In a now-unfamiliar advertising strategy, this 1936 Thanksgiving-themed ad for whiskey suggests you make the scientifically “wholesome” choice: Seagram’s Crown.
Partial transcript:
Months of research by a group of trained, impartial men brought the answer: Seagram’s Crown Whiskies, used in moderation, are kind, considerate whiskies, and most likely to agree with the average man… they are thousands of men’s choice AS A MOST WHOLESOME FORM OF WHISKEY, besides! Choose them at the bar for your present pleasure without future penalty.
I’d like to practice… er, review the research methods.
Found at Vintage Ads. Just for fun, see also: Whiskey-flavored toothpaste.
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Lisa Wade is a professor of sociology at Occidental College. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook.
Comments 6
Larrycharleswilson — November 21, 2012
"used in moderation"
Andrew S — November 21, 2012
I'm always struck by advertisements then and now. Then had so many words. Now has very, very few words.
Both are selling an emotion, a feeling. But today's are just world-barren.
Here's some others: (in perhaps chronological order? Based on the number of words)
http://vintagebooze.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/seagrams-7-crown-19741.jpg
http://www.old-ads.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/Seagrams_ad.jpg
http://vintage-original-ads.com/Pictures/albums/uploads/normal_1978-Seagrams-7-Crown-v1.jpg
I'm having trouble finding a modern ad for this specific whiskey.
Maggiekatiejames — November 22, 2012
They are kind, considerate whiskies. Where have I been? Most nights that invite whiskey are not kind nights.
Village Idiot — November 23, 2012
If a liquor scientist wants to make some REAL money, they should come up with a way to avoid that "future penalty" (damn that future penalty! Damn it straight to HELL!) because we all know that there will certainly be one if you drink that swill no matter what the ad says.
Owly — November 23, 2012
I chose tequila, but I guess that's just me.
James Jordan — August 29, 2023
This is a very amusing ad for whiskey. It seems to use a combination of scientific appeal, health claims, and social pressure to persuade consumers to choose Seagram’s Crown Whiskies.
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