Tuesday’s ad is for Rheingold beer and looks to be from 1954. It features a smiling Dean Martin holding a glass of Rheingold after, presumably, a hard day on the links. He’s in the clubhouse, with his putter and a wedge next to him. Apparently someone has dropped off a tray with the Rheingold. Obviously, I’m not playing golf in the right places, because I have to fetch my own beer.
After a week on hiatus during the Craft Brewers Conference, Monday’s ad is a Ballantine ad from 1950, and features a snowy scene near the north pole. Three stages of the aurora borealis add the Ballantine rings in glorious shimmering color while an Eskimo looks on, making Ballantine’s three fingers and the “okay” sign with his hand — which signifies “three rings.”
Our 61st Guinness ad shows the iconic toucan with two pints of Guinness and the following poetry:
If he can say as you can
Guinness is good for you
How grand to be a Toucan
Just think what Toucan do
They used that punny language to good effect for many years, and in fact that was why the toucan became one of the most used animals in their advertising.
Our 60th Guinness ad shows the iconic toucan riding a dart on its way to the dartboard, all the while holding two pints of Guinness on its beak. The slogan isn’t one of the regular ones, but is specific to the ad itself: “Aim For A Guinness.”
Friday’s ad is another Ballantine ad from, I’m guessing here, the late 50s or early 60s. I love the suggestion that Ballantine is “deep-brewed,” whatever that might mean. And I can’t help but wonder: what the hell is that rooster doing on his shoulder as he pours his beer?
Thursday’s ad is from 1949, a Ballantine ad that’s all green, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. My initial thought is that it was printed in a magazine that wasn’t full color but instead used spot color, in this case black and green. But it works pretty well. And I love the slogan: “A flavor you will find in no other beverage.”
Wednesday’s ad is an odd one, I’m not really sure what the ad was for, or indeed if it’s even an add at all. But still, it’s a great image of the green bottle with legs and arms and the tagline “for a better day.” The artist’s name is apparently Assuma, but that’s about all I know.
As today is Andrew Jackson’s birthday, for Tuesday’s ad I dusted off this 1908 ad for Budweiser in which Olde Hickory features prominently. The ad’s headline reads “1908 Budweiser is ‘Liquid Bread’ / ‘Liquid Life’ The Natural Drink of America / Andrew Jackson 7th President of the United States.” Below the drawing of Jackson on horseback in battle, the text suggests he drank only beer. “All his life,” begins the ad copy,” he drank the generous creative juices of the malt.” They don’t write ’em like that any more.
Monday’s ad is for Rheingold, and features Miss Rheingold for 1944, Jane House, inexplicably wrapped in flowers. The ad is originally from November, so I’m not sure what the significance is. Oh, well.
Our 59th Guinness ad shows the iconic toucan carrying two trays. One, of course, has Guinness on it and the other a tasty meal. The slogan, using a play on words, is “The Toucan be enjoyed together!” Nice to see food and beer being suggested, but it’s a little funny to see it being presented as something unusual, or at least as a combination that wasn’t obvious. You mean I can eat AND drink beer?
