Category: Vintage Ads

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Zenith Gifts are the Most!

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Vintage Ad of the Week – December 2, 2024

Seventeen Magazine – December 1960

Talk about being the cool kid on the block. Holy cow! Where can I get one of these? Can you imagine waking up on Christmas morning and opening this up in 1960? This handheld transistor radio is the sweetest thing. “Sally’s” parents hit the Christmas jackpot when they picked this out. Now Sally can walk around campus playing all the new tunes. She can stroll the halls, causing a ruckus, and drive her teachers mad with latest rock music. When school is over she can be the kid in the back of the bus that’s got everyone covered with the freshest vibes on the airwaves. Little do Mom and Dad know she will play the radio day and night, driving them up the wall with her rock ‘n’ roll. Because, let’s get real – Sally looks like she is part of the in crowd. No Stravinsky or Rachmaninoff for her. Nothing but Elvis, the Everly Brothers, Bobby Rydell, the Drifters and Sam Cooke will be coming out of that magical rectangular box.

If the iPod was the gift to get in 2001, this was the one to get in 1960. While this is by far not the first portable radio Zenith produced (they were making portable radios as far back as 1924), it is a compact version with high aesthetic appeal. The ad states it plays up to 75 hours on just 40 cents worth of batteries. That’s $4.27 in 2024 dollars. It comes in three color options, charcoal, beige or Chinese red two-tones with white. I live a sheltered life. I had not heard of the color “Chinese red”. The Smithsonian National Museum of Art described Chinese red as, “A vivid orangey-red best described as vermilion. Originally made by grinding the mineral cinnabar and later produced synthetically, vermilion can include a range of warm hues, from bright orange-red to a duller bluish-red.”1 Sounds pretty sweat to me!

Here is a picture of all three Zenith shirt pocket size versions from 19602:

(The Chinese red one is on sale on Ebay for only $29.99-Click here if you are interested in buying one.)

Zenith was a powerhouse of invention. Check this site out if you want to learn more about the history of the company.

This ad states, “Private listening attachment optional at extra cost.” The Radio Attic has a great picture of the gift set with earbuds:

We’ve come a long way with comfort and technology, but still, there is something ultra sweet about this shirt pocket sized radio. I would have been super stoked, like Sally, too, if I found this under the tree in 1960. Check out the other nifty items shown on this ad. An alarm clock that plays music to wake you up by. Yes, please! That table radio looks perfect for mom, dad or the grandparents. And how about that portable record player with 4 speeds?! That means that little record player could play 45s, 33s, 78s and 16s. It sure is tough to find anything that will play 16 rpm records anymore. Surprisingly, there were some big names that put music out on 16 rpm platforms until the 1970s. The Ventures, Trini Lopez and Jim Reeves to name a few. You could get 90 minutes worth of music onto a 16 2/3 rpm record, because it was so slow.

Back to our shirt pocket sized radio above. Sally is going to be the envy of History class, the gang at the Malt Shop and her after school club. She’ll be tops in her crowd. Everyone will want one!

Zenith gifts are out of this world and really are the most!

  1. Stuart, Jan. “Chinese Red – Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art.” Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, 2 Sept. 2016, asia-archive.si.edu/red/.
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  2. “1960 Zenith Royal 50.” Abetterpage.com, 2014, http://www.abetterpage.com/wt/us/Zenith50.html. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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Shaken, Not Stirred -Heublein’s Cocktails

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Vintage Ad of the Week – November 21, 2024

Saturday Evening Post – December 12, 1959

In the spirit of the nearing the Winter holidays, I am going to switch gears to festive ads. There are so many fantastic ones to choose from. A person could spend two years highlighting them all.

My, oh my! How cool is this ad? It hits the pulse of the times right on the head, and shouts, “Goodbye 1959, Hello 1960!” From the timeless cocktail glasses, to the exquisitely dressed people mixing it up in the background. The gentleman who is the “bartender” looks like he could have tried out for the part of James Bond, he’s so suave.

This ad reminds me of my grandparents’ household bar. They had a basement bar complete with alternating colored shag rug squares adorning the front. Six chrome legged bar stools, with thick marbled padded seat cushions. The kind you see in old movies. It fashioned a sturdy, yet fashionable Formica table top. It was fully stocked with bottles upon bottles of things with strange, foreign sounding names. My little 10-year old self had no clue what they could possible all be used for. That bar was a fixture of atomic cool. A built in masterpiece of mid-century Americana that spoke volumes.

My grandparents were not raging drunks, but they were part of that generation. The generation of this ad. People drank at parties. Hosts made sure they were well stocked with choices to keep their guests happy. Was my grandparents’ house the party house? Were they unique? I don’t think so. Their best friends had nearly the exact same bar in their basement. Drinking was pretty standard in the 50s and 60s. It was just part of the culture.

