Tag Archives: brands

The disturbing joy of a new romance.

Germaine Monteil’s Laughter perfume magazine ad found in a 1946 issue of Art News
Germaine Monteil’s Laughter perfume magazine ad found in a 1946 issue of Art News

I’m mostly sharing this ad just for that one line of copy. It’s a beaut.

Bone shards:

Laughter was Germaine Monteil’s first perfume. It was later rebranded as Rigolade, which is French for “joke”.

Laughter took eight years to develop. “It smells good too.” — Esquire, 1951

“Beauty is not a gift, rather the combination of natural charisms, personal style and expert care.” — Germaine Monteil

Is laughter the best medicine?

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Playa please.

Magazine ad for Player’s Navy Cut tobacco from a 1902 issue of Country Life magazine (the UK one, not the USA one).
Magazine ad for Player’s Navy Cut tobacco from a 1902 issue of Country Life magazine (the UK one, not the USA one).

Bone shards:

Player’s Navy Cut was discontinued in 2016. Not a bad run.

One of its slogans in the 1920s was “Player’s Please”. It’s a long shot, but I think it’s possible this was an early version of the more recent “Playa please.”

And yes, “Me likee” is a racist stereotype. Don’t do that.

Detail: Notice the “Hero” on the sailor’s hat.

And just because, here’s a possible origin for “Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

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This took a long time to reach me, but it was worth the wait.

For real ball handling…

A comic book ad for Spalding from 1977.
A comic book ad for Spalding from 1977.

Bone shards:

Who is that white dude, err, I mean that nearly unstoppable offensive juggernaut?

Rick Barry’s free throws were underhanded, granny-style, or granny shots, which some of you may remember from a certain Will Ferrell basketball movie.

Behold, the great and wondrous Julius Erving / Dr. J.

During World War II, Spalding helped manufacture M1918 Browning Automatic Rifles.

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Oh, like a wizard bear never grabbed your ass while you were playing video games in the shopping mall arcade.

Cheeky.
Cheeky.
A 1983 magazine ad for Atari’s Crystal Castles.
A 1983 magazine ad for Atari’s Crystal Castles.

Bone shards:

Bentley Bear makes an appearance in Wreck-It Ralph!

Crystal Castles was a trackball game. And now I’m having Marble Madness flashbacks.

Crystal Castles is now a Canadian band.

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Mexico, the Italy of America

A 1904 magazine ad for Southern Pacific
A 1904 magazine ad for Southern Pacific

Ok, we have a few scenic stops mentioned in this ad, but sadly, no travel brochure. I guess we’ll just have to settle for the Internet.

The Ruins of Mitla

The Catacombs of Guanajuato. Bring your mummy.

The Pyramids of Cholula

The Valley and Hills of Monterey
Hmm… Monterey is in California, but there is an Monterrey in Mexico. Quite lovely.

Ok, not gonna lie… This trip would be amazeballs. That’s a good thing.

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What rolls down stairs, alone or in pairs?

I forgot to write down the comic book and year this Lincoln Logs ad came from, but I think it was from an issue of Roy Rogers.
I forgot to write down the comic book and year this Lincoln Logs ad came from, but I think it was from an issue of Roy Rogers.

Bone shards:

Lincoln Logs were invented by John Lloyd Wright, son of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The first set came with instructions to build 1) Abraham Lincoln’s boyhood home and 2) Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

“Interesting playthings typifying the spirit of America.”

The last five letters in “Playskool” are considered to be a “sensational spelling” of “school. SENSATIONAL SPELLING. It’s a thing.

The Log Song!

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Darn Good

Chesterfield cigarettes magazine ad found in the September 5, 1931 issue of The Literary Digest
Chesterfield cigarettes magazine ad found in the September 5, 1931 issue of The Literary Digest

Bone shards:

Before they were Astaires, Adele and Fred were Austerlitzes.

Adele Astaire was Fred Astaire’s older sister. A year after this ad, she hitched up with Lord Charles Arthur Francis Cavendish, the second son of Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire, and became Lady Charles Cavendish. Also, she was more talented than Fred.

“Can’t Act. Slightly Bald. Also Dances.”
“enormous ears and bad chin line”
— Notes from Fred Astaire‘s RKO screen test

Have you ever seen an actual bandwagon?

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Ready and eager!

This is no time for sidesaddle.
Magazine ad for the 1950 Oldsmobile Rocket 88
Magazine ad for the 1950 Oldsmobile Rocket 88

Bone shards:

Street cred? This car had it.

Oldsmobile’s Rocket engine was kind of a big deal.

The voice of Rocket in the Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy movies is Bradley Cooper.

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Give the devil his Dew.

Magazine ad for Sanderson’s Mountain Dew Scotch circa 1906/1907
Magazine ad for Sanderson’s Mountain Dew Scotch circa 1906/1907

Bone shards:

The version of Mountain Dew that you’re probably more familiar with didn’t come around until 1940. Also, one of its early lines was “It’ll tickle yore innards.”

A version of this is still sold in Cameroon and the Ivory Coast.

A Sanderson’s Mountain Dew promotional knife can be yours for only $139.95.

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