Pear’s Soap has several claims to fame.
It was the world’s first transparent soap.
It is the world’s oldest continuous brand.
And as chairman of the company, Thomas J. Barratt is known to some as the father of modern advertising.
Would you like to learn more about saponification? Of course you would! (You don’t.)
Continue reading
1943 magazine ad for Chesterfield cigarettes
What’s going on here with the Commodore lurking behind the Lieutenant? Is he her friend? Her mentor? her dad? Her lover? Her fashion consultant? A creep? A ghost? A German spy? CURIOUS MINDS WANT TO KNOW! Continue reading
1974 magazine ad for Roman Brio
Think about it — This ad’s style is ripe for parody.
I’m a narcissist…
so make it all about me.
Everybody’s doing smack…
And I’m willing to shoot some up,
but cocaine’s my bag.
I don’t eat bananas because potassium is cool.
I buy them because they look like bright yellow penises.
Trivia: “Brio” appears to be Italian for “vivacity”, which isn’t exactly the manliest of words. Continue reading
1974 magazine ad for Maverick Jeans & Sportswear
I have many questions about these three, but I’d rather not get them answered. Continue reading
Uncle George likes his meat solid.
Hormel’s SPAM is infamously “spiced ham”.
Armour’s Treet is a “spiced luncheon loaf”.
Wilson & Co.’s MOR was described as “no bone”, “no gristle” and “solid”. Can’t imagine why they’re not still around. Continue reading
1943 magazine ad for General Mills Cheerioats (later Cheerios)
General Mills’ Cheerioats was invented in 1941. It didn’t long for Quaker Oats to gripe about the name and threaten legal action, so Cheerioats became Cheerios in 1945. Good thing, because autocorrect hates hates hates “Cheerioats”. Continue reading
1974 magazine ad for Vitalis Dry 3
Vitalis Dry 3 is sold in a can that looks like a robot’s penis, but leaves you softer and not as stiff. I’m getting mixed messages here. Continue reading
1946 magazine ad for Worthington Foods
Long before Tofurkeys roamed the earth, meatlessness was already a thing. Back in the 40s, Worthington Foods was there leading the way with vegetarian comestibles, ironic quotation marks and horrible product names indicative of the era. Let’s examine several of them! Continue reading
1973 magazine ad for Imperial Hiram Walker American Whiskey
You’re trying to score with this chick named Zuzu Zither.
She’s learning to play the Appalachian dulcimer.
Thank God for whiskey.
Trivia: The Appalachian dulcimer is also known as the hog fiddle. The more you know. Continue reading
