ABI sent me a press release this morning that they’ve released teaser ads for what they’ll be airing during this year’s Super Bowl. I normally wouldn’t pay it much attention, but because of yesterday’s post Schwarzenegger To Appear In Super Bowl Ad For Bud Light I thought we should see what they’re planning for Arnie’s spot, though I think you’ll agree the two teasers don’t reveal very much, apart from the fact that time has not been kind. If you want to see the rest of what ABI has planned, the rest of the teasers are here on YouTube.
Beer In Ads #1074: Pinch-Hitting For Norway
Friday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1942. The wartime ad is a curious one. It’s all about Vitamin D and other industries that Anheuser-Busch is involved with. As far as I can tell, the title of the ad, “Pinch-Hitting For Norway,” refers to A-B producing the vitamin from yeast, apparently important because it’s impossible to get the fish oil it’s usually made from due to World War 2. I also love the Viking imagery juxtaposed with the kids and their toy boat.
Schwarzenegger To Appear In Super Bowl Ad For Bud Light
This is almost funny. According to the New York Post, former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a $3 million deal to appear in a Super Bowl ad for Bud Light. Schwarzenegger is a longtime beer drinker, having once quipped. “Milk is for babies. When you grow up you have to drink beer.” When he first became California governor, when many called him “The Governator,” Portland Brewing even created Governator Ale. Despite him being a public figure as governor, Arnie’s legion of lawyers sued, claiming that they had engaged in “unauthorized exploitation of what they considered the governor’s right of publicity” and production ceased after only 3,200 cases of the beer was produced. I still have a bottle in my office.
According to the Post article. “The former California governor has agreed to a deal to star in the humorous beer ad, despite his personal focus on health and fitness.” It won’t be the first time he’s shilled for beer companies before, having done a couple in Japan years ago, a few of which can be found on YouTube, although the quality of most of them isn’t very good. Frankly, they look more like an energy drink than a beer, but apparently an unnamed source told the Post. “Arnold has shot a series of ads in Japan but pretty much hasn’t done anything in the US.” YouTube also has a compilation claiming to show Schwarzenegger’s complete Japanese ads.
Schwarzenegger Beer Ad #1
Schwarzenegger Beer Ad #2
Schwarzenegger Beer Ad #3
Beer In Ads #1073: The World’s Largest Selling Beer In Small Bottles
Thursday’s ad is for Goebel Beer, from 1948. Billing themselves as the “World’s largest selling beer in small bottles,” which they refer to as a “bantam” size bottle, of “Goebel Bantam.” Bantam is a small variety of chicken, and in fact the name comes from a town in Indonesia where they originated. But it still seems like a strange name for a beer bottle size.
Beer In Ads #1072: The Land Of Something Better
Wednesday’s ad is for Ballantine Ale, from 1942. Showing a man studying, presumably in the evening, to better himself and perhaps get a degree or start a new career. Among the “better things” he’s working for is a better beer, in this case Ballantine Ale. It seems a bit of a stretch to link the two ideas, but what the hell, it was war time.
Beer In Ads #1071: Take A Glass, Any Glass
Tuesday’s ad is for Narragansett Lager Beer, from 1959. Showing eight different glasses, all but one filled with beer, they’re promoting “Gansett by saying you should use a glass, any glass. The “moral” of the story? “Glasses are for putting “Gansett in. ‘Gansett is for putting thirsts out. Works every time.” I especially the schmeer of a reflection made by the beer in the glasses.
Beer In Ads #1070: Wilkes-Barre’s Best
Monday’s ad is for Lion Brewing, a.k.a. “Wilkes-Barre’s Best.” It was established in 1905, and I don’t know if the ad is from that time period, but it certainly looks like it.
Beer In Ads #1069: Pilsner Urquell In The Atomic Age
Sunday’s ad is our third postcard for Pilsner Urquell, from what looks to be the 1950s based on the style of illustration on this postcard. This one shows a dapper man riding a red rocket into the air, holding a glass of pilsner in his hand. The air is filled with flying machines, which is what we were promised back then. I’m still waiting for my flying car that folds into a briefcase.
Beer In Ads #1068: Pilsner Urquell Delivers In Space
Saturday’s ad is another postcard for Pilsner Urquell, from what looks to be the 1950s based on the style of illustration on this postcard. SInce it shows a satellite taking Pilsner Urquell to a Moon family or aliens out for a joyride, it’s probably after Sputnik, which was 1957. I love this style of illustration and the idea that they’d been observing earth for some time, but only once we sent up a satellite they would “finally going to drink.” I mean, couldn’t they get take out? Did they have to wait until delivery service began?
Beer In Ads #1067: Old Heidelberg Inn
Friday’s ad is for Val. Blatz Brewing and it’s from an old postcard apparently showing a reproduction of a painting that was apparently in a place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, operated by the Blatz Brewery. Here’s what it said on the back of the card. “This card was mailed from Old Heidelberg Inn, which is maintained for the benefit of visitors to Milwaukee by the Val. Blatz Brewing Co. — brewers of the famous Old Heidelberg, Ester-aged.” I wonder what “Ester-aged” is?
