Barry Melek Electric Train Sets

Blatz Beer

The 1950s Television Commercials Audiences Knew And Loved

The 1950s were arguably the golden age of television and many people of a certain age look back fondly at some of the shows of the time - "The Lone Ranger", "I Love Lucy" and "Gunsmoke". These shows were in black and white and were watched on a set that got its signal from a huge antenna on the roof, but they were loved just the same.

Almost as compelling as the TV shows themselves, were some of the commercials of the time. TV was still a novelty during the 1950s and companies were anxious to cash in on the new craze. Particularly popular were commercials for cigarettes, cars and state of the art kitchen appliances. And the average length of TV advertisements was around a minute - compared to the 30 seconds or less today.

Beer was also one of the products widely advertised on TV during the 1950s. At first, it was only late at night and never on a Sunday, so as not to offend anyone. During the early part of the decade, Blatz Beer became one of the beer industry's biggest advertisers, partly due to the company's sponsorship of the popular "Amos 'n' Andy" show.

One of the most instantly recognizable characters in television advertising at the time was Mabel. Mabel was a chirpy blond waitress who appeared on screen with a tray of Carling Black Label beer. Almost every Carling commercial featured the phrase that became famous - "Hey, Mabel, Black Label!"

Cigarette advertisements were commonplace during the 1950s - a big change from television today. Some of the biggest tobacco manufacturers of the time spent a lot of money trying to convince us that smoking was sophisticated and fun, including Lucky Strike, Tareyton and Winston.

One famous Lucky Strike ad featured a clever combination of cartoon and live action, featuring the singer Gisele McKenzie. Tareytown had an ad that featured what appeared to be two children dancing around a giant pack of cigarettes. And who can possibly forget the Fontane Sisters singing the praises of Chesterfield cigarettes?

Car manufacturers went to great lengths to advertise the latest models on television during the 1950s despite the loss of aesthetic effect on a black and white screen. The Ford Edsel was advertised at great length as the most beautiful convertible in the world, complete with such wonderful and innovative features as "teletouch" driving and air suspension.

It wasn't all just cars, beer and tobacco. Some healthier products were advertised as well. One of the most well known ads of the era was for Pepsodent toothpaste. The TV ad featured a cute cartoon couple kissing after having brushed their teeth, and the catchy and unforgettable slogan - "You'll wonder where the yellow went, when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent!"

TV advertisements for kitchen appliances pointed out features that we now take for granted. A General Electric ad from the time for a new refrigerator consisted of a proud couple explaining the features of their sleek new fridge which included shelves that slid out, storage space behind the door and a separate freezer compartment.

And some things don't seem to have changed much over the years. Tupperware ran a series of TV ads during the 1950s which featured an exciting Tupperware evening at a typical suburban home, organized by a "hostess". Almost as much emphasis was placed on the social aspect, as on the actual features of the product.

One of the most prolific TV advertisers during the 1950s and subsequent decades was Pepsi. Their advertisements captured the feeling of the times like few others. One of the company's earliest featured the actress and singer Polly Bergen enjoying a barn dance and a refreshing glass of Pepsi-Cola.

Not to be outdone, Coca-Cola was just as prolific with their ads and came up with several memorable slogans, such as "There's nothing like a Coke". Coca-Cola also went after the young crowd, with an ad featuring people at diners and drive-in movie theaters and a jingle that claimed "Zing! What a feeling!"

Many television viewers firmly maintain that the advertisements are just as good as the actual shows themselves! It seems as though that was especially true back in the 1950s. And if you just can't get enough of those old commercials, you can enjoy some of them on DVD or online.

~ Ben Anton, 2008

About the Author

We invite you to learn more about the
history of classic TV
and the
classic television personalities
that made it successful on the classictelevisionblog.com web site.

Valentin Blatz $71.7 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles Valentin Blatz (October 1, 1826 May 26, 1894) was a GermanAmerican brewer and banker. He was born in Bavaria and worked at his fathers brewery in his youth. In August 1848 Blatz immigrated to America and by 1849 had moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Blatz established a brewery next to Johann Brauns City Brewery in 1850 and merged both breweries upon Brauns death in 1852. He also married Brauns widow. The brewery produced Milwaukees first individually bottled beer in 1874. It incorporated as the Valentin Blatz Brewing Company in 1889 and by the 1900s was the citys third largest brewer. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Timpledon, Miriam T./ Marseken, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 90 Publication Date: 2010/08/09 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.22 inches

Hotel Blatz, Milwaukee, Wisconsin $39.99 Hotel Blatz, Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Giclee Print

MR.ROOTBEER Root Beer Kit $26.95 MR.ROOTBEER Home Root Beer Making Kit.

