Friday’s ad is entitled Television Party, and the illustration was done in 1949 by Douglass Crockwell. It’s #27 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 people watch a basketball game on one of those newfangled tee-vees. The ad ran in March of 1949, early in the NBA’s fourth season. The champions that season were the Minneapolis Lakers, who beat the Syracuse Nationals in the finals. Unless, of course, they’re watching March Madness. That year, the NCAA champion was Kentucky, who beat Oklahoma A&M 46-36 on March 26, 1949.

Thursday’s ad is entitled An Evening of Bowling, and the illustration was done in 1949 by Douglass Crockwell. It’s #26 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, at least three couples, maybe more, are enjoying some beers during an evening of bowling. Surprisingly, beer and bowling do go together well, and it was a hugely popular game in the late forties. But even so, they seem to be throwing back quite a few.

Wednesday’s ad is entitled Gathered Around the Piano, and the illustration was done in 1949 by Douglass Crockwell. It’s #25 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 trio of couples is having a sing-a-long around a piano, the karaoke of its day. They’re all drinking beer, which makes sense. I know I need a few before I’m willing to sing in front of other people.

Monday’s ad is entitled Thanksgiving, and the illustration was done in 1948 by John Gannam. It’s #23 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 family gathers for Thanksgiving dinner. I count at least eleven people. As one woman carries in the turkey from the kitchen, the rest appear to be finishing setting the table. All five of the men seen in the ad, are doing nothing whatsoever to help, and every one of them has a beer in one hand. One’s even pouring himself another beer. I’m a little surprised he didn’t have one of the womenfolk pour it for him.

Sunday’s ad is entitled Wedding Anniversary, and the illustration was done in 1948 by Douglass Crockwell. It’s #22 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, an older couple is celebrating their wedding anniversary, and is being toasted with beer, presumably by their own kids, grandkids and other relatives. Granddad has a beer, but curiously Grandma does not, what’s up with that?

Saturday’s ad is entitled Trying Out The New Camera, and the illustration was done in 1948 by Douglass Crockwell. It’s #21 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 people are drinking beers in a living room. One of them is trying out his new — gasp — film camera. Remember film? This one doesn’t even have an automatic flash, but uses single bulbs, which have to be replaced each time. I still have a camera that uses them, although to be fair I haven’t actually used it in a long, long time.

Friday’s ad is entitled Croquet on the Lawn, and the illustration was done in 1948 by Haddon Sundblom. It’s #20 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 young and old people are playing croquet in a back or side yard, since one of them is drinking a beer and talking to another person over the fence. The young woman seems to be doing pretty good in the game and is about to knock the older man behind her’s ball, and he looks none too pleased.

Thursday’s ad is entitled Week End In The Country, and the illustration was done in 1948 by Austin Briggs. It’s #19 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 city dwellers are spending their weekend breathing fresh air at one couple’s weekend getaway house. Having beers in the back yard, most of them have learned how to relax, but at least one — the guy still in his suit and bow tie — is still too city.

Wednesday’s ad is entitled Around The Swimming Pool, and the illustration was done in 1948 by John Gannam. It’s #18 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 backyard party seems to be in full swing. Based on the title, it’s a pool party, though it looks more like a pond than a swimming pool to me.