Monday’s ad is from the long-running “Where there’s Life …” series for Budweiser, this one from the mid-1950s, I believe. They did few ads of this type, with scene shown through a full glass of beer, and in this one it’s square dancing. Yee haw.
Beer In Ads #760: James Monroe For Budweiser
Saturday’s ad is the last (that I know of) in the Budweiser historical series from 1908. The black and white ad is text-heavy and includes a history lesson on James Monroe, our fifth president and the architect of the Monroe Doctrine. After the requisite historical bit, it launches into this priceless series of claims:
WHEN old Mother Earth grows better malting barley than northern soil produces —
WHEN the fertile valleys and verdant mountain slopes of Old Bohemia grow better hops —
WHEN natures produces better and purer waters —
WHEN brew-science has been developed to a higher art —
THEN, and not till then, will it be possible to produce a better beer than Budweiser.
Good luck with that.
Beer In Ads #759: John Adams For Budweiser
Friday’s ad is another in the Budweiser historical series from 1908. The black and white ad is text-heavy and includes a history lesson on John Adams, our second president and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The ad makes the curious appeal that any dealer who carries Budweiser will realize less profits than selling other beers. Why? “Because it costs more money at the brewery than any other beer made. A royal brew of malt and hops whose absolute sovereignty has never been challenged.” Interesting strategy. One other anachronistic feature of advertising a century ago. The advert ran in a publication called Pearson’s Advertiser. At the very bottom of the page it includes this gem. “You will confer a favor by mentioning PEARSON’S when you write to advertisers.”
Beer In Ads #758: William Penn For Budweiser
Thursday’s ad is another in the Budweiser historical series from 1908. The black and white ad is text-heavy and includes a history lesson on William Penn, who founded the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. After discussing Penn, the ad copy switches to hops. “Lupulin has created a stir in the medical world because of its great Tonic properties for stomach disorders. It is found in the highest and most effective form in Saazer Hops, grown in the province of Saaz, Bohemia. The Anheuser Busch Brewing Ass’n, St. Louis, U.S.A. import more of these hops than all other breweries in the United States, and use them exclusively in their famous Budweiser.” Anybody know if ABI still uses an Saaz — er, Saazer — hops? I know they own hopfields in the Hallertau (I’ve been to those) and also in Idaho (ditto), but in the Czech Republic?
Beer In Ads #757: James Madison For Budweiser
Wednesday’s ad is another in the Budweiser historical series from 1908. The black and white ad is text-heavy and includes a history lesson on James Madison, our fourth president and one of the architects of the Constitution, often referred to as the “father of the Constitution.” It ends with some terrifically jingoistic ad copy. “The drink that delights your palate and aids the digestion of your food. Drink the drink of your forefathers; the drink of the nobelst men that ever lived; the drink of the great triumphant nations; the pure, nourishing and refreshing juices of American barley fields; the home drink of all civilized nations.” Are you feeling thirty and patriotic yet?
Beer In Ads #756: Otto Von Bismarck For Budweiser
Tuesday’s ad is another old one for Budweiser, also from 1908. The black and white ad is text-heavy and includes a history lesson on Otto von Bismarck, though I doubt the ad would have run after World War I. This was just a few years before anti-German sentiment peaked because of the war, and so many of the successful breweries in America were started by German immigrants, and Anheuser-Busch was no exception. But they loved him. “Like all Germans he believed in good eating and drinking, hence the juices of malt and hops were never absent from his table.”
Beer In Ads #755: George Washington For Budweiser
Monday’s ad is an old one for Budweiser, from the 1908. The black and white ad is text-heavy and includes a history lesson on Washington, along with this beautiful ad copy. “It shines like liquid gold — it sparkles like amber dew — it quickens with life — a right lusty beer — brewed conscientiously for over fifty years from barley and hops only.” But they’re not done yet. “It prolongs youth and preserves physical charm — giving strength to muscle, mind and bone — a right royal beverage for the home.”
The Moon-Faced Man
Here’s an odd artifact, a postcard from 1910, with a Holland, Michigan postmark, featuring an illustration of a moon-faced man and the following poem:
Bike the moon, my brethren dear,
I am “full” as full can be,
Full of grace and lager beer,
Full of food and sanctity!
Beer In Ads #754: One Of The Finer Things Of Life!
Friday’s ad is for Schlitz, from the 1950s. Featuring a decked-out woman of leisure relaxing by the pool, appointed with fashionable digs and seemingly expensive accessories on the table in front of her and, most importantly, drinking a Schlitz. The tagline, “one of the finer things of life!,” tells you everything you need to know about why her hand is on her hip. She definitely a “have,” not one of those “have nots.”
Beer In Ads #753: And Follow Through With Rheingold
Thursday’s ad is for Rheingold Beer, from 1959, featuring Miss Rheingold for that year, Robbin Bain. Showing great form on the bowling alley, and with the tagline “and follow through with Rheingold!,” as the bowls begins its journey down the lane. A strike? A gutter ball? Who knows, get me a beer.
