Tuesday’s ad is from 1941 and is for Ballantine Ale. The “Early American Sign” is the three-ring Ballantine logo that George Washington is pointing to on the tavern’s sign. Happy birthday George.
Beer In Ads #315: What Great Americans Favored Beer As A Beverage Of Moderation?
Monday’s ad is from 1951 and ran in Newsweek. It was produced by the U.S. Brewers Foundation, one of a series of historical ads showing the positive side of beer in a post-Prohibition America, a world, like today, in which the neo-prohibitionists continued nipping at their heels despite Prohibition’s massive, unmitigated failure. The ad answers the question “What Great Americans Favored Beer As A Beverage Of Moderation?” with “Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Patrick Henry—to name just a few.” Since today is Presidents Day, and their list includes three early American presidents, it seemed a good way to celebrate by remembering there was a time when beer wasn’t under constant attack and our most popular politicians openly supported it. Happy Presidents Day.
Beer In Art #115: Ralston Crawford’s Buffalo Grain Elevators
This week’s work of art is by the Canadian-born artist Ralston Crawford. He spent his childhood in Buffalo, and most of the rest of his life traveling and in America, which is reflected in his oeuvre. Today’s painting, Buffalo Grain Elevators, was completed in 1937 and today is part of the Smithsonian Institute’s American Art Museum and is a part of their Scenes of American Life collection.
The Scenes of American Life exhibition describes the painting like this:
The huge grain elevators lining the waterfront in Buffalo, New York, fascinated Crawford, who transformed bridges, factories, and other modern industrial structures into volumes and planes. Here he contrasts the massive cylinders of the elevators with the thin lines of the pitched roof in the foreground, the delicate rungs of a ladder, and a series of gently sloping wires.
There’s a biography of Crawford at Wikipedia and also at the Smithsonian Institute and the Hollis Taggert Galleries. You can also find links to more of Crawford’s art at the ArtCyclopedia.
Beerstrology Sign: Pisces
While I don’t put any stock in astrology, in 1980 Guinness put out a calendar with each month representing one of the zodiac signs, and I thought it would be fun to share these throughout the year.
Pisces, the fish, is from February 20-March 19. To learn more, see:
- Astrology Online
- Universal Psychic Guild
- Wikipedia
- Zodiac Signs
Guinness Ad #56: Tired Red Chair
Our 56th Guinness poster by John Gilroy shows the iconic pint of Guinness with a face being very tired, much like myself, and needing to rest on a red comfy chair. The slogan is “Have a Guinness when you’re tired.”
Beer In Ads #314: Brown Derby’s For Good Living
Friday’s ad is from 1937 and is for Brown Derby beer, a beer often found in, as the ad even states (which is, I believe, illegal today) Safeway grocery stores. The text of the ad features the plans of the Leavitt family, their “plan of Good Living.” Here’s how beer fits in:
“We want to enjoy all the good things of life our income permits,” says Mrs. Leavitt. “We always keep plenty of Brown Derby Beer on hand. Because we’ve found it equals imported Pilsner, but costs less.
It’s interesting that only three years after Prohibition ended, beer advertising was targeting imported pilsners for comparison, not other American beers.
Beer In Ads #313: Schlitz’ Best Round I’ve Had All Day!
Thursday’s ad is yet another one for Schlitz, but from the early 1950s. The winner of the golf club’s tournament looks pompously out at us while pouring a Schlitz into the trophy. “Best round I’ve had all day!” Exactly how many rounds of golf does this smug bastard have time for in a 24-hour period of time? Doesn’t he a least have a job so he can afford his club membership?
Beer In Ads #312: Schlitz’ Real Gusto Hat
Wednesday’s ad is also for Schlitz, though from the 1960s, and is a simple ad. It just shows a man draining a glass of Schlitz. I’m guessing it’s early sixties since he’s wearing a suit, scarf and goofy hat.
Beer In Ads #311: Schlitz’ Menu Foresight
Tuesday’s ad is for Schlitz from 1946, and shows two women shopping. Each has a basket under her arm with bottles of Schlitz in them. Now that’s “Menu Foresight,” not that I can see any actual food in those baskets to pair with the beer.
Beer In Ads #310: Miss Rheingold’s Heart-Shaped Beer Tray
Monday’s ad is for Rheingold Beer from 1944, featuring Miss Rheingold for that year, Jane House. She’s holding a heart-shaped red tray with three beers on it. Now that’s a man really wants for Valentine’s Day. “It’s the favorite of millions!” Why? “DRY tells you WHY!”
