Tuesday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1962. In this ad, part of series entitled “This calls for …,” in this case “Bowling Night.” Ah, in 1962, bowling was in its heyday, about to peak. It’s unfortunately fallen off a cliff since then when both casual and serious bowling has been declining unabated. It’s hard not to love any sport where drinking beer in between playing is not only allowed, but encouraged.
Monday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1962. In this ad, part of series entitled “This calls for …,” in this case “Away From It All.” In what looks to be a hunting lodge, or possibly a weekend cabin, three manly men (you can tell because they’re wearing plaid flannel) and a dog sit around a roaring fire. They’re each drinking a beer (except for the dog) but curiously only one is using a mug, the other two are drinking straight from the can.
Sunday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1963. In this ad, part of series entitled “This calls for …,” in this case “the Midway.” At a fair, a couple stops for a hot dog and a beer. I love the hat and outfit the guy pouring the beer is forced to wear. Priceless. But I also can’t help but wonder what’s so funny about having a hot dog waved in one’s face? Or am I misreading that? What I see is the dude holding a hot dog up to his date’s face and her laughing hysterically, throwing her head back, so much so that’s she holding on to her hat so it won’t fall off. That must have been some serious joke he just made. Or are we witnessing a simple double entendre on the Midway?
Saturday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1963. In this ad, part of series entitled “This calls for …,” in this case “Saturday Night.” Date night, Saturday night, at a club, a cigarette, bowl of potato chips and two ginormous beer glasses. And, again, it’s a “friendly place.”
Friday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1962. In this ad, part of series entitled “This calls for …,” in this case “The Tavern.” Two men in suits sit at a fancy bar, reading the newspaper, eating popcorn and having a few beers. As the ad confirms, it’s a “friendly spot.”
Thursday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1962. In this ad, part of series entitled “This calls for …,” in this case “The Neighbors?” Four men, presumably all neighbors, are drinking beer in one of their kitchens, and, apparently “swapping ideas.” I can’t figure out why one of the men there is holding two bottles behind his back, almost hidden from the other three people. He’s also the only one without a glass of beer in his hand. Maybe he just arrived, and pulled them out of the refrigerator, and grabbed two so he could catch up?
Wednesday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1962. In this ad, part of series entitled “This calls for …,” in this case a “Hungry?” A man sits in front of a fireplace, nose deep in a glass of beer, holding the can in the other hand. In front of him is a big slab of ribeye steak on an indoor Hibachi grill. I can’t quite work out if he’s cooking the steak, or eating it right off the grill. It does look like it’s on a table, and probably not in a kitchen, so maybe. Although that is a lot of steak for one man. Until, of course, you remember this was when men were still manly men.
Tuesday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1962. In this ad, part of series entitled “This calls for …,” in this case a “Home From Work….” “The day’s problems melt when there are ‘little things’ to talk about.” I assume the little things refer to their baby, since they’re both looking down, and you can see a highchair behind the woman wearing the apron. I love that he needed a beer first, though.
Monday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1963. In this ad, part of series entitled “This calls for …,” in this case a “After Bowling.” Bowling used to be an incredibly popular sport, and there’s an interesting book about how it, and indeed many of the things people used to get together to participate in, have fallen by the wayside, called “Bowling Alone.” But in the 1960s it was still rolling along, and apparently after playing, “the winners rub it in, the losers alibi.” Sheesh, that doesn’t seem like friendly competition. But at least they had beer. What’s bowling without beer?
Sunday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1963. In this ad, part of series entitled “This calls for …,” in this case a “Big Appetite.” The woman is finishing dinner and opening the lid to whatever dish she’s been cooking, with an expectant look on her face, as her man leans in for a closer smell. I do like that he’s holding his beer close to the dish, so he can theoretically smell both at the same time. Then there’s the tagline. “Loosen your tie and enjoy your Budweiser.” You could pitch in and help, but nah, this is 1963. The little woman will take care of it.
