Friday’s ad is for is by Ballantine Ale, from 1958. In the 1950s, Ballantine advertised the hop variety “Brewer’s Gold” as “a rare strain of choice hops” and even registered it as a trade-mark, although Brewers Gold is widely available today. In this ad, a conquistador appears to have found El Dorado, the fabled city of gold, and among the gold was te liquid kind, specificially a ginormous glass of Ballantine Ale.
Thursday’s ad is for is by Ballantine Ale, from 1958. In the 1950s, Ballantine advertised the hop variety “Brewer’s Gold” as “a rare strain of choice hops” and even registered it as a trade-mark, although Brewers Gold is widely available today. In this ad, a Prospector is in a cave, panning for gold (which is odd, because usually you pan in a river or stream, but he must have said the magic words, “It’s the Genuine,” and a glass of liquid gold appeared to him. Or maybe he’s starting to hallucinate, which would at least explain why he’s panning for gold without a water around.
Wednesday’s ad is for is by Ballantine Ale, from 1957. In the 1950s, Ballantine advertised the hop variety “Brewer’s Gold” as “a rare straion of choice hops” and even registered it as a trade-mark, although Brewers Gold is widely available today. In this ad, a Cowboy is out in the desert, sitting on a chest of gold, but seems most happy about that ginormous glass of beer that’s appeared before him like an oasis, as he recites the magic words, “It’s the Genuine.”
Tuesday’s ad is for is by Ballantine Ale, from 1957. In the 1950s, Ballantine advertised the hop variety “Brewer’s Gold” as “a rare straion of choice hops” and even registered it as a trade-mark, although Brewers Gold is widely available today. In this ad, the genie Aladdin has granted a wish and a Ballantine Ale appears on a magic flying carpet. though instead of “abracadabra,” the magic words are “It’s the Genuine.”
Between 1951 and 1953, P. Ballantine and Sons Brewing Company, or simply Ballentine Beer, created a series of ads with at least thirteen different writers. They asked each one “How would you put a glass of Ballantine Ale into words?” Each author wrote a page that included reference to their beer, and in most cases not subtly. One of them was A.J.
Cronin, who was a Scottish author, best known for The Citadel, “the story of a doctor from a Welsh mining village who quickly moves up the career ladder in London.”
Today is the birthday of Archibald Joseph Cronin (July 19, 1896–January 6, 1981), who was “was a Scottish novelist and physician. His best-known novel is The Citadel, the story of a doctor from a Welsh mining village who quickly moves up the career ladder in London. Cronin had observed this scene closely as a Medical Inspector of Mines and later as a doctor in Harley Street. The book promoted what were then controversial new ideas about medical ethics and helped to inspire the launch of the National Health Service. Another popular mining novel of Cronin’s, set in the North East of England, is The Stars Look Down. Both these novels have been adapted as films, as have Hatter’s Castle, The Keys of the Kingdom and The Green Years. Cronin’s novella Country Doctor was adapted as a long-running BBC radio and TV series Dr Finlay’s Casebook, revived many years later.”
His 1952 piece for Ballantine was done as a reminiscence of his first taste of Ballantine in America, just after a well-played round of golf:
My first meeting with Ballantine Ale is still vivid in my memory.
It was a sweltering summer day at York Harbor, Maine, shortly after I first came to these United States. I thought it would be a memorable day because I shot the lowest golf score I ever made — a 72.
But in the locker room after the game, a friend said: “Try a Ballantine.”
I did — straight from the icebox. And as it flowed over by parched throat — tangy and refreshing in every swallow — I realized with a big thrill that my search for my favourite beverage was ended. I had always like ale, but here was something lighter, something better than anything I’d ever had abroad.
Well, my discovery outweighed by golf course. I remember that day as the time the “three rings” first rang the bell for me.
Wednesday’s ad is for Ballantine, from 1949. In this ad, part of a series progressing from one, to two, to three rings, a swordfish is swimming behind a fishing boat, diving in and out of the water, which naturally makes rings in the ocean. First one, then a second, and finally a third, mirroring the Ballantine logo.
Tuesday’s ad is for Ballantine, from 1949. In this ad, part of a series progressing from one, to two, to three rings, a fish is blowing air bubbles under water, which naturally look like rings. First one, then a second, and finally a third, resembling the Ballantine logo.
Monday’s ad is for Ballantine, from 1949. In this ad, part of a series progressing from one, to two, to three rings, another man at Christmastime hangs a wreath on his door, but it doesn’t seem like it’s quite right. So he adds a second one, but he’s still dissatisfied. But the third wreath, forming the Ballantine logo, is, again, just right.
Sunday’s ad is for Ballantine, from 1939. In this ad, part of a series progressing from one, to two, to three rings, a man at Christmastime hangs a wreath on his door, but it doesn’t seem like it’s quite right. So he adds a second one, but he’s still dissatisfied. But the third wreath, forming the Ballantine logo, is just right.
Saturday’s ad is for Ballantine, from 1948. In this ad, part of a series progressing from one, to two, to three rings, a black whale is swimming in the ocean spouting from his blowhole, creating rings in the air above him. First one, then another until finally three rings mimic the Ballantine logo.
