Monday’s ad is for Rheingold Beer, again from 1953, and features Miss Rheingold from that year, Mary Austin. The ad shows Miss Rheingold with her face glowing in the sunset, dressed in a western outfit with guitar in hand, ready to serenade the cowboy behind her, at at least play a duet with him.
Friday’s ad is for Rheingold Beer, from 1953, and features Miss Rheingold from that year, Mary Austin. The ad shows Miss Rheingold on a lawn in front of what looks like a southern mansion (or even the White House? Nah) with a basket full of puppies, and poodles, no less. I’m sure this will fire up the ire of the poodle lovers of the world, but those are some ugly dogs. I’m not sure that scene makes me want a Rheingold beer.
Thursday’s ad is for Budweiser, also from 1948. It’s yet another of Bud’s “Great Contributions to Good Taste” series, this one suggesting that it was James VI of Scotland who made country clubs possible, because he changed the laws to allow golf (which had apparently been prohibited by earlier kings). Having been to countless wedding receptions at country clubs, I’m not entirely convinced that it was such a great contribution to good taste.
Wednesday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1948. Another of Bud’s “Great Contributions to Great Taste” series, this one extolling the virtues of seafood and cold, whether from ice or refrigeration.
Tuesday’s ad is for Schlitz, from 1948. The tagline reads, “Refreshingly Different!” And while it’s certainly different, I’m not quite sure how something can be refreshingly different. But if anything could, I suppose a bear waitress in a green polka-dot apron and ice skating to deliver a Schlitz with two glasses would definitely fit the bill.
Monday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1943. In honor of Veterans Day, it’s a World War 2 era Navy ad. The tagline, “The Ammunition is being passed,” is a reference to “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition” an patriotic song written by Frank Loesser in 1942. It was a response to the attack on Pearl Harbor that marked American involvement in World War II.
Friday’s ad is for Rheingold Beer, from 1956, and features Miss Rheingold from that year, Hillie Merritt. The ad shows Miss Rheingold on a sailboat, with the wind at her back. Given that Rheingold beer was sold as “the Dry beer,” doesn’t it seem off that they are using a nautical — a wet — theme?
Thursday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1948. On a historical theme — and part of their “Great Contributions to Good Taste” series — the ad suggests that “Oysters and lobsters gave the trail its start,” and by trail, they mean the entire west coast. Apparently the Wells Fargo stagecoach first delivered food before diversifying into banking.
Wednesday’s ad is our second ad for Froedtert Malt, or FroMalt, a Milwaukee maltster. They used to have at least three facilities and at least one closed in 2003, but I don’t know how many are left. This ad is from 1957. I’m not sure who Dan Parker is, but he looks like a very busy guy, and he looks like he could use a beer.
Tuesday’s ad is for Reading Premium Beer, from 1972. Reading Premium was my hometown beer, but closed in 1976, when I was a junior in high school, more’s the pity. This ad was just four years before they closed their doors, and it must have been an ad of desperation, trying to compete on price against seven brands far more established then they ever were. But at last they were still using my hands down favorite slogan of all time: “the friendly beer for modern people.”
