The Ladies Love Coke and Smokes

Caption on Shorpy reads: July 1940. "Gas station in Benton Harbor, Michigan." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. (Click for the massive)

If you like advertising, history, vintage crap, photography or you just want another cool place to waste time at as you put off that horrible assignment you're avoiding, bookmark that site or subscribe to the feed. The detail is always amazing. In the above scene, the restrooms are "registered" and apparently getting a radio installed in your car was a hot business back in 1940.

And it appears we are being watched from the garage by Major Mike Adams.

What a lurker.

Wing Away, Free as a Skylark, And as Gay

(Click to read the copy.) Seems there was a time (1931) when you could sell a man on the free-wheeling nature of motorcycle riding by appealing to his wish to imitate the skylarks, and join the good, gay fellows who spend their play hours on Harley-Davidsons.

Thanks to Jumpin' Jimbo Cox for the tip.

Bullshit Ideas of Yesteryear

For those of us who enjoy looking at old ads, there is a limitless supply at Google Books. Get rich quick schemes, cigarettes, cars, food, underwear, leg warmers, bomb shelters, it's all there. Just pick a year and a magazine title and peruse your workday away.

I found this column of lies in a vintage Popular Science classified section, just after the full-page ad of the guy leaning on his Rolls Royce, promising to help you make $100,000 in 90 days.

Skype Spek

I've learned to love Skype, the telecommuter's dream, the satellite office's lifeline, the podcast producer's best friend. They need better ads. (Do they even place ads?)

Original 1964 ad from Bell Telephone System is here.

Previous Skype-related posts.

Pure, Wholesome Refreshment

Return with me now to a simpler time, to another era of economic disaster, when life as an advertiser meant just telling blatant lies about your client's product. Listen as Coke is positioned as the end of all your suffering, the unifier of the masses, the common bond that will take us to a shining city on a hill.

As Nourishing as it is Tasty!

Yes, it's a meat-salad-vegetable combination! It's a well-balanced meal!

Lengthy copy and giant picture in this 1966 ad for the then-still-fledgling Burger King. Click image for bigger version and see if your locale even had a Burger King in 1966. Mine didn't, as it was pre-Disney days here and who wanted to risk a franchise in Orlando? I'm loving the Raygun Gothic architecture of the restaurant at the bottom of the ad.

And I'll be damned if this ad doesn't still work, 42 years after its creation. That giant burger looks really good to me right now. Only problem is that since 1966, we've learned that there is no such thing as a nourishing meal from Burger King.

Via.

Red and Blue Polyester Coordinate States

I don't know what it means. I just stuck their heads on an old Sears catalog ad. Something about the tough expressions contrasting with the "please kick my ass" clothing that makes me laugh.

My Estate and My Car. Oh, Yeah...My Woman, Too

Get thee behind me, woman!

Image via.

An Unfortunate Moment in Tech Advertising

The geniuses of Plaid pointed me to this fun collection of ads and photos at IBM's website.

When Advertising Was Innocent

Nothing untoward or even mildly suggestive going on here. What? You've never seen a guy feeding a woman a hot dog? You've never seen another guy lurking creepily as another woman eats a hot dog? I really think you're reading too much into this innocent picnic scene from yesteryear.

Although, the dude without a date is really into that bottle as he reaches for a bunch of bananas.

Via.

My Kingdom for an (Iron) Horse

Hey, Delta has a blog!

And they're Green, Diverse, aware of Breast Cancer and doing what they can for the Poor.

Bases pretty well covered in their efforts to rebuild following bankruptcy.

Now, if they can do something about the smarmy treatment so prevalent with airlines.

From the ticket counter to security to the baggage claim, everything about flying just plain sucks. Come on , Amtrak, get your act on track.

UPDATE: HighJive notes in the comments that it's unlikely we'll see anything good out of Delta with this recent news.

Original 1970 image is via.

How About a Piping Hot Plate of Depression?

Click image to read copy.


Or as the original poster titled it: "Clean the House and Eat from a Can."

The ironing's done and you're hungry and alone. Treat yourself to some "tasty, nourishing spaghetti, in a savoury, cheese-flavoured tomato sauce."

Heinz will be your friend, you poor, lonely, miserable 1950s English homemaker.

The Evolution of Macho

Then: Hey, guys...embarrassed by your lack of chest hair? Afraid of being seen as some sort of wimp? You need the Chest Wig. With its self-adhesive backing and thick life-like texture, the ladies will be dying to run their fingers through your furry forest.

Now: Hey, guys...embarrassed by your chest hair? Afraid of being seen as some sort of gorilla? Remove it forever wth laser treatments. With your smooth new look, the ladies will be dying to run their fingers across your slick skin.

Via

Blow it Up! Again and Again

When men were men and trains were for war. Train to be a test pilot by learning to operate an electric train.



Why post this? Because you are more easily entertained by moving images than you are by the written word. And 'cause I have to get to work and this is easy.

Toddler Daughter Threatens Mom's Self-Esteem

Poor woman doesn't even have her own name. No wonder she's insecure. And she's married to the former Prime Minister of Australia. Mom here is so jealous of her little girl that she is now stealing her soap.



Via - because sometimes, blogging is too much work and I need to phone one in.

Side Effects May Include Death by Suffocation

Via

15 Out of 15 Dairy Queen Customers are White

(And so is the lone guy working the store.) At least that was the case in 1960. On second thought, that might be Obama serving ice cream inside the DQ.

I'm sure many of you are familiar with Plan59, a great site of ancient advertising art. Laggard that I am, I only recently found it and spent too long perusing today when I was supposed to be crafting compelling copy. After viewing way too many images, I think I counted one person of color. He was a train porter serving Coca-Cola to a white family.

The site does remind you, however, that at one time (pre-Photoshop) being a "commercial artist" meant that you actually had to have some artistic skills.

Cold Country Wheat Farmer Recruiting

1911, London

"I'm here to see Mr. J. Obed Smith about emigrating to Canada."
"I'm Mr. Smith, Assistant Superintendent of Emigration. Do you farm, young man?"
"No, sir. I'm a cobbler's apprentice."
"No future in cobbling, son. None at all."
"That's what my girl said when she left me."
"Girls love a wheat farmer, and that's a fact. We'll teach you to farm."
"What's Canada like, sir?"
"Beautiful country, my boy. Mild climate, and 100 women to every man."

Found at AdClassix.

I'm Lovin it

via

1970s Flashback-Flashback-Flashback

1972. Average Joe is now allowed to grow his hair just like the hippies did in the 60s. But he isn't a dirty, nasty unkempt hippie. He cares for his hair. And his giant porn moustache.

Swinging Bob here knows what you want. You want to lick Macho's six luscious flavors from his body. You also want the various STDs he's carrying. Send cash, check or money order. To Los Angeles, of course.

Macho flavors include fruit ambrosia.