s ad is another one for Rheingold Beer, this one from 1947, featuring Miss Rheingold from that year Margie McNally. She’s pretty well buttoned up in her yellow slicker so there’s little danger of her getting wet. She’s got the poles over her shoulder, but for some reason I can’t really seeing her rowing the boat all by herself.
Monday’s ad is for Rheingold Beer from 1945 and features Miss Rheingold from that year Pat Boyd. Looking every bit a farm gal, she’s got five freshly hatched chicks in her hat.
Friday’s ad is our fifth and last ad for this week from Budweiser’s long-running “where there’s life … there’s Bud” series. This one’s from 1957 and is another where the woman looks like she’s kissing, rather than sipping, the beer, as the man watches oer her, smiling, with the empty can in his hand. At least he’s not still pouring it, which is the case in so many of these ads.
