Wednesday’s ad is for Schlitz, from 1938. It’s a very text heavy ad, with a long story about how making a show on Broadway a hit is like goof beer. Yeah, I don’t get it either.
Beer In Ads #1218: The Bill For A Billion C.C.C. Trees
Tuesday’s ad is a pro industry ad by the United Brewers Industrial Foundation from the early 1930s, shortly after the repeal of prohibition. The C.C.C. in question is the Civilian Conservation Corps, which involved 300,000 boys in 3,000 camps who through their efforts improved over three-billion acres of forest, but at a cost to taxpayers of $326 million. The beer industry’s post-prohibition contribution to the American economy is one million dollars per day in taxes. And that was the industry just beginning to rebound after thirteen dry years. But that’s just as true today as it was then, but with even larger numbers and greater intangible contributions from so many smaller community-based breweries.
Beer In Ads #1217: Schlitz In Steinies
Monday’s ad is for Schlitz, from the 1930s. Touting their new smaller steinie brown bottles, flanked by an actual stein on either side, I love that the neck label reads “Bottled at the Brewery.” Is that really a selling point customers would care about? Were other breweries bottling their beer elsewhere?
Beer In Ads #1215: Drink Ewo Beer
Saturday’s ad is for Ewo Beer, from the 1930s. The Ewo Brewery was founded in Shanghai, China in 1935. Some sources claim this ad is from 1930 and another similar ad for the same beer claims to be from 1920, but that seems impossible, unless there was another brewery by that name earlier. Anyway, all I could think of was that if you added a “K” it would be Ewok. Nerd.
Beer In Ads #1214: Michelob Sailing
Friday’s ad is for Michelob, from 1976. Another weekend made for Michelob, this one apparently spent sailing. It sure nice of Michelob to buy them a sail, although it seems like that would cut into their profits.
Beer In Ads #1213: Dude Heaven
Thursday’s ad is for Goebel Beer, from 1947. Out on the dude ranch, as the team comes in single file in the background, a glass of beer is waiting at the finish line. Although it looks like maybe one person got in way early and starting to drink their beer already. Still, it’s quite a view. Heavenly.
Beer In Ads #1212: Joy
Wednesday’s ad is another ad for Schlitz, from 1953. In this Schlitz ad, a couple on the beach is having a picnic, with a few beers, of course. The lad is painting the name “Joy” on the boat, which given that the lass has a “J” monogram on her blouse, must be for her. But every time I see the name “Joy,” I can’t help but think of the old Harry Nilsson song Joy, which is a wonderfully weird song I’ve always loved, but then I’m a huge Nilsson fan.
Beer In Ads #1211: Wherefore Art Thou Schlitz
Tuesday’s ad is for Schlitz, from 1949. It’s one of Schlitz’s long-running three-panel series, with Romeo inexplicably up in the balcony, looking down on a tray of beer and his beloved Juliet making time with someone holding a script. So he went down to investigate, er, try some beer.
Beer In Ads #1210: The Beer From Maryland
Monday’s ad is for National Premium, from 1948, a beer also known as “The Beer From Maryland!” I love pictorial maps and this one in 3D is especially cool. According to the ad, beer connoisseurs include National Premium “Among the greatest beers on earth.” I’m not so sure about that claim.
Beer In Ads #1209: In Beer, Going First Class Is Michelob
Sunday’s ad is another one for Michelob, this time from 1967. Another Michelob ad, in this one apparently “In Beer, Going First Class Is Michelob. … Period.” According to the ad it’s “Brewed just like the famous Michelob draught,” which had been first introduced as a pasteurized version in 1961, and is the same year they also introduced the distinctive teardrop bottle.