MR.BEER Deluxe Edition Beer Kit $39.95 MR.BEER Home Microbrewery - Beer Making Kit.

MR.BEER Brewmaster's Ultimate Beer Kit $225.05 MR.BEER Home Microbrewery - Beer Making Kit.

MR.BEER Premium Edition Beer Kit $49.95 MR.BEER Home Microbrewery - Beer Making Kit.

MR.BEER Brewmaster's Select Beer Kit $99.95 MR.BEER Home Microbrewery - Beer Making Kit.

MR.BEER Premium Gold Edition Beer Kit $59.95 MR.BEER Home Microbrewery - Beer Making Kit.

outlaw biker Beer Women's Tank Top by CafePress $25 Blatz beer Beer Women's Tank Top Sporty and sexy, wear our women's tank top to beat the summer heat or workout in cool comfort. Our tank top is made of 100% combed ring spun cotton, and cut for a close, fashionable fit. Neck and armhole are carefully shaped to conceal a bra.6.1 o

Beer $10 Beer

A Beer $10 A Beer

MR.BEER Whispering Wheat Weizenbier w/Golden Wheat $15.95 MR.BEER Deluxe Refill

MR.BEER Octoberfest Vienna Lager w/Booster $12.95 MR.BEER Standard Refill

MR.BEER Octoberfest Vienna Lager w/Mellow Amber $15.95 MR.BEER Deluxe Refill

MR.BEER West Coast Pale Ale w/Booster $12.95 MR.BEER Standard Refill

MR.BEER St. Patrick's Irish Stout w/Booster $12.95 MR.BEER Standard Refill

MR.BEER St. Patrick's Irish Stout w/Creamy Brown $15.95 MR.BEER Deluxe Refill

MR.BEER Whispering Wheat Weizenbier w/Booster $12.95 MR.BEER Standard Refill

MR.BEER West Coast Pale Ale w/Pale Export $15.95 MR.BEER Deluxe Refill

MR.BEER Englishman's Nut-Brown Ale w/Booster $12.95 MR.BEER Standard Refill

MR.BEER Englishman's Nut-Brown Ale w/Mellow Amber $15.95 MR.BEER Deluxe Refill

MR.BEER High Country Canadian Draft w/Booster $12.95 MR.BEER Standard Refill

MR.BEER Linebacker Doppel Bock w/Creamy Brown $15.95 MR.BEER Deluxe Refill

MR.BEER Archer's Ultimate Hard Cider Kit $193.01 MR.BEER Home Microbrewery - Cider Making Kit.

MR.BEER High Country Canadian Draft w/Pale Export $15.95 MR.BEER Deluxe Refill

MR.BEER Cowboy Golden Lager w/Pale Export $15.95 MR.BEER Deluxe Refill

MR.BEER Sticky Wicket Oatmeal Stout $17.35 MR.BEER Premium Refill

MR.BEER Witty Monk Witbier $17.35 MR.BEER Premium Refill

MR.BEER Classic American Blonde Ale w/Booster $12.95 MR.BEER Standard Refill

MR.BEER Bewitched Red Ale w/Booster $12.95 MR.BEER Standard Refill

MR.BEER Pilothouse Pilsner $17.35 MR.BEER Premium Refill

MR.BEER Grand Bohemian Czech Pilsner $17.35 MR.BEER Premium Refill

MR.BEER Classic American Blonde Ale w/Pale Export $15.95 MR.BEER Deluxe Refill

MR.BEER Bewitched Red Ale w/Mellow Amber $15.95 MR.BEER Deluxe Refill

MR.BEER American Devil IPA $17.35 MR.BEER Premium Refill

MR.BEER Black Tower Porter $17.35 MR.BEER Premium Refill

MR.BEER Cowboy Golden Lager w/Booster $12.95 MR.BEER Standard Refill