Thursday’s ad is yet another one for Schlitz, from 1954. You see the main figure from the ad — the King of the grill — appropriated and used in other posters, but this is where it originally appeared. The illustration was by another well-known artist of the day, Tran Mawicke. Don’t you miss dressing up for backyard barbecues? Oh, wait, that never happened, at least not in my lifetime. Also, take a closer look at the salt and pepper shakers hiding behind the Schlitz logo — those are awesome.
Wednesday’s ad is another one for Schlitz, from 1956. The beautiful illustration is by Haddon Sundblom, who’s most famous for his depiction of Santa Claus for Coca-Cola, which pretty much set the standard for how we think of him today, in red and white, not coincidentally Coke’s colors, too. In this ad, a young couple looks like they’re having a romantic lunch date, holding hands as the order. But while the young woman is staring longingly at her date, he’s eying the beer that;s just arrived at the table. There’s only one beer on the tray, so presumably it’s for him. I predict this relationship will fail, if she won’t join him for a beer.
Tuesday’s ad is for Schlitz, from 1953. “‘Round the clock and ’round the calendar — day in and day out — Schlitz quality is assured by hundreds of special, rigid safeguards.” I understand how brewing works, so what exactly might be these “hundreds of special, rigid safeguards?” As a later series of Schlitz ads wondered, “I was curious.” And I especially love this description of the beer. “The light, dry and winsome flavor of Schlitz sparkles.” I don’t drink nearly enough winsome beers anymore.
Monday’s ad is for City Club Beer, a brand made by Schmidt’s, from 1951. It’s a beautiful illustration, by Howard Scott, a prominent American illustrator from the 1930s on. I’m not quite sure what “mellow-dry” is, but it sure seems to put a smile on these two men. I think they’ve been out working in the garden, so probably any cold beer would taste pretty good, mellow-dry or not.
Sunday’s ad is another one for Ballantine Ale, this time from 1947. It’s another great illustration, but the disembodied arms holding the beer seem just a little bit creepy to me. But for one of the few times (maybe the only time) I can recall, both the bottle and the glass are half-full, which is nice to see for a change. Also, the way the Borromean rings of the Ballantine logo are shown, with the beaded bubbles slightly larger, it reminded me of the way a bicycle chain looks, as if the three rings were made out of a bicycle chain, which would be kind of interesting.
Saturday’s ad is for Ballantine Ale, from 1957. “Enjoy the Genuine.” I guess back then “Only Ballantine Ale brews ‘Brewer’s Gold’ into Genuine Golden Ale Flavor!” Another nice illustration from the golden age of advertising art, again showing a full glass but only a partially emptied bottle.
Friday’s ad is for Ballantine Ale, from 1954. It’s a beautifully illustrated ad, done by Dorothy Monet, a well known advertising artist of the day. It depicts an elegant dinner party, made all the more “special” by serving Ballantine Ale, of course, on a silver tray. There’s some great ad copy, referring to is as a “sociable beverage” and that it has the “time-honored flavor of all” which contains the “lightness and liveliness Americans prefer in their brewed beverages.” I’m convinced.
Thursday’s ad is for Barclay’s Russian Stout, from when I’m not sure, though probably Martyn Cornell or Ron Pattinson knows, since I think I may have nicked this ad from him originally. It’s certainly a beautiful ad and certainly makes me thirsty for some marrow-warming stout.
Wednesday’s ad is for Falstaff, from 1969. I’m not sure what the label looked like before the sixties ended, but the new one is what I remember, a logo and a short story. Notice in parenthesis at the bottom it states “(This family brews beer better),” a bold claim indeed. But then I have to ask, why focus on the new label first?
Tuesday’s ad is an another interesting ad by famed Swiss illustrator Herbert Leupin. This is maybe the sixth or seventh work by him that I’ve featured over the years. In this one a beautifully rendered glass of beer inexplicably has a boater hat with a flower in it floating above it. I don’t what the story is, but like everything Leupin did, it’s a wonderful work of beer art.
