Monday’s ad is for Pabst Blue Ribbon, this one from 1913. It’s a fairly simple ad, with two men (possibly famous? – the one on the left looks a little familiar) clinking some pretty small glasses of beer. They look a lot like modern 4 oz. sample glasses. One thing I am curious about; what was it they were doing that they had to “come back to Pabst?”
Friday’s ad is again for Pabst Blue Ribbon, also from 1950. This one features New York Yankee Tommy Henrich, who apparently was named Athlete-of-the-Year that year. He’s showing off his World Series home run ball, from what series I have no idea. Given the look on his face, it’s probably a good thing he’s sharing a PBR so his guest can endure his tall tales.
Thursday’s ad is again for Pabst Blue Ribbon, this one from 1950. Showing an old-fashioned tennis player — is that Pancho Gonzalez again? — using a racket with just one string, the analogy they’re using is that playing that way is the equivalent of not blending your beer. Blending is great, but it’s not the only way to brew a beer, and it may not even be the best way to make a pilsner. But how about that outfit?
Wednesday’s ad is also for Pabst Blue Ribbon, this one from 1948. Showing famed comedian and actor Bob Hope in what’s purported to be his home in Hollywood — golf club in hand — he appears to be lecturing the crowd, perhaps on pain of getting hit with his driver. That, or he’s boring them to death with another golf story.
Tuesday’s ad is still another one for Pabst Blue Ribbon, this one from 1963. Showing a pretty spiffy rec room, or hobby den, and an impressive DIY toy yacht in the process of being built. But he’s taking a break from his “leisure-time activities” to enjoy a beer with his wife.
Monday’s ad is yet another one for Pabst Blue Ribbon, this one from 1958. Featuring an artist painting what looks like something abstract, or possibly a terrible landscape, though curiously there’s a woman on the grass under his easel with a tray of food and a glass of beer. He’s apparently taking a break with his own beer and a smoke … or maybe that’s the way he paints. Maybe it’s just me, but his posture makes him look like quite the schlub.
Friday’s ad is another one for Pabst Blue Ribbon, from 1950. Showing famous tennis player Pancho Gonzales relaxing with a PBR — and wearing the quintessential tennis getup — that he’s sharing with someone courtside in a suit and tie. It looks like Pancho’s pointing at the blurred player serving on the court, perhaps a new prospect?
Thursday’s ad is for Pabst Blue Ribbon, from 1947. Showing a picnic scene, just look at the face that the man chowing down on a chicken leg is making. Is he looking at the PBR being poured into a glass, or the woman in the tight red outfit doing the pouring?
Tuesday’s ad for Pabst Blue Ribbon, from 1954. Part of PBR’s “What’ll You Have” series, this one is tennis-themed, with a white tennis sweater emblazoned with Pabst’s tagline by the courts, back in the days when they still used white balls and … well, wore sweaters. Still not quite sure what made the beer better, though.
Monday’s ad is for Pabst Blue Ribbon, from 1950. It’s one of Pabst’s “What’ll You Have” ads, but featuring a sports celebrity, George Mikan. In post-war America, Mikan was known as “Mr. Basketball” and was the Lakers’ center when they still played in a state with lots of lakes. He’s considered a pioneer of modern basketball, and retired as the all-time leading scorer. The NBA actually altered the rules of the game to reduce his dominance and he was directly responsible for the three-point line was and partially for the shot clock. And apparently he drank Pabst.
