I Think They Called it an "Icebox"

I'm a big fan of the oddly juxtaposed, the weird and off the wall, which is why when coming across this image for a 1950 refrigerator in an old copy of LIFE magazine over at Google Books, I felt the need to stock the fridge with beer. I don't know, just something about a bunch of proper ladies playing bridge and getting excited about binge drinking pleases me. It was kind of sad to imagine the original intent of the ad, where these ladies were interrupting their bridge game to get all excited about a new refrigerator. I assume it was bridge anyway, because ladies of that era were not allowed to play anything else.

I tried and tried to come up with a caption for this, but other than some sort of reference to the ladies loving a good stallion, I came up empty. I'm sure there are creative minds out there that can deliver a good line for this. Then we sell it to Rolling Rock and start our own shop. Or not. Whatever.

We've Always Hated Advertising

Here's an old ad (1956) caught hating on ads. From the copy: "You can also shut off long, annoying commercials while picture remains on screen!" Now we call that the mute button. And under the close-up of the "flash tuner" we find this reassuring note: "Absolutely harmless to humans." Sorry about your comatose dog and the boiled fish in the aquarium. And I count no less than 7 exclamation points in the copy.

Uncomfortable sackcloth chair sold separately.

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Most Depressing Tech Advertising Ever

It's mid-20th Century Germany, the memory of the war still fresh in your mind, the nationwide devastation evident in your government subsidized studio apartment that you've decorated as best you can on your meager salary, your workspace a tiny child's desk, a hand-me-down gift from the occupying Americans.

Siemens understands your plight and is working to at least provide your family with passive entertainment. Keep the drapes drawn against the cratered streets and shells of buildings that were once your glorious city. Watch TV. It will soothe the pain.

Cheer up, former servant of the Third Reich. Even though Siemens supported Hitler and participated in the "Aryanizing" of businesses, using slave labor from concentration camps to build electric switches for military uses, they understand your situation and want to help you and your family. Better times are ahead, Citizen. Stop slouching in defeat. Sit tall at your baby desk and work hard. Someday, things will not be so bad.

Previously in German Companies That Made it Big After Helping Hitler.