Friday’s ad is still another one for Budweiser, again from 1916. This is one is part of a series from the same year, with the two from the previous days being the three I know about. This one has the headline “Honored in Its Home Town and Famed the World Over.” The copy mentions that the “Saazer Hop Flavor” was “exclusive,” which seems very strange. And for that matter, when did we stop calling them “Saazer” and drop the “-er?” Like all of the ads, it ends with “Budweiser Means Moderation.”
Thursday’s ad is for another one for Budweiser, also from 1916. It seems like this is part of a series from the same year. This one has the great headline “The Better the Hops the Better the Beer Flavor.” Like yesterday’s ad, the parting shot is “Budweiser Means Moderation,” which was part of a strategy to convince people that beer should be spared that the brewing industry adopted far too late to stop the 18th Amendment from being ratified, establishing prohibition in 1920. Needless to say, it was too little, too late, but it’s a cool ad.
Wednesday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1916. There’s some great copy on this ad, beginning with “Every Glass a Handful of Health.” According to the ad, “Each drop of Budweiser is alive and sparkling with the vital energy of Northern Barley and the tonic vigor of Saazer Hops.” Apparently it’s also the “unchallenged sovereign of bottled beers,” which must have been a precursor to A-B declaring themselves the king of beers.
Thursday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1907. The simple ad from over 100 years ago is trying to make friends. For every tuxedoed, top-hatted man with a patriotic flag lapel pin is a friend of Budweiser.
Monday’s ad is another one for Budweiser, this one from 1910. The headline is “The Wise Trainer of Athletes,” but that’s just the start. It continues. “The Wise Trainer of Athletes Knows that the moderate use of a mild stimulant is beneficial to his charges. The vast majority of such men recommend Budweiser Because it is nourishing and refreshing and quickly relieves the tired feeling that may result from physical activity.” My son Porter just joined his middle school’s track team, but I think I’ll hold off on adding beer to his workout regime, at least for now.
Sunday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1913. Showing an idyllic suburban porch setting, with a tray of beer bottles, and this question. “Where’s more real enjoyment? The shady home-porch, a comfortable chair, a good cigar or pipe, a congenial friend, and a cool, refreshing bottle of Budweiser.” Apparently, in 1913, the St’ Louis brewery was producing 3 million bottles each week. But I wonder how many people in 1913, well before the post-war suburban boom that occurred after 1945, even had a porch like this one?
Friday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1905. At least it’s not just yachting. The full tagline is “The Pleasure of Yachting, Golfing, Fishing, Camping Is Incomplete Without Budweiser.” But since this particular ad’s illustration is aboard a yacht, I have to wonder if there are companion ads on a golf course or campsite. Either way, the ad is certainly going for the outdoorsy demographic circa early 20th century.
Wednesday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1910. After fighting a muskie fish you’re “mad and sweaty” you’ll want a beer. But I love their description of Budweiser. “It’s alive with the strength of the finest barley grown in the New World and the tonic properties of the finest hops grown in the Old World.” The “tonic properties” of hops?
Tuesday’s ad is also for Budweiser, from 1962. It’s part of Anheuser-Busch’s “where there’s life” series and features Helen Williams, the first African-American model to “break into the mainstream.” Born in New Jersey, she’d been wildly popular in France in the 1950s but — surprise, surprise — she faced rampant discrimination in her native country from modeling agency until her cause was taken up by several reporters who took her side and wrote about her plight, prompting her to get offers of modeling work from a variety of clients, including Budweiser. In the ad, Williams is looking up from the crossword puzzle she’s working on to watch unseen hands pouring a can of Budweiser into a glass for her. I know a beer always helps me with crossword puzzles.
Monday’s ad is for Budweiser, from sometime in the late 1940s or early Fifties, is my guess. A couple looks over a tiny house model for what looks like it will be an actual tiny house when built full size. I know it’s just a scale model, but it looks like a one-room studio home with a bathroom, or closet. And how about his fashion sense, that green jacket with the ridiculously large yellow ascot; and striped grey pants?. Is he going to a Packers game or just a player? Maybe it’s a bachelor pad and that’s his sister or girlfriend helping him with the design?