Here’s another Heublein advertisement from 1963 featuring Robert Goulet:

I was absolutely amazed when I looked into the Heublein company. This was the first I heard of them, yet they were HUGE. So huge they were included in the Nifty 50. What are the Nifty 50 you ask? They were a group of 50 large-cap stocks the New York Stock Exchange deemed most stable. They helped drive the American economy to the bull market of the 70’s. They were considered very safe investments. 1

How can a company that sells pre-made mixed cocktails be so enormously profitable? So profitable that when RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company acquired Heublein in 1982, they paid a whopping 1.2 billion dollars for the company and its holdings.2. That’s 3.9 billion in today’s dollars. Billion!. My head has a hard time wrapping itself around the enormity of this company. They were such a formidable force because they were diverse. They had their fat fingers in multiple markets. They owned brands such as:

  • A-1 Steak Sauce (1906)
  • Grey Poupon (1936)
  • Smirnoff Vodka (1938)
  • Hamm’s Brewery (1965 sold again in 1973)
  • Kentucky Fried Chicken (1971)
  • Hart’s Bakeries (1972)

They held distribution rights for:

  • Irish Mist Liqueur
  • Harvey’s Bristol Cream
  • Don Q Rum
  • Jose Cuervo
  • Black & White
  • Bell’s Whiskey
  • Lancer’s Wines
  • Guinness Stout
  • Bass Ale
  • Perrier Mineral Water
  • Rose’s Lime Juice

It is staggering. No wonder they were part of the 50 most desirable stocks of the 60s and 70s.

Back to our ad above. It is pure class. That suit, the tie, the dress the woman on the left is wearing. You can almost feel the silkiness of his tie and her sash. Let’s not forget to notice the stylish updo she is sporting. The flourish of his hand, as if he is part bartender, part magician. I’m not sure how they suspended the bottle to show it during mid pour, but it’s pretty darn cool and decidedly on-point.

Last, but not least, check out the wrapping paper on the gift. Can I get a roll? It’s out of this world!

I long for the times of this ad. Not so much for the alcohol and what’s in the bottle, but what the ad is selling. Time. No need to spend time mixing drinks, when you can buy Heublein pre-made cocktails. You can have more time to spend with your friends and guests. For all the conveniences we have in 2024, it seems we have less and less time to entertain and just be with one another. Life moves too fast.

I urge you to unplug, by throwing or attending a party this season. Whatever your season is make the most of it. Take time to be with your friends, neighbors and loved ones. It doesn’t have to be a big gathering. It doesn’t have to break the bank. But take time to sit around drinking your drink of choice (no alcohol necessary) and reconnect with our friends, family and neighbors.

Here’s to the holidays! Let’s truly enjoy every minute we can.

  1. “What Was the Nifty 50?” Investopedia, http://www.investopedia.com/terms/n/niftyfifty.asp.
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  2. “Just Pour over Ice – Who Knew? – Connecticut History | a CTHumanities Project.” Connecticut History | a CTHumanities Project – Stories about the People, Traditions, Innovations, and Events That Make up Connecticut’s Rich History., 5 Dec. 2020, connecticuthistory.org/just-pour-over-ice-who-knew/. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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We’re Gonna Bop, We’re Gonna Bowl!

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Vintage Ad of the Week – October 31, 2024

Saturday Evening Post – January 3, 1959

I mentioned a while back that I was going to try to find a few more evenly gendered ads. In that spirit, we have a man and his ball. Bowling ball that is.

Ads that use bowling are a bit hard to come by. You wouldn’t think so, since the Golden Age of Bowling wasn’t that long ago. During the 1960s-1970’s pro bowlers were being signed on for boku bucks. Some even rivaled contracts of NFL players.1 It was big business. The advertising executives at Vicks knew a good thing when they married cold tablets with bowling. Bowling was so huge it had stars like Dick Clark and Jayne Mansfield advertising for AMF (American Machine and Foundry), which had moved into the bowling industry after WWII.2 AMF helped to automate the game, by creating a pin setting machine as early as 1946.3 With its rise in popularity in 1959 it’s no wonder companies wanted to get in on the game. Not to mention, men get colds too. What a great way to grab a man’s attention.

A quick snapshot of Vicks. Vicks was founded back in 1894. They would go on to create a host of healthcare products. A quick rundown of their most famous products include4:

  • 1894 – Vicks Croup & Pneumonia Salve
  • 1911 – VapoRub
  • 1931 – Vicks Cough Drops
  • 1941 – Vicks Inhaler
  • 1951 – Vick’s Cough Sryup
  • 1958 – Vick’s Formula 44
  • 1959 – Sinex Nasal Spray
  • 1966 – NyQuil
  • 1974 – DayQuil
  • 2012 – ZzzQuil
  • 2018 – VapoCool

That is some powerhouse of over the counter cold and flu assistance.

