Monday’s ad is entitled After the Game, and the illustration was done in 1954 by Haddon Sundblom. It’s #100 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, the kids are back from the football game, and Mom has the salad and jello mold ready for them. Thankfully, someone also set our beer, which is the only thing on the table they really want.
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.
Saturday’s ad is entitled An Evening of Cards, and the illustration was done in 1954 by Douglass Crockwell. It’s #98 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 are spending an evening playing cards, most likely bridge at this time period. At least that’s an activity that fairly cries out for beer. I remember my parents having people over, not to play bridge, but pinochle, which really popular when I was a kid. I also recall being in a pinochle club in junior high, where we’d play during the lunch period. I don’t know if it’s a generational thing, or geographic, but nobody I know plays pinochle in California, which is a shame.
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.
Monday’s ad is entitled The Boss Comes To Dinner, and the illustration was done in 1954 by Douglass Crockwell. It’s #93 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, the boss is coming to dinner. They cook and get ready, then greet the boos and his wife, have dinner — served with beer, of course — then watch television and say goodnight. Afterwards, the man have thought it went well. He’s holding his wife’s hand, holding her hand, and gazing into her eyes, which all the thanks any good wife wants.
Sunday’s ad is entitled Gulf Coast Shrimp Supper, and the illustration was done in 1954 by John Falter. It’s #92 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, dinner for eight is being prepared for outside, near the bayou, while the guests all enjoy beer in anticipation. The table amongst the trees, with the sunset on the water certainly looks spectacular.
Saturday’s ad is entitled Showing Off the Latest Project, and the illustration was done in 1954 by Douglass Crockwell. It’s #91 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 has invited another over to their home, only to take them into the workshop to show off the latest hobby that the man has been working on. And apparently he doesn’t collect stamps or coins, but instead make lamps?!? And of course they’re all dressed up as the woodman looks admiringly at his handiwork while his guest hold the book he apparently used as his instructions open, with a finger pointing at the diagram for the lamp he sees before him, come to life. The two women seem waay to happy about the lamp, too. It must have been a very dull evening for this to be the highlight.
