Friday’s ad is for Guinness, from maybe the 1950s or early 1960s. The artwork has that “It’s a Small World” vibe, with the style of illustration and each couple wearing their authentic cultural costumes. Especially when you consider the American couple in their cowboy suits, big hats and a cigarette hanging from the dude’s unshaved face. Yeah, that’s how all Americans look. As I understand it, the world and his wife essentially means a lot of people, which makes sense in the context of the copy: “The World And His Wife Enjoy Guinness.” The phrase always reminds me of the Elvis Costello song The World and His Wife from the 1983 album “Punch the Clock.”
Beer In Ads #1651: Have A Glass Of Guinness When You’re Tired
Monday’s ad is for Guinness, from 1945. I’m not sure who looks sadder, the camel laden down with ten levels of boxes, barrels and sacks or the dude trying to lead the ship of the desert. I guess neither of them is moving until they get a beer. The illustration feels different then many of the classic Guinness ads, but it was done by John Gilroy, who did most of their iconic ads.
Beer In Ads #1648: Have A Glass Of Guinness When You’re Tired
Friday’s ad is for Guinness, from 1946. The ad is illustrated by an H.M. Bateman and shows a foursome all searching for their golf ball on a beach of white stones, making finding their ball a bit look looking for a needle in a haystack. They really don’t look so much tired as the do angry, not that I blame them. The next foursome behind them on the green is most likely tired of waiting for them, too. I don’t know if a Guinness would help, but it probably couldn’t hurt.
Beer In Ads #1569: James Bond, The Man With The Golden Guinness
Thursday’s ad is for Guinness, from 1974, when the James Bond film Man With the Golden Gun was released, which was Roger Moore’s second film portraying the British spy. Today is the birthday of Bond’s creator, author Ian Fleming, and is also known as “James Bond Day.” The Guinness ad is essentially a modified version of the film’s poster, with a man holding a glass of beer in the foreground and round logos replacing the zeroes in 007. And yes, I know Guinness isn’t golden, but the alliteration was too funny not to use. Although apropos of nothing in particular, Guinness announced recently that they will be launching Guinness Golden Ale and last year made a Blonde American Lager.
Beer In Ads #1550: All This, Just To Drink A Guinness In Peace?
Saturday’s ad is another one for Guinness, this one from 1986. The ad shows the United Nations building in New York, with the odd tagline “All This, Just To Drink A Guinness In Peace?” Apparently that’s because the Delegates’s Dining Room on the top floor serves Guinness, though I still don’t think it makes a great deal of sense.
Beer In Ads #1549: Picnic Time At Stonehenge
Friday’s ad is for Guinness, from 1957. The ad shows two young couples having a picnic within spitting distance of Stonehenge which I imagine was as impossible in 1957 as it is today. Maybe I’m wrong, but I can’t believe they’d let anyone get so close to such a national treasure. I love the wild abandon with which the one dude is eating a chicken leg. I know the other guy is sporting an ascot, but is the chicken man wearing one, too, or did he tuck his tie in his shirt? And the dresses that the women are wearing are pretty fly, too, particularly the grey skirt with the jugs. But a picnic by Stonehenge? It’s true. “Life is worth living after a Guinness.”
Beer In Ads #1497: Guinness Time Cried The Oysters
Tuesday’s ad is for Guinness, from the 1930s. I’m not sure exactly when “Guinness Time Cried The Oysters,” was done, but in the 1930s Guinness, and John Gilroy, worked on several Alice in Wonderland-themed projects, including “The Guinness Alice” (1933), “Jaberwocky Re-Versed and Other Guinness Versions” (1935), “Alice Aforethought,” and “Guinness Carrolls for 1938” (1938). Surely, this illustration from The Walrus and the Carpenter was part of of one of those. Anyway, it seemed like a good ad for St. Patrick’s Day. Sláinte.
Beer In Ads #1487: Is It Art? No It’s Guinness!
Saturday’s ad is for Guinness, an ad in the design stages that never was used, but was created in late 1944, sometime after the death of the artist that inspired it, Piet Mondrian , who died February 1, 1944. Mondrian was also born today in 1899, which is why I chose this ad for today. This is one of the “lost Guinness ads” that Martyn Cornell wrote about last year in More great lost Guinness art: new evidence for the genius of Gilroy. The Gilroy he’s referring to is artist John Gilroy, who created most of the iconic characters Guinness used in their advertising, such as the Toucan, the Zookeeper and all of the rest. This one is part of a large stash that mysteriously disappeared in 1971 and then reappeared in America decades later just in time to net whoever absconded with the art millions of dollars. As part of the “lost” unused pieces, Gilroy created a series of ads paying homage to great art masterpieces by Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Picasso, Vermeer and others. This one is a beautifully conceived work that is at once recognizable as being in the style of Mondrian but also cleverly works into the design a pint of stout. It’s shame the series was never finished or green lit.
Beer In Ads #1443: Guinness Gives You Power
Beer In Ads #1442: A Full-Bodied Brew For Able-Bodied Men
Wednesday’s ad is for Guinness, from 1960. Showing a man playing golf, suggesting he could play better by keeping “a Guinness in mind!” But I guess that only holds true for men, and not just any men, but just the tough ones, as the ad copy makes clear. “But for muscular men … who work hard, play hard, live hard … this is it.” And apparently it’s been that way for awhile now. “For 200 years now , this dark Irish brew has been the masculine man’s preference. Frankly, it is not for everyone. But vigorous, vital men are vehement that Guinness stout has the secret of the cool refreshment they need.”