There are a few things to really love about this ad. First, the fact that they claim it helps relieve colds and sinus pain up to 53% faster. Not 50%, nor 55%, but 53%. It is so precise. They don’t present any evidence to back this 53% claim up. Misleading? Most likely, but it sounds good.

Secondly, the tablets are “double buffered” to speed up relief. What does “double buffered” mean? It piqued my interest, so I looked it up. All I could find was the use of the term “buffer” with reference to computers and the definition as it relates to medicine or chemistry in general. MedLibretexts.org defines buffering as, “buffer: A solution used to stabilize the pH (acidity) of a liquid.” Frankly, when I hear the word “buffer” I think of the generic meaning, to create a distance or protective space around something. If someone were to ask, what comes into your mind when you hear the words “medicine” and “buffer”, I would reply “Bufferin”, which is common NSAID whose base is aspirin. Either way, to tout something is “double buffered” sure does sound marvelous on paper. Its promise of fast relief ads certainty. If you know what “double buffered” means with relation to Vicks Cold Tablets, let me know in the comments, please.

Finally, this ad has a guy bowling. At first glance one might think, what’s so great about this ad? It’s just another sexist ad from the 50s. A guy and his bowling ball. How old fashioned. But, look in the background. His wife/girlfriend/date/sister plays an important part in this ad. She’s keeping score. I know it sounds like such a little thing, but I still love it. Back in 1959, they didn’t have automatic scoring. You had to score your own game on paper. I find the harmony of this ad, very refreshing. Just two people out having a good time. Celebrating the power of Vicks to make you feel stronger, faster. What fun!

Oh, and the last line, “Pick you up fast…relieve that tied, dragged-out feeling of a cold with two stimulating “pick-up” medications.” is cute. Not only will you pick yourself up fast using this medicine, but you can “pick-up” those spare pins, once you are feeling better with Vicks Cold Tablets.

  1. Fea, John, and John Fea. “The Golden Age of Bowling.” Current, 26 Mar. 2014, currentpub.com/2014/03/26/the-golden-age-of-bowling/. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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  2. “1959 Archives – International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame.” International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame, 2023, http://www.bowlingheritage.com/tag/1959/. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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  3. Center, Smithsonian Lemelson. “Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation.” Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, invention.si.edu.
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  4. “Vicks.” Vicks.com, vicks.com/en-us/vicks-history.
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Munsingwear – Lifts More Than Your Spirits!

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Vintage Advertisement of the Week – October 24, 2024

Advertisement taken from Life Magazine, September 27, 1943

The main theme for 80 percent of all ads featured in Life Magazine during WWII was war related. It dominated all facets of life. One could not escape it – the war. In some ways it is quite commendable. In others, I can see how it might have been a drag. Such a heavy cloud of responsibility loomed over everyone. One false step and you were playing into the hands of the Axis. Advertisements of this period were rife with guilt and fear.

Didn’t buy enough war bonds or stamps? You’re playing right into the hands of the enemy. Images like this loomed large:

Illustrator – John Maxwell, for the Philco Corporation (Life Magazine – April 19, 1943) (Note, I’m not sure what Maxwell was doing with Mussolini. Is that a lollipop he’s eating? Is he trying to paint Mussolini as an infant? For some reason I cannot get Kojak out of my head. Hitler and Hirohito look like they came straight from a nightmare though – legitimately.)

Contemplating using your automobile to get downtown? Better think again and use your own two feet. You won’t be able to replace those tires anytime soon, because rubber is needed for the war, not you. Not to mention wasting gas. Save the car only for emergencies. Ads like this with cars stuck in garages, unable to be used, were common sights:

Life Magazine – September 13, 1943

This week’s ad, leans on the flip side of guilt, morale. Questions like:

  • Why does a man shave?
  • Why are there four cigarettes in every army mess kit?
  • Why does a woman wear lipstick?
  • Why does the army shine its shoes?

Why bother? Why do all this when there is a war on? Because it bolsters humanity. It connects us with who we are and what we value. So why should the reader of Life Magazine care if materials used to make women’s undergarments (rubber and nylon) are considered as part of the essential materials list? Because even during war time, people like to feel attractive.

