Wednesday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1964. A surprisingly simple, if busy, ad showing a large turkey that fills the page, laid out on a holiday decorated table, with a bottle of Bud and a full glass of beer next to it. It’s actually making me hungry, and thirsty, for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow.
Monday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1982. Today is the anniversary of the first issue of Rolling Stone magazine, so I figured I’d run this ad from the back cover of the music magazine from 1982. It’s a kinda cool ad showing the can breaking through from inside the magazine, and people on the street in the photo surreally looking up at it. They even offered it as a poster you could send in to have sent to you.
Sunday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1914. The pre-prohibition ad is their attempt to sway people against supporting prohibition. The series used the tagline “Budweiser spells Temperance.” This one features the obscure (at least to me) Leipzig Monument, which was dedicated today, October 18, 1913, commemorating the “Battle of Nations,” also known as the Battle of Leipzig, which took place 100 years earlier in 1813. It was fought in Leipzig, in Saxony against Napoleon.
The coalition armies of Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Sweden, led by Tsar Alexander I of Russia and Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg, decisively defeated the French army of Napoleon I, Emperor of the French. Napoleon’s army also contained Polish and Italian troops, as well as Germans from the Confederation of the Rhine. The battle was the culmination of the 1813 German campaign and involved nearly 600,000 soldiers, making it the largest battle in Europe prior to World War I.
Being decisively defeated for the first time in battle, Napoleon was compelled to return to France while the Coalition hurried to keep their momentum, invading France early the next year. Napoleon was forced to abdicate and was exiled to Elba in May 1814.
Proposals to build a monument commemorating the battle began a year after the battle took place, in 1814, and an architect, Friedrich Weinbrenner, designed a version of the monument that was never used. Fifty years later, a foundation stone was placed at the site, but no memorial was built. It would be another 50 years before it was finally completed, financed primarily by the city of Leipzig, it was dedicated in 1913, on October 18, for the 100th anniversary of the battle, at a cost of 6 million Goldmark ($3,484,966 U.S.).
The monument commemorates Napoleon’s defeat at Leipzig, a crucial step towards the end of hostilities in the War of the Sixth Coalition, which was seen[by whom?] as a victory for the German people, although Germany as we know it did not begin to exist until 1870. There were German speakers fighting on both sides, as Napoleon’s troops also included conscripted Germans from the French-occupied left bank of the Rhine as well as from the Confederation of the Rhine.
The structure is 91 metres (299 ft) tall. It contains over 500 steps to a viewing platform at the top, from which there are spectacular views across the city and environs. The structure makes extensive use of concrete, although the facings are of granite. The monument is widely regarded as one of the best examples of Wilhelmine architecture. It is said to stand on the spot of some of the bloodiest fighting, from where Napoleon ordered the retreat of his army.
So that was the monument that Anheuser-Busch decided would help sell their beer.
Friday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1934. The idea is eight months after prohibition ended, orders were coming in once more for Budweiser from all over the world. The half-dozen stereotypes sitting on the globe in national garb, each raising their beers with a traditional toast, represent six nations or cultures. Curiously, the American toast is “Here’s How.” That’s not a toast I’ve ever heard here, or anywhere for that matter.
Sunday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1977. The ad originally ran in Ebony magazine. “When Do You Say Bud? After the work is done, or right in the middle of the fun.” And by fun, they appear to mean painting.
Sunday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1956. When you’re sitting in the dark watching nature documentaries, feasting on the carcass of a chicken (or possibly turkey) with some cheese between two slices of bread, you’ll definitely want a cold beer. So “Give Yourself A Break” and have some “late in the evening.” I hope Bambi makes it out the forest.
Monday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1950. This is from Bud’s long-running “there’s nothing like it … absolutely nothing” series. At least in this ad, the man is serving a beer to his wife, as there are two bottles and glasses. But she seems to be the only one painting the chair. At least that’s how it looks, since it would pretty foolish to wear a white sweater vest when painting. Of course, this was the fifties, when people seemed to dress up to do anything and everything.
Tuesday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1949. Part of Bud’s long-running “there’s nothing like it” series, the ad starts with “Waltz time, rhumba, foxtrot, swing,” showing a couple out dancing, dressed to the nines. You gotta love that teeny, tiny thin bow tie the man is wearing with his tux. But my favorite is a throwaway statement in the bottom right corner of the ad. “There’s more Budweiser — and there will be still more as our vast expansion program continues.” Uh oh.
Thursday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1961. That’s quite a cheese spread she has going, there’s obviously a party about to happen. Good thing she has half quarts on hand. This party’s going to be off the hook.
Sunday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1949. The ad illustrates a scene at a baseball game, with a uniformed beer vendor — how does he keep that hat on his head? — is pouring a bottle of Budweiser into a paper cup, while they watch the game, eat hot dogs and order more beer. Seems like a pretty good day.
