LegalZoom exploits Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death to promote its services
This sales ploy is beyond tasteless. It is in truth obscene.
Liveright Bookshop, Hotel Dressler
A 1925 ad promising sanctuary and speed, relaxed browsing and instant gratification. Reminiscent of what goes in his Steven Millhauser’s novel Martin Dressler.
Many Lifetymes
Lifetyme Mixed Grass Seed
“I know that the first day of spring isn’t necessarily the best day to sow grass seed, but it is a good day to post something about grass seed.”
Waxtex!
A 1942 ad.
From the Waxed Paper Institute, Inc.
It sounds like a Bob and Ray creation, but it was real.
On “native advertising”
Ads that look like editorial content.
J. Logan Govers
J. Logan Gover (1908–1986) was an east-central Illinois insurance agent, real estate broker, and civic leader. Many businesses used to give out calendars: I think it’s safe to assume that J. Logan Gover gave out glasses.
Boops
A 1940 advertisement for tea.
“Your Best Buy’s Mongol” (and other buys)
From Life magazine, 1956.
Sherwin Cody wants to know
Do You Make Mistakes in English?
Shaw’s Southern Belle Crab Cakes
It was the only item of its kind in the freezer case. Do you see what’s wrong?
Stevie Staple-Freak
You can use the idea of “youth culture,” or your vague understanding of that idea, to sell most anything.
Store-brand cereals and their mascots
My friend Sara meditates on store-brand cereals and their mascots.
Page Morton Black (1915–2013)
“Chock Full o’Nuts is that heavenly coffee.”
Mimeograph duplicator
I found this beautiful ad for an A. B. Dick Mimeograph duplicator while looking for something else.
Velveeta for breakfast
“I don’t like to golf. I love to golf. That’s why I eat Velveeta at breakfast.” What?
“Turn to Tea Today for Vitality”
“This advertisement will repay careful study. Read it and drink, in big city, dense jungle, or Arctic, as you choose.”
This is your brain on tea
From a 1940 ad.
Higher Education PSA
The exhortation to “Give to the college of your choice” has been superseded, I’d say, by the bumper-sticker proclamation “My daughter/son and my money go to .”
“MODERN ART PAYS BIG MONEY”
From Popular Mechanics, August 1931.
Hats off to Allaway
I’d like to know something about the hand that made this lovely piece of commercial art.
Palomino Blackwing non-users
“No, Steinbeck, White, and Wolfe never sang the praises of the Palomino Blackwing, because they lived and died before that pencil came into production.”
Bernhard’s cat
Lucian Bernhard, creator of the Cat’s Paw logo and much more.
“Tot 50” “gag line” contest
Win a Swingline “Tot 50” stapler.
Swingline “Tot 50”
An ad from 1956.
Brach’s Halloween Candies
Full-page ad from Life, 1960.
An afterthought
If I were Boing Boing, the title of the previous post might’ve read like so: Hardee’s commercial likens young women, virgins to breakfast meat.
Hardee’s pigmeat commercial
The song is not about bacon.
Sheaffer cartridge pens, 1959
Back-to-school pens. What makes this ad especially great is the appearance of Ann Marget Olsson (last name misspelled as Olson). Yes, Ann-Margret.