Another good reason, was it was an extremely influential periodical of its day. Maybe the most influential.1 Even though Life Magazine’s readership was overwhelming male, they still tried to reach their female readers. It was one of the most highly read publications of its time. At one point during the war, its circulation topped 13 million copies.2 That’s a lot, considering the entire US population 139,928,165.3

Back to our ad and why it matters. At first glance, we may think, who on earth would buy this scene? A pretty young 16-25 year old female is sitting on her kitchen floor in her underwear trying to fix the frayed wire of a toaster. Who traipses around their house in their underwear doing DIY projects? Wearing shoes, nonetheless? It is a bit strange to me.

That aside, I love the fact that Munsingwear has chosen to highlight the pluck and industriousness of the young female spirit. She can take it as it comes. A frayed wire with no man around to ask for help? No problem! She can fix it herself. She’s got the grit. She’s got the know-how.

Not enough rubber or nylon4 to make the girdle she’s used to wearing, no matter, she’s got gumption, she’s got that can-do attitude. She can get used to these newer knit fabrics and save the rubber and nylon that would have been used on her girdle to put toward the war effort.

This ad does not specify that the undergarments they are selling are made of knitted materials instead of rubber, but we should assume they are spun elastics.5 Tires were rationed not long after the attack on Pearl Harbor, January of 1942 to be specific.6 So they surely were not made with any rubber. Nylon was needed for making parachutes, tire cords, ropes, aircraft fuel tanks, shoe laces, mosquito netting and hammocks.7

My favorite part of this ad is the call Munsingwear puts out to all women. That little paragraph that pleads, “Women are needed for war production and necessary civilian service. Apply to local United States employment service for information.”

Not only can you fix frayed wires, saving your toaster (reduce, reuse or do without)8, but you can also help with the war effort and get paid doing it. And, you can do it in style, by wearing Foundettes. Just like a war can be won starting from a strong foundation, a woman’s successful day can start out by wearing Foundettes!

Oh yes, and that toast? It’ll be ready in a jiffy!

  1. Plotz, David. “The Best Magazine Ever Published Was Life Magazine, in Summer 1945.” Slate Magazine, 27 Dec. 2013, slate.com/human-interest/2013/12/life-magazine-1945-why-it-was-the-greatest-magazine-ever-published.html.
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  2. “BACKGROUND · World War II in Life Magazine Advertisements · Western CT State University Archives’ Digital Collections.” Archives.library.wcsu.edu, archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/exhibits/show/world-war-ii-in-life-magazine-/background.
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  3. “US Population: From 1900.” Demographia.com, 2019, demographia.com/db-uspop1900.htm.
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  4. “WWII and the Nylon Riots! | Rosie the Riveter.” Rosietheriveter.net, rosietheriveter.net/wwii-and-the-nylon-riots/.
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  5. “War Corsetry.” Www.corsetiere.net, http://www.corsetiere.net/Spirella/War_corsetry.htm.
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  6. The National WWII Museum. “Rationing.” The National WWII Museum | New Orleans, http://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/rationing-during-wwii.
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  7. Spivack, Emily. “Stocking Series, Part 1: Wartime Rationing and Nylon Riots.” Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Sept. 2012, http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/stocking-series-part-1-wartime-rationing-and-nylon-riots-25391066/.
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  8. “Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make It Do, or Do without – FDR Presidential Library & Museum.” Www.fdrlibrary.org, http://www.fdrlibrary.org/use-it-up-wear-it-out-make-it-do-or-do-without. ↩︎
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Drunken Prunes and Ice Cream

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Day 3/7 – Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Still feeling under the weather, dear reader. So, with that in mind, I whipped up a really quick and easy snack. All you need are three ingredients for this one.

Take 6 California Prunes (pitted) and put them in a small bowl. Pour red wine over the prunes, just until covered. I used Martin’s Pickup Shriaz, because it’s what I had on hand. Any red wine will do. Cover the bowl with food grade wrap to keep the air from drying the prunes out. Soak for at least 12 hours. I started the soaking process before I went to bed. My prunes had been soaking for around 16 hours.

When you get hungry and want a treat, drain the remaining wine off your prunes. Place a scoop of your favorite ice cream in a dish and add the prunes on top. I used Tillamook’s Waffle Cone Swirl Ice Cream, as, again, it’s what I had in the freezer. (Disclaimer – I don’t actually eat ice cream much at all. Maybe twice a year. It was another house inhabitant’s ice cream.)

I had hoped originally to recreate Franks’ Amazing Prunes and Mascarpone Dessert, the recipe for which you can find at Something New For Dinner’s website. I believe very much in using what you have. We did not have mascarpone cheese, nor did we have mint. Thus was born, the concoction above.

For not being an ice cream aficionado, I enjoyed this very much.

As for the star of the show, the drunken prunes, they were insanely moist, plump and delectable. Even with this terrible cold, I enjoyed them tremendously. The tide of my impression of prunes is turning toward a favorable one.

