Tuesday’s ad is entitled First Catch of the Season, and the illustration was done in 1953 by Douglass Crockwell. It’s #80 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 departure from the earlier ads, a series of ten smaller illustrations tells a story of fishing, beer, fish and beer and fish, and of course the one that got away.
Monday’s ad is entitled Trailer Camp Friendships, and the illustration was done in 1953 by Douglass Crockwell. It’s #79 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 campground is filled with campers drinking beer. And even though they brought cans, they’re all poured into pilsner glasses, which seems to obviate the reason they brought cans in the first place. A newly arrived couple is waving from the next camp over. I hope they brought more beer, because that’s how trailer park friendships are forged.
Sunday’s ad is entitled Four Hands On The Keyboard, and the illustration was done in 1953 by Douglass Crockwell. It’s #78 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 large party has consumed so much beer that two of them sat down at a piano and are belting out tunes. BUt look at the expression on the woman in the red dress. She is not amused.
Saturday’s ad is entitled Mother’s Night Off, and the illustration was done in 1953 by Douglass Crockwell. It’s #77 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, Mom didn’t have to cook one evening after working nonstop since got married fifty years ago. Instead, Dad and his son appear to have cooked, while sister (or possible daughter-in-law) lights the candles. She probably set the table and poured the beer, too. There’s a whole lot of smiling going on. Even Mom is smirking.
Friday’s ad is entitled Holiday Buffett, and the illustration was done in 1952 by Douglass Crockwell. It’s #76 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, another couple is arriving at a Christmas party already in progress. They’ve got some catching up to do, since everyone has a beer in their hand. I hope that centerpiece tree is not their only one, but I do remember relatives having small, pathetic trees in the sixties when I was a kid. But if there’s room for a holiday buffet, then it’s too small.
Thursday’s ad is entitled Thanksgiving Dinner, and the illustration was done in 1952 by Douglass Crockwell. It’s #75 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, another family Thanksgiving dinner is about to begin. And unlike the last few, grandmother is finally taking a break (that looks like her in the back right) and the eldest daughter is stepping up to take her turn as turkey deliverer. Though notice that one of her younger siblings seems to be both pointing out a target spot for touchdown while at the same time holding her beer in the way of it. Such a prankster.
Wednesday’s ad is entitled Looking Over the Vacation Trophies, and the illustration was done in 1952 by Douglass Crockwell. It’s #74 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, one couple invited another over to their home only to bore them with snapshots and souvenirs from a vacation they recently took. It’s a good thing they’re also serving beer. Their guests are going to need beer to get through the evening.
Tuesday’s ad is entitled Fiesta Time in the Southwest, and the illustration was done in 1952 by John Gannam. It’s #73 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 home in one of the southwestern states has been invaded by exotic cultures, as — presumably one of the three women guests at the party has donned her Mexican or South American costume to perform a dance for “fiesta time,” whatever that means. The others are standing or sitting around drinking beers and watching her, which seems a little weird to me.
Monday’s ad is entitled Teaching Guests The Square Dance, and the illustration was done in 1952 by John Gannam. It’s #72 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 group of well-dressed people are at a party at someone’s house, and after many beers — I presume, I won’t dance unless I’ve had many, many beers — someone suggests square dancing. I learned square dancing in school, 3rd or 4th grade I think, and then promptly forgot it, and never looked back. But hey, maybe with enough beer….
Sunday’s ad is entitled First of the Home Grown Corn, and the illustration was done in 1952 by Douglass Crockwell. It’s #71 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 family sits on their porch as Dad holds a bundle of freshly picked corn. Behind him, a fairly vast tract of land is filled with cornstalks and a stone grill billows smoke from is chimney. We planted six plants last year, but didn’t pick them in time, so technically we still have not yet harvested the first of our own home grown corn. But these people seem pretty serious about it. That looks like a field, not a plot.
