Thursday’s ad is entitled After a Day on the Slopes, and the illustration was done in 1955 by Douglass Crockwell. It’s #103 in a series entitled “Home Life in America,” also known as the Beer Belongs series of ads that the United States Brewers Foundation ran from 1945 to 1956. In this ad, several young people are in the lodge starting a fire and handing out beers. Through the giant picture window we can see a few stragglers still coming in After a Day on the Slopes, waving to one another. It’s nice to see one of the dudes being the server for a change, but then he’s probably just hoping to get lucky.

Sunday’s ad is entitled Friends From the Country, and the illustration was done in 1954 by John Falter. It’s #99 in a series entitled “Home Life in America,” also known as the Beer Belongs series of ads that the United States Brewers Foundation ran from 1945 to 1956. In this ad, some yokels from the boondocks are visiting their city friends. They brought flowers and home-grown vegetables, but the city-dwellers have beer. City 1, Country 0.

Friday’s ad is entitled Summer Picnic, and the illustration was done in 1954 by Douglass Crockwell. It’s #97 in a series entitled “Home Life in America,” also known as the Beer Belongs series of ads that the United States Brewers Foundation ran from 1945 to 1956. In this ad, two couples go on a summer picnic. The women pack the food, and the men bring beer. They take a boat to a secluded spot, where food and beer is consumed, photos taken, and fun day is had by all. Then back to civilization they go at sunset. Looks like a nice day, although overall I don’t like these multi-panel cartoons nearly as much as the single panel ads. There’s something about conveying a story in a single image, leaving more to the imagination and more reliant on subtle clues that appeals to me.

Thursday’s ad is entitled Dad Takes On All Comers, and the illustration was done in 1954 by Douglass Crockwell. It’s #96 in a series entitled “Home Life in America,” also known as the Beer Belongs series of ads that the United States Brewers Foundation ran from 1945 to 1956. In this ad, a backyard croquet match is taking place during a barbecue. And apparently Dad is a ringer. He stands smugly, while a young woman (his daughter?) is about to take her turn, and Mom is telling someone to shut up, perhaps trying to effect a loss for her husband. But she also has a tray of beer, which may help.

Wednesday’s ad is entitled First Weekend at the Cottage, and the illustration was done in 1954 by John Falter. It’s #95 in a series entitled “Home Life in America,” also known as the Beer Belongs series of ads that the United States Brewers Foundation ran from 1945 to 1956. In this ad, while most of the people at a beachside cottage and half in the bag, having been consuming beer all day long, and watching, bemused, as a new arrival shows off the new gear he’s just purchased, but still hasn’t managed to put on his bathing suit or drink a beer. C’mon, man. Get with the program.

Tuesday’s ad is entitled Time Out In The Planting, and the illustration was done in 1954 by John Gannam. It’s #94 in a series entitled “Home Life in America,” also known as the Beer Belongs series of ads that the United States Brewers Foundation ran from 1945 to 1956. In this ad, a couple is taking a much-needed break(? – they seem over-dressed, even for yard work) and having some beers on their back porch. When there’s beer, the plants can wait. That’s always been my motto.