For those of you who choose to not indulge in sprits, you can try soaking these in nonalcoholic wine, or plain old grape juice overnight. I am guessing they will plump up just as nicely.

One change I would make is, if I could have chosen a different ice cream it would have been the good old fashioned New York Vanilla. Tillamook is great, but Kemps New York Vanilla would do for me. Why New York vanilla you ask? I like eggs. They add body. Other vanillas often don’t have egg in their finished product.1

As for myself, I am crossing my fingers, the little bit of alcohol might help me get rid of this bug sooner, as I would love to make a few more involved dishes with prunes to display.

  1. https://oldschoolpastry.pastrysampler.com/all-about-ice-cream-difference-between-new-york-philadelphia-french-and-italian-ice-cream/#:~:text=Basic%20Differences%20Between%20New%20York,made%20from%20cream%20and%20eggs. ↩︎
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Stewed Prunes with Vanilla Sugar and Star Anise

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Day Two/Seven – Monday, October 21, 2024

A quick disclaimer. I am under the weather pretty badly today. I was trying to decide if I would continue with my adventure into the world of prunes this week. I chose to forge forward, but given my low energy, I thought I would do a simple, quick recipe.

Stewed prunes do not sound good. Actually, they sound God awful. But, these were surprisingly fantastic! I cannot say how pleased I was at the outcome. I made this recipe up by riffing off instructions for stewed prunes I found in my Grandma’s old cookbook, “The American Woman’s Cook Book” from 1948.1 The steps to make this snack are quite simple.

Pour 1/2 cup of water into a small saucepan. Add 6 prunes to the water and bring to a boil. Add a sprinkling of vanilla sugar and one whole star anise. After a hard boil is achieved, turn heat down to a simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes. Then remove from heat. Let stand for another 20 minutes to cool and blossom. Enjoy!

The star anise and vanilla sugar are optional. Technically, you can make stewed prunes with just prunes and water. I used the vanilla sugar and star anise to jazz it up.

I am especially fond of Nordic Sprinkle’s vanilla sugar. The sugar plus the anise makes the prunes taste very Scandinavian indeed!

These stewed prunes were simple and quick to make. They turned out plump, moist and delicious. I would make these again. They were hands down better than dried prunes.

What other additives would be good in stewed prunes? Maybe cinnamon and orange? If you have any ideas, please share them with me. I plan to make stewed prunes again this week.

Hopefully, I will have more energy tomorrow and can make something a bit more involved. Stay tuned dear reader!

  1. Home, Delineator, and Ruth Berolzheimer. The American Woman’s Cook Book. Garden City Publishing, 1948.
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Old Fashioned Oats with Cinnamon and Prunes

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Day One/Seven – Sunday, October 20, 2024

Lunch today was a variation of Flourishing Foodie’s Stewed Prunes with Oatmeal. I made some alterations right off the bat. I wanted to be very easy on the stomach, so I decided to just cut the prunes up and add them to the oats as they were cooking. I opted to use old fashioned oats instead of instant, as old fashioned oats stick with a body a bit longer. I cooked 1/2 a cup of old fashioned oats in 1 cup of water. Then I added 6 diced California Prunes (Sunsweet Pitted Prunes). Six actually seemed like a generous amount of prunes. But, I wanted to consume what the vintage ad suggested. I tapped in a dash of ground cinnamon.

While the oatmeal was cooking, I snacked on the almonds the recipe suggested adding. As I had already eaten my fair share by the time the oatmeal was nearing done, so I omitted adding almonds. I considered using the orange slices, but the oranges I had on hand did not look the best, so I skipped those too.

Once the prunes softened and the oatmeal was fully cooked, I added about a tablespoon of honey. I finished the oatmeal, by added a splash of oat milk to cream it up. I enjoyed the oatmeal with a cup of coffee and cup of Siggi’s Icelandic Yogurt for more protein.

All in all, I found the addition of prunes to be pleasant. Reminiscent of a cross between dates and raisins. I may try this oatmeal again this week, but with more of a nutty, salty appeal to it.

Time will tell if those six prunes will give me more energy. It can’t hurt to have more potassium in your diet. One serving of prunes also contains:

Table Found on Heathline.com.

I honestly am not holding my breath, but it is worth a try.

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Feeling Sluggish? Try California Prunes!

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Vintage Advertisement of the Week – October 13, 2024

California Prune Growers Advertisement – Life Magazine, January 5, 1942

Those poor California Prune Growers. What they’ve had to endure over the years. There really is no great way to sell prunes, is there? They tried their best, especially during the war years, but they had a lot of ground to make up.

