Avis might’ve reached advertising legend status with its “When you’re only No.2, you try harder. Or else.” ad and eventual “We try harder.” tagline, but I gotta tell ya, this 1967 Hertz ad is its own kind of awesome. I never knew it existed before picking up a short stack of old Newsweek magazines at a local flea market this weekend. And the word count in this single print ad? 385.
Avis v. Hertz – a history.
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When was the last time you write a real letter, you cold and heartless monster?
Bone shards:
This company was founded in 1893 to manufacture social stationery. Social stationery. The first social media?
Feel like writing somebody a real letter? Etsy and eBay have some sellers with vintage Eaton stationery.
I know you can’t wait to read about the history of paper.
You wanna go old-old school? I got ya — the history of papyrus.
Remember Cursive?
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This ad has a pretty utilitarian headline in the innovation/differentiation/unique-selling-proposition/how-will-it-improve-your-life vein, but once you get into the body copy, it’s a golden-age masterpiece of copywriting.
Fun fact: The snooze alarm was invented in 1956.
While we’re at it, here’s a 2,000-year history of alarm clocks thanks to Atlas Obscura.
Hey babe, are you into horology?
Continue readingI’m sharing this one for the last line of copy in the block:
“Every woman who sees them wants them—she must have them.”
A lovely example of inventing desire.
Fun facts:
Plymouth paid Warner Bros. fifty grand to use the Road Runner name and likeness.
Hatched in 1968, the Plymouth Road Runner wasn’t discontinued until 1980.
And yes, Plymouth had a special beep-beep horn for it, developed by the Sparton Corporation of Jackson, Michigan. Hear it here.
Continue readingI was trying to find out if the big container of Crisco was called a canister, can, jar, tub, pail, bucket or something else, and noticed this rather ambitious bit of copy…
What a great way to introduce a new brand.
Look at the sheer amount of copy in this comic book ad aimed at kids!
The copywriter even got “akimbo” and “dadgum” approved!
Wowie-zowie! I’m impressed.
Note: I had no idea Hubba Bubba was available in mint flavor back in 1980.
Quite simply, in Old West times, an owlhoot was a bad guy.
Find out more about owlhoots from Word Histories and True West Magazine.
See? Comic books are good for you!
Behold, the out-of-print poster you never knew you wanted.
