Wednesday’s ad is for Budweiser, from November 1948. Part of their “Great Contributions to Good Taste” series, according to the story, it was poor French peasants who discovered that turkeys could be raised and eaten and they became wildly popular there, when news travelled back to the colonies and the rest, as they say, is history. Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow,
Tuesday’s ad is for Blatz, from 1946. Showing a wax seal having just been applied to a document, and the stamp itself, the ad includes the following ad copy. “Public approval is never won forever … It’s seal must be earned anew by every batch you brew.” And at the bottom: “Blatz, Brewer of Better Beer ….”
Monday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1947. With the tagline “Beer Is As Old As History,” the ad shows scenes from the beginning of civilization to the the present, with select points of history in between. I actually have an original copy of the ad framed in my office. It’s a pretty grandiose ad, especially with the conceit of the Budweiser and glass as the suggested result of all that history.
Friday’s ad is still another one for Guinness, this one from 1958, designed to look more like content than an ad. Instead, it’s “A Guinness Guide to Veal on the Menu,” with quite the impressive looking presentation. But again, at least there’s a dish of French Fries on the side, making it, once more, my kind of meal.
Thursday’s ad is another one for Guinness, also from 1957, and was designed to look more like content than an ad. Instead, it’s “A Guinness Guide to Sole on the Menu,” with the flatfish in the photo. Really, with the French Fries as a side dish, it’s really more of an upscale fish and chips. Again, my kind of meal, apart from the fish.
Wednesday’s ad is for Guinness, from 1957, and was designed to look more like content than an ad. Instead, it’s “A Guinness Guide to Game on the Menu,” with roast pheasant in the photo. I’m pretty sure the pheasant is being served with potato chips as a side dish. Now that’s my kind of meal.
Tuesday’s ad is for Drewrys Beer of South Bend, Indiana. Drewrys was actually a Canadian brand, but for most of its history was brewed in Indiana. The ad is most likely from the 1950s, though this may have been just the illustration for the ad, before any text or ad copy was added.
Monday’s ad is for Rheingold Beer, again from 1953, and features Miss Rheingold from that year, Mary Austin. The ad shows Miss Rheingold with her face glowing in the sunset, dressed in a western outfit with guitar in hand, ready to serenade the cowboy behind her, at at least play a duet with him.
Friday’s ad is for Rheingold Beer, from 1953, and features Miss Rheingold from that year, Mary Austin. The ad shows Miss Rheingold on a lawn in front of what looks like a southern mansion (or even the White House? Nah) with a basket full of puppies, and poodles, no less. I’m sure this will fire up the ire of the poodle lovers of the world, but those are some ugly dogs. I’m not sure that scene makes me want a Rheingold beer.
Thursday’s ad is for Budweiser, also from 1948. It’s yet another of Bud’s “Great Contributions to Good Taste” series, this one suggesting that it was James VI of Scotland who made country clubs possible, because he changed the laws to allow golf (which had apparently been prohibited by earlier kings). Having been to countless wedding receptions at country clubs, I’m not entirely convinced that it was such a great contribution to good taste.