During the late 1800’s, eager and ambitious California farmers over planted plum trees, designated for the prune industry. Their goal in doing so, was to push out the supply of prunes being imported from Europe. By 1900 they succeeded in doing just that. 85 prune packing plants were up and running in California1. The price of prunes dropped as suppliers in the Eastern United States and overseas mixed poor quality fruits with the California prunes, degrading the product. Prune fanatics throughout the world were not thrilled with the cheapening of their beloved dried fruit.2

Enter the war years, the WWII years, to be specific. Dried fruits were considered to be a processed food. Certain processed foods, such as prunes, were rationed in the United States from March of 1943 to August of 1945.3 This coupled with the ever-changing landscape of wartime trade policies and the sale of prunes plummeted.4 It was the second biggest blow to the industry since the inferior fruit debacle. The California Prune Growers needed a plan.

What angle could they take to sell their product? Prunes have to be one of the least exciting of all fruits, dried or otherwise. My grandparents ate them. The only cake I ever remember eating that my maternal grandmother made was prune cake. Sounds gross, but it actually was pretty good. It tasted like spice cake with white boiled frosting. I think my maternal grandpa actually ate stewed prunes. As a kid of the 80s, it sounded so depression era disgusting, I never tried them.

In fact, prunes got such a bad rap throughout the 20th century, marketers changed their name to dried plums in 2001, to get away from just the type of ad you see above. (18 years later in 2019, they changed it back to prunes.)5 Rebranding didn’t work.6

Back to our wartime ad…

The money is on regularity. Mother keeps you kids regular by serving you prunes, she should practice what she preaches. So should Dad. If you possess digestive regularity, you will naturally have more energy.

Other ways people can have more energy? In Dad’s case, he could not work so many hours at the office. Maybe he’s under a lot of pressure to meet a deadline at the insurance agency or he had to work a double shift at the factory to meet his quota for the war effort. Or, maybe his factory makes him work swing shift hours and his sleep schedule is so screwed up he can barely keep his eyes open during his “normal waking hours”. On weekends, he is expected to fix everything that breaks around the house inside and out. Not to mention mow in the summer and shovel in the winter. There are loads of things that could contribute to Dad feeling weighed down and tired.

As for mother, she is most likely exhausted from dusting, vacuuming, sweeping, tending her victory garden, volunteering with the PTA, bluing and starching clothes, feeding said clothes through the wringer washer, hanging up clothes to dry on the line in the basement during winter, ironing them once they are dry, doing dishes and making beds. I’ll bet her feet hurt from walking to and from downtown, since they only have one car and Dad needs it to get to work. Women had plenty of things to keep them busy during the day. There was no lack of drudgery in one’s life.

Oh wait, this is the 40s. The kids probably did help out. Making their own beds and setting the table. “Jimmy” probably knew how to use the push mower. “Sally” most likely helped with the dishes and dusting. Everyone had their roles. But, the brunt of life’s responsibilities fell squarely on the parents’ shoulders. As usual.

All this talk about prunes got me thinking. Would their campaign actually help one feel more energized and regular? More fiber in one’s diet can’t be a bad thing. Maybe it would be a good idea to try to incorporate more prunes in my own life. Personally, I don’t mind having some prunes now and again. You can make a valiant attempt to trick your mind into thinking you are eating chocolate. For a split second it works, until your brain catches up with reality.

I read their 30-second health quiz and I am sold on trying it out. Beyond regularity, prunes have enormous health benefits. Flourishing Foodie7 highlights these benefits as:

WHAT ARE THE NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS OF PRUNES?

Prunes are a source of copper and manganese which contribute to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.

Prunes are a perfect low-calorie snack. A single serving of 4-5 prunes contains under 100 calories. 

Prunes contain natural sugars and have a low glycemic index, meaning that the rise in blood sugar is much slower, keeping you satiated longer. 

A serving of prunes contains 3g of fiber. Including fiber-rich foods in your diet helps to improve digestive health and reduce symptoms of poor gastrointestinal health such as bloating, cramping, constipation, and heartburn. 

A serving of prunes contains 23 mcg of vitamin K which is important for bone health. 

Prunes are a source of vitamin B6 and copper which contribute to the normal function of the immune system.

Sounds like I’ve been missing out on a fantastically, nutritious food choice. What a dope I’ve been!

Starting Sunday, October 20, 2024, I am going to try a seven day prune challenge.

Without a doubt, I will grow sick and tired of snacking on prunes, so, I will try to find fun recipes to try. (Prune cake and prune whip anybody?) Are you willing to try this with me? Maybe you have a recipe that includes prunes that you care to share?

Even though this first recipe is not technically vintage, I would love to give another shout out to Heather Hands of Flourishing Foodie. I will try her recipe for Oatmeal with California Prunes. (Check her blog out, it’s gorgeous.) I will post a picture of my version on the 20th!

