Tuesday’s ad is an old one — from 1893 — for Pabst, showing an odd scene “In Darkest Africa.” The artwork is apparently depicting Emin Pascha inviting Stanley to lunch. Pascha was a doctor, explorer and governor of one of the Egyptian provinces after 1876. Stanley is the famous British explorer Henry M. Stanley who went looking for Dr. Livingstone, I presume. But the ad is showing another of Stanley’s expedition, from 1886-1889, known as the Emin Pasha Relief Expedition in which he led a party to rescue Pascha. Presumably that’s what the ad for Pabst’s Export Beer is playing against, as it was big news in its day, though the Africans are depicted in a less-than-flattering light.
Beer In Ads #342: Pabst, Good Beer For Good Fellows
Wednesday’s ad is a World War 2-era one for Pabst Blue Ribbon which despite depicting two couples, uses the curious slogan “Good Beer For Good Fellows.” Sure, women are explicitly mentioned in the copy, but the slogan and art just don’t seem to jibe, though it is a cool painting.
The Rocketbeer Rocketeer
I’m a huge fan of Dave Stevens and especially his story of The Rocketeer, which was a fabulous comic book before it was a 1991 film with Bill Campbell, Jennifer Connelly and Alan Arkin.
What’s not to love about an adventure story with a jet pack at the heart of it? I was captivated by jet packs after I first saw one in the James Bond movie Thunderball. So what does another of my singular obsessions have to do with beer? Glad you asked. I stumbled upon this 1976 ad for Pabst Blue Ribbon earlier today and it features — yeah, you guessed it — a jet pack. Although they call it a “rocketbelt” in the ad, it’s a jet pack all the same. The original video was uploaded to YouTube by the very cool sounding Rocket Belt Society.
Beer In Ads #304: Pabst Blue Ribbon Touch
Friday’s ads feature two for Pabst Blue Ribbon from 1956. Both are spot color ads depicting a blindfolded man tasting Pabst and declaring “This one has the touch,” whatever that means.
Below each photo it also reads. “Unmistakable! The taste with the Pabst Blue Ribbon touch.”
Beer In Ads #268: Pabst, What’ll You Have
Monday’s holiday ad is for Pabst Blue Ribbon from 1951 and feature some pretty ugly dolls singing Pabst’s slogan of the day, “What’ll You Have.” The Christmas tree has a “Charlie Brown” look to it, as well.
Beer In Ads #246: Pabst, Back In The Days
Thursday’s ad is from 1960 and is for Pabst. I chose it because the man is wearing a mustache and the men in beer ads rarely have facial hair, surprisingly enough. I love the slogan “Back in the Days — The Good Old Days … When Beer Was Really Beer.” I wonder what they’re trying to imply with that one?
Beer In Ads #229: Pabst Cool Blue Catch
With the World Series and baseball ads plus Halloween this weekend, I’m doubling up on ads so I can highlight both baseball and Halloween-themed ones. Today’s baseball ad is from the 1970s for Pabst. The “Cool Blue” Pabst baseball player is running to make the catch … of a mug of beer.
Beer In Ads #141: Pabst Smiling Waiter
Thursday’s ad is again for Pabst, from 1940. It’s one of a series from around that time period that were all inside of a blue ribbon. I love the slogan at the bottom: “It’s Blended … It’s Splendid!” The opening tagline is priceless, too. “Order it with Confidence … Serve it with Pride.” I love that smirk on the waiter. But how about the elaborate sandwich — 4 fancy toothpicks! And why is there no beer glass on that tray, just the bottle?
Beer In Ads #139: Pabst Pick O’ The Picnic
Tuesday’s ad is for Pabst, from 1947. It’s one of a series from around that time period that were all inside of a blue ribbon. I love the slogan at the bottom: “It’s Blended … It’s Splendid!” Also, check out the expression on the guy’s face as he’s about to bit into that fried chicken leg. Is it the beer he’s leering at, or could it be the gal in the tight red dress? Take a look. What do you think he’s looking at?
Beer In Art #82: Pabst Art Contests
Today’s works of art were all created over the past four years, as a part of an art contest by Pabst Blue Ribbon. Now that Pabst Brewing Co. has recently changed hands, who knows whether the new owners will keep the art contest alive. As far as I can tell, it started in 2007 and has been held each year since, including this year. The PBR Art website has a gallery with 380 works of art that have been submitted. Many of them are quite good, and I’ve picked out some my favorites below.
A straightforward still life by Mark Cummings.
This fun one, an interpretation of Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus” is by Christopher Galiyas.
This painting by Josh Holland reminds me a bit of a Grateful Dead album cover.
The blog is still acting up and throwing tantrums when I try to embed anything, but I created a slideshow of my favorite 40 Pabst works of art. Just click on the link to be taken to the Flickr slideshow.