Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Schlitzerland

I didn’t think about it until later in the day: the name Troy Schlitz in yesterday’s Zippy references The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous. Ah, thought I, like Plutowater, Vitabrush, and Troy, Schlitz is yet another thing of the past, right? Wrong — it’s still being brewed. But this serving tray, which belonged to my mom and dad, is a thing of the past. Did it see any use? Doubtful.

[Click for a larger view.]

I like the mid-century modern (1957) cartooning. But jeez, it’s a white, white, white, white world. As is, too, the world of this one-off two-page spread in Life :

  [Life, April 8, 1957. Click either image for a larger view.]

No name on the tray. The signature on the advertisement: Joe Kaufman. I suspect that the tray is the work of a different artist.

[A jingle in A flat? Why A flat? To keep out the common people?]

comments: 5

Sparky said...

White, tight, and outta sight.

Joe DiBiase said...

Schlitz was a go-to brand for Dad. I wonder if the "Drink Schlitz or I'll Kill You" ad campaign turned him off of it? https://vinepair.com/articles/schlitz-history-ad-campaign/

Michael Leddy said...

Those commercials are new to me. I think the one with the boxer and his one-liners is terrific. But the wilderness man — yikes.

Maybe they were emulating Tareyton cigarettes? (“Us Tareyton smokers would rather fight than switch.”)

Joe DiBiase said...

My grandfather smoked Tareytons. I remember that the men, and women!, in the ads always had a very fake-looking black eye. I wonder if they also grabbed for the gusto?

Michael Leddy said...

If they did, they at least lived to tell the tale. : )