Prune’s Away!

  1. “History.” California Prunes | Prunes. For Life., californiaprunes.org/history/.
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  2. “History.” California Prunes | Prunes. For Life., californiaprunes.org/history/.
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  3. Springate, Megan. “Food Rationing on the World War II Home Front (U.S. National Park Service).” Www.nps.gov, 16 Nov. 2023, http://www.nps.gov/articles/000/food-rationing-on-the-world-war-ii-home-front.htm.
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  4. “History.” California Prunes | Prunes. For Life., californiaprunes.org/history/.
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  5. Koger, Chris. “Dried Plums No Longer: California Prunes Have New Brand.” The Packer, 23 May 2019, http://www.thepacker.com/news/retail/dried-plums-no-longer-california-prunes-have-new-brand. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.
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  6. The Society Pages. “Re-Branding the Prune – Sociological Images.” Thesocietypages.org, 2016, thesocietypages.org/socimages/2012/01/10/re-branding-the-prune/. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.
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  7. Hands, Heather. “Flourishing Foodie.” Flourishing Foodie , 16 Apr. 2020, http://www.flourishingfoodie.com/blog/2020/3/16/oatmeal-with-stewed-california-prunes. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.
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Uncategorized · Vintage Ads

Superman Digs Plaid – POW! BAM! ZONK!

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Vintage Advertisement of the Week – October 3, 2024

Seventeen Magazine, May 1948

If you are into vintage fashion of the late 1940’s, a few things may come directly to mind. Bright patterns and plaids. Plaids were really in vogue for young co-eds and teens during the late 1940s. Perhaps after the drab, dull, rationed war years, young adults were bursting to make a statement? Dan River Mills certainly captured the essence of the times with this advertisement.

I don’t want to delve into the history of the various American knitting mills. There were plenty of mills in the United States throughout the 20th century, upon which many have a long and rich history. If you have interest in learning more about the Dan River Mills you can do so here. As far as DC Comics goes, massive books have been written on that dynasty. Just google DC Comics and be prepared to have an avalanche of information at your fingertips.

What interests me most about the Dan River Mills advertisement is the marriage of plaid and a superhero, namely Superman. It is a bit of a paradox. All I can gather, is this very well might have been the cusp of marketers methods to throw a brand on anything just to see if it would sell. The proverbial spaghetti on the wall method. The over commercialization of cartoons/comics/characters had to start somewhere. Maybe it was here? To be sure, it is an interesting combination, Superman and plaid. Not one that I would ever have thought to combine myself. You can’t blame a company for trying.

This is part of this print commercial that gets me is, once again, the need to tell the reader to dress for your superman. It is ubiquitous throughout 1940s advertising. Consider how others will perceive you first, then consider yourself. The ad goes on to say, “Wow ’em, slay ’em, mow ’em down in plaid that’s out of this world.” Plaid is slaying? It seems so ordinary these days, doesn’t it? It’s darn near comical. Get it? Comic-al?

It got me thinking. I wonder if there were many ads from the late 40s targeting young men to dress for the woman in their life. I am going to be on the hunt, and keep my eyes open for that very message. I’m guessing they were few and far between, but five will get you ten they are out there. If you know of any, share them below! I would love to be put wise.

Uncategorized · Vintage Ads

Ry-Krisp ~ Nobody Loves a Fat Girl?

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Vintage Advertisement of the Week – September 19, 2024

Seventeen Magazine – November 1948

Talk about traumatic! Marketing executives of the 1940’s were keen on throwing shade anywhere and everywhere they could get it to land and this ad has a whole lot of shade.

Have you ever eaten rye crackers? They are rather bland. In the world of manufactured snacks, they are at best forgettable and only as good as what you dressed them up with. It’s reminiscent of the 1980’s rice cake diet fad. Anybody remember that? I digress. If I had to guess, I would say they were so successful for two reasons; 1) Scandinavian Americans adored the crackers, and 2) Ry-Krisp’s diet campaign.

A Brief History of Ry-Krisp

Ry-Krisp was founded by Arvid and Erik Peterson, brothers who immigrated to the United States from Sweden in the 1800’s. They brought with them a recipe for knackerbrod. Knackerbrod was a 19th century Scandinavian staple. It was made twice a year, had no yeast and kept an incredibly long shelf life. Best known as being a digestive biscuit, it was baked with a hole in the middle so it could be stored on a long rod for the best drying practices.1

The Peterson brothers settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a veritable hub for Scandinavian immigration during the mid to late 1800’s.2 A few key historical highlights of the company:

1904

Peterson Brothers open up a bakery on Lyndale Avenue, Minneapolis, MN.

1913

The Peterson Brothers sell to a local investment group, changing the name of the company to Ry-Krisp.

