The always insightful Harry Schumacher has a thoughtful, well-reasoned piece on the question Are Mega-Brands in Permanent Decline? Definitely worth a look.
Guinness Ad #27: A Guinness A Day
Our 27th Guinness poster by John Gilroy features a simple message bearing the slogan “A Guinness A Day” and seven pints of Guinness laid out for the week, followed by the tagline “Guinness is good for you.” Nice and simple.
Beer In Ads #152: Phoebe Cates For Asahi
Friday’s ad ends Bud week early and is a bit of a departure for what’s usually featured here. I try not to use overtly male-oriented ads but today is an exception. We all have celebrities, male and female, that we’re more attracted to than others. For me, one of my most enduring starstruck crushes has been on Phoebe Cates, most famous for Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Gremlins. But many actors also did ads in Japan, which during the 1980s was quite lucrative so many who wouldn’t do ads in the U.S. just couldn’t turn down doing them in Japan, and Phoebe Cates was no exception. She did a series of ads, usually in a bikini, for Asahi Breweries sometime during the 80s. Also, I should point out that the reason for all this is today is Phoebe Cates’ 47th birthday.
The campaign also included television spots, like this one on YouTube. Since it was for their Asahi Draft Beer, they used the slogan “Live Beer” in the TV spots and on branded beer glasses in the print ads, such as the ones below.
Sometimes in a big floppy hat, sometimes not.
Most of the ads I’ve seen have been cropped and don’t show the full ad, sad to say.
Beer In Ads #151: Budweiser, What An Acorn Needs Is Management
Thursday’s ad continues Bud week and is from 1937 and uses an odd bit of logic, equating an oak tree’s management of its seeds — or acorns — with the growing barley for making beer. I’m all for the idea that quality ingredients are necessary to brew a quality beer, but the analogy seems stretched a bit. There’s also an impassioned thank you from Adolphus Busch III for supporting American barley farmers and hop growers through buying Budweiser, the nation having just come out of the Great Depression. Finally, I love the reference to Shakespeare in the tagline at the bottom; “As You Like It .. In Bottles … In Cans.”
Beer In Ads #150: Budweiser, There’s Nothing Like It …
Wednesday’s ad is from 1950 and features another couple, similar to Monday’s couple, this time playing at archery. The woman is the clear winner as her two fingers indicates the number of bullseyes she’s gotten. It also uses the same slogan, “There’s nothing like it … absolutely nothing.”
Beer In Ads #149, Budweiser, Something More Than Beer
This week is shaping up to be a Budweiser sort of week, and Tuesday’s ad is from 1951 and features a couple opening their wedding gifts. Presumably, neither are happy about the statue she’s just unwrapped, but the tray of Bud he bringing in, now that’s the “mark of good taste.”
Beer In Ads #148: Budweiser, There’s Absolutely Nothing Like It …
Monday’s ad is for Budweiser from most likely the 1950s, or possibly post-war forties. Fishing is the theme and the tagline is “There’s nothing like it … absolutely nothing.” She looks like she’s ready for fishing, even with the bamboo rod. The dude, on the other hand, looks like he’s dressed for a nightclub, or bowling maybe.
Guinness Ad #26: Lumberjack
Our 26th Guinness poster by John Gilroy features a lumberjack energized by drinking his Guinness so that he’s able to fell a large tree with one fell swoop of the axe. “Guinness For Strength,” indeed.
Unfortunately this is the best image of this ad I could find. If anyone has a better one, please let me know or send it my way. There’s also a variation on the lumberjack theme, with the same artwork but a different slogan, “My Goodness, My Guinness.”
Beer In Ads #147: Schlitz, Don’t Get It Wet
For the last of Schlitz week, Friday’s ad is one from 1951. This one’s supposed to funny with the husband was letting his wife use a newspaper to keep it from raining on her hair and instead is holding their umbrella over the bottles of Schlitz in the bag in front of them. Oddly enough, the man with beer is holding his pipe in his mouth upside down. Is that perhaps to keep it dry?
Beer In Ads #146: Ask For Schlitz
Without intending it, this week has become a Schlitz week, and Thursday’s ad is one from 1956. The waiter’s uniform is hilarious. Are they on a cruise ship? And I love the hat on the woman. Actually, the expression on all their faces are priceless. The tagline, “Ask for Schlitz … see why it outsells all other beers” is a classic taunt. Schlitz is also featured on the cover of the menu that the man is holding.
