Advertisement Still Works After Seventy Years ---

[The Magistrate]

I was just now trolling through a site of vintage ephemera, photographs, illustrations, advertisements and such, and I came upon this....



It called to mind there was some of this stuff in the house, and I hunted up a hot dog out of the fridge, boiled it and wrapped it in some bread with a slather of relish and a lot of this yellow mustard. Almost certainly would not have done that had I not seen this odd little thing.

It was apparently an advertising mascot started up in the late thirties, that persisted into the early fifties.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I have some French's mustard in my fridge.

It's been there for awhile but probably not for 70 years, I hope, though mustard does keep for quite a long time.

[The Magistrate]

2. Ours Is More Recent As Well, Ma'am

But is the same brand. One of those names from childhood, like Campbell's for soup. Broadcast corned beef hash is, alas, long gone....

[abqtommy]

3. That's very creative text. In the late 1950s even the dialogue in the Road Runner comics I read

were written in rhyme. Maybe that has always been a "thing"...

[The Magistrate]

6. Rhythm And Rhyme Sticks In The Mind, Sir

People remember, whether they will or no.

[abqtommy]

10. Well that's fine anytime! N-e-s-t-l-e-s, Nestles makes the very best....chock-lat! Then there's

the Brylcreem jingle. You're right again, as usual!

[malthaussen]

13. "Pepsi-Cola hits the spot!"

"Twelve full ounces, that's a lot!
Twice as much for a nickle, too!
Pepsi-Cola is the drink for you!"

-- Mal

[LudwigPastorius]

17. "My bologna has a first name. It's O- S- C- A- R..."

The brain leeches and earworms are tenacious and long-lived.

[eppur_se_muova]

20. Mein bratwurst has a first name, it's F.R.I.T.Z.

Mein bratwurst has a second name, it's
S.C.H.N.A.C.K.E.N.P.F.E.F.F.E.R.H.A.U.S.E.N.

Matt Groening has a few earworms.

[LudwigPastorius]

22. LOL

I'd forgotten about Rainier Wolfcastle, the child star.

[The Magistrate]

31. Two In Particular Have Survived, Sir

'You'll wonder where the yellow went, when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent'

'Plop, plop, fizz, fizz --- oh what a relief it is!'

These things were concocted by hard-eyed professionals who knew exactly what they were doing and how to get it done.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

47. The version I remember includes "Buy it at your local store; Costs a nickle not a penny more!"

[mopinko]

4. anyone who sees a speck of difference between art and design is the opposite of mr magoo.

having done plenty of both, i can tell you that design is the harder job.

artist make what they make, and even if it never connects to another soul, if the artist is satisfied, it's a success.

design is a process that involves many, and if it doesnt connect w the majority, it fails.

much, much heavier lift.

[The Magistrate]

7. I Quite Agree, Ma'am

Advertising is a creative process with measurable results.

There is a fascinating book, 'Satisfaction Guaranteed --- The Making of the American Mass Market' by Ms. Susan Strasser, which sets forth early mass marketing campaigns, and shows among other things how offers of premiums and discounts in advertisements were used to judge by response rate how effective the advertisements were.

[mopinko]

9. never forget that andy warhol started out as an adman.

[The Magistrate]

32. I Did Not Know That, Ma'am

Thank you. Looks worth reading up on.

[mopinko]

45. at the warhol museum

they have all his files from those day.
when he would finish a project, he would scoop up all the papers on it, and toss them in a box.
i dont know how many of those they have even opened, but i imagine it must be a bit like that scene in raiders of the lost arc where the light melts the nazis face.

[OriginalGeek]

14. lol yep

it's why I don't work as an artist for a living. I'm happy with my art projects and and nobody else has to be. I have nothing but respect for artists who can also design. I sure couldn't ever do it. I just don't have the temperament for it. I never again have to hear "Oh this is great! Can you change this?" Nope. I can not. I wish I could have been a paid artist because I love to draw but I just can't draw for other people and now I'm too old to change.

[mopinko]

19. i watched the movie "yesterday " the other day

and on the surface it is about a guy who finds out that no one remembers the beatles. so he figures fuck it. if they cant tell imma just say i wrote these songs.
it is such a sly take on creativity and criticism ever.
best scene is when a big music honcho insists he must change jude to dude because no one understands jude.

[abqtommy]

21. I once read a photo-spread about the Italian School of design, from autos to telephones and

toasters. It was amazing and I totally agree with you.

[trof]

5. Oh lordy. I do remember those little glass jars.

That took me back.

[The Magistrate]

8. True, Sir

I would be surprised if they still make them. Ours is of course in a plastic squeeze bottle. I often like various brown mustards, hotter ones, but sometimes do get a hankering for that