Thursday’s ad is another one for Rheingold beer, this one from 1958, featuring Miss Rheingold for that year, Madelyn Darrow, out on a motor boat — the Owens — along with a driver, her dog and at least a six-pack of Rheingold beer, in cans naturally since they’re on the water.
Wednesday’s ad is for Whitbread, from 1937, and the ad shows an illustration of Louis Pasteur working on his fermentation studies in a laboratory at Whitbread Brewing in 1871, nine years after he completed his first test of pasteurization, which took place today in 1862.
Tuesday’s ad is for Schlitz, from 1957, during one of my favorite ad campaigns by any brewer: Schlitzerland. Schlitzerland featured some great retro-style illustrations (though at the time perhaps they weren’t quite so retro). This one shows the happiest people in the world singing and drinking Schlitz in a tavern — the kind “Where Schutzfellows Get Together.”
Monday’s ad is for Rheingold, from 1952, featuring Miss Rheingold for that year, Anne Hogan, putting up a bird house on a fine Spring day.
Our 64th Guinness ad shows the sun beating down on a glass of Guinness, and this delightful bit of text: “When the sun says ‘Morning gone’ Guinness Time will spur you on.” [Note: this artwork is from a coaster, which is why it’s so poor looking. If anyone has better artwork, please be so kind as to send it my way. Thanks.]
Friday’s ad is for Schlitz, playing on one of their earlier ads. An architect or draftsman stares longingly at the older ad on his wall, instead of working on the blueprints on the desk in front of him. The original ad was their iconic slogan “Just the kiss of hops” so for this ad it’s “Memories of a kiss.”
Thursday’s ad is for Miller High Life, showing a time capsule of a scene on what appears to be a farm. But one of those genteel farms of yesteryear. There’s a horse stable in the background, and in the field there’s a groups of dogs and three people who look ready for an English-style fox hunt. The foreground shows a butler serving a couple some Miller High Life on a tray, though the bottles on the table are still over half full. And I thought dalmatians were not good at hunting (too high strung), but then maybe that’s why the woman is holding the dog.
Wednesday’s ad is a 1948 ad for Budweiser featuring our third President, Thomas Jefferson, whose birthday is also today. He was born April 13, 1743. According to the Bud ad, he also introduced spaghetti to America. Let’s say I’m skeptical. Here’s the text:
From Naples he got a mould to form spaghetti and introduced what is one of our most important and popular foods. He did the marketing for the White House and presided genially over its inviting table. Jefferson earnestly believed that good food and drink temperately enjoyed each day with good friends were essential to a worthwhile lifetime.
I love the slogan at the bottom of the ad:
Live life, every golden minute of it.
Enjoy Budweiser, every golden drop of it.
The illustration is also priceless, showing a smiling redheaded Jefferson spinning spaghetti on a spoon, showing his two guests, in full wigs, how it’s done. And I thought it was Chef Boyardee.
Interestingly, my initial skepticism turned out to be right. According to a great article by Corby Kummer on the origins of Pasta in The Atlantic:
Thomas Jefferson is credited with introducing dried pasta without egg to America, but, like the Marco Polo legend, this is a romantic fiction. He did take notes on the manufacturing process during a trip to Naples and even commissioned a friend in Italy to buy him a “maccarony machine.” He shipped himself two cases of pasta in 1789. By 1798 a Frenchman had opened what may have been the first American pasta factory, in Philadelphia, and it was a success. Upper-class Americans also bought pasta imported from Sicily, which had snob appeal.
Tuesday’s ad is for Ballantine Ale from 1949 and take an unusual approach. The ad highlights three hotels and restaurants carrying Ballantine Ale, and especially their servers. These include the Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia, the Ambassador’s Pump Room in Chicago, Illinois and the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, California.
Monday’s ad is for Schlitz from 1952 featuring the once popular hobby of Ham Radio operating. With, presumably, the missus thoughtfully bringing in a tray of Schlitz and a pilsner glass. Apparently, that’s the message from Milwaukee, not whatever’s coming over the airwaves.