1926

Ralston Purina (of dog food fame) buys out Ry-Krisp and markets it as a health food. 3

2013

Conagra acquires Ry-Krisp, shutters factory in Minneapolis two year later and production of the cracker ceases.

The Petersons and their vision for a marketable rye cracker fit right in with Minneapolis of the late 1800’s. Minnesota, especially Minneapolis, was a center of flour mill activity. It was home to Gold Medal Flour/General Mills4, Pillsbury Flour5, and Malt O Meal (Northfield, MN, n/k/a Post Consumer Brands)6. It was big business back in the day and still is. Here is a photograph from 1949 taken of one of the machines that helped make the Ry-Krisp cracker.7 I wonder how the paste made it from this machine to cracker form. It’s too bad footage of the entire process doesn’t exist.

Premade or convenience foods helped liberate the modern woman of the late 1940’s and 1950’s.8 The rye cracker also grew in popularity throughout the United States (rye being a staple grain in not just Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, but much of Northern and Eastern Europe). I can see why Ry-Krisp lasted for over a century.

Due to its long shelf life and convenience, Ry-Krisp really got around. Salad with Ry-Krisp while you travel down the tracks in luxury?

A fun look at a recreation of a menu based off the old Pennsylvania Railroad menus. Check out the luncheon offerings. The New York Public Library Archives have some other fun glimpses into past

The Untapped Teen Market

Convenience aside, the teen market executives hung their shingle solely on two words, “loneliness” and “diet”. Magazines like Seventeen and Calling All Girls are littered with ads that preyed on a young girl’s doubts toward her body size and being ostracized because of it.

Here are some other examples of how marketing sharks sunk their blood thirsty teeth into a young girl’s confidence:

Ry-Krisp Ad, Widely Circulated 1948

Calling All Girls – July 1947

Through the Looking Glass

I’ve got a 1945 copy of “Through the Looking Glass” a 1,500 calorie diet for teenage girls coming in the mail. I’ll share tidbits in the coming months. The advertisement from which I purchased the pamphlet says it calls for a 1,500 calorie limit for 16 year old girls who want to lose weight the Ry-Krisp way. While it might be doable, suggesting a diet to a person, teenager or not, should be up to the medical professionals, not the Mad Men of the snack world. It’s a dangerous line to walk, but advertisers do it all the time.

The common themes in all of the teenage Ry-Krisp ads above are cruel and insidious. Flat out telling a young girl she will be alone because she is “overweight” and needs to reduce her body by eating their product is nothing new, but it is the way they are so in the reader’s face about it. Marketing these days is bad enough, but I’m not sure I’ve seen ads from the 2020’s as bad as these Ry-Krisp ones.

Back to the question above. Can a fat girl find love? I think we all know the answer to that. Yes, yes, they can, with or without the help of rye crackers.

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  1. Kaeding, Mary. “Ry-Krisp Company | Kraus-Anderson History Corner.” Kraus-Anderson, 22 Nov. 2019, http://www.krausanderson.com/blog/ry-krisp-co-kraus-anderson-history-corner/.
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  2. “Swedish Immigration to Minnesota | MNopedia.” Mnopedia.org, 2019, http://www.mnopedia.org/swedish-immigration-minnesota.
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  3. “Ry-Krisp | MNopedia.” Mnopedia.org, 2024, http://www.mnopedia.org/thing/ry-krisp. Accessed 19 Sept. 2024.
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  4. “Gold Medal – Brands – Food We Make – General Mills.” Www.generalmills.com, http://www.generalmills.com/food-we-make/brands/gold-medal.
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  5. Association, Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood. “Pillsbury “A” Mill (1881).” Minneapolis Historical, http://www.minneapolishistorical.org/items/show/98.
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  6. Hess, Stephanie. “For Almost a Century, Malt-O-Meal Has Been Made in Northfield.” MinnPost, MinnPost, 9 Sept. 2019, http://www.minnpost.com/mnopedia/2019/09/for-almost-a-century-malt-o-meal-has-been-made-in-northfield/. Accessed 19 Sept. 2024.
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  7. BURGER, KEVYN, and KEVYN BURGER. “That’s How the Cracker Crumbles: Remembering Ry-Krisp as It Ends.” Startribune.com, 19 Mar. 2015, http://www.startribune.com/that-s-how-the-cracker-crumbles-remembering-ry-krisp-as-it-ends/296763801. Accessed 19 Sept. 2024.
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  8. National Women’s History Museum. “How Highly Processed Foods Liberated 1950s Housewives.” National Women’s History Museum, 11 May 2017, http://www.womenshistory.org/articles/how-highly-processed-foods-liberated-1950s-housewives.
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