Tuesday’s ad features a quote and drawing of Anheuser-Busch founder Adolphus Busch, who was born today in 1839. It’s kind of a funny quote, and I can only assume it was made up in 1976 by A-B’s advertising department for a centennial ad. “It’s good, this new beer of mine. Really good. Some day it will be world renowned … I think I’ll call it Budweiser.” Even if he ever thought or said (to whom?) something so ridiculous in 1876, who wrote it down?
Monday’s ad is from 1959, for Rheingold Beer, featuring Miss Rheingold for that year, Robbin Bain, at an Antique car show during harvest time, or just before Halloween. Those are some old cars. I remember going to a lot of antique car shows when I was a kid (my stepfather was a mechanic and obsessed with cars) and there always really, really old Model T’s and the like, cars from the late 19th century through the fifties. But the last car show I saw was almost all newer cars, with the 1950s maybe the oldest cars, which wasn’t nearly as impressive somehow.
Friday’s ad is from 1956, for Rheingold Beer, featuring Miss Rheingold for that year, Hillie Merritt, on a ride, presumably, at Coney Island (since Rheingold was a New York brewery). If you look at the fine print, apparently that yellow dress was made especially for Rheingold.
Thursday’s ad is from 1957, for the British brand Mackeson’s Stout. It’s a simple black and white line drawing of a hand holding a titled glass of stout, having consumed a portion of it, maybe as much as half. The tagline, “You’ll like it better!,” begs the question, better than what exactly? Who was their main competition in 1947? Other stouts, or lighter-colored beers?
Wednesday’s Independence Day ad is also from 1976, a series of bicentennial stickers for Budweiser’s 70s pitchman Budman. The six are known collectively as the “Budman Patriot Set.” Happy Independence Day!
The Fife Player
Crossing the Delaware?
Flying the flag
Betsey “Bud” Ross
Paul Revere lighting the lamp in the North Church.
Fixing the Liberty Bell?
Tuesday’s ad is from 1976, a bicentennial Pabst Blue Ribbon sticker showing two fife players and a drummer drumming on a glass of beer. I’m not sure why they’re dressed like Superman or have capes or all have mustaches, but they do look patriotic. Happy Independence Day tomorrow!
Monday’s ad is from 1956 and is for Budweiser. It’s a pretty cool image — an illustration I believe — showing several couples dancing with a band behind them providing music to tap their toes to. But the scene is distorted because we’re seeing it through the golden hues of a glass of beer.
Friday’s ad concludes our week of Rheingold Beer ads, this one from 1956, featuring Miss Rheingold from that year Hillie Merritt. Standing in front of a colorful garden, she’s about to get on a bicycle built for two. I wonder who the second person is?
Thursday’s ad is still another one for Rheingold Beer, this one from 1951, featuring Miss Rheingold from that year Elsie Gammon. I’m not exactly sure what she’s holding in her right hand — a can of sauce, spices, or a grenade? — but her left hand holds a ginormous fork while chicken appears to be on the spit above the barbecue. But is that light blue hotpad appear to be on the grille itself? And yet it doesn’t appear to be burning.
Wednesday’s ad is yet another one for Rheingold Beer, this one from 1954, featuring Miss Rheingold from that year Adrienne Garrett. She’s holding tightly to the reins of a foal, standing in front of a barn. Though she’s certainly smiling, with her body language she doesn’t look convincingly at ease down on the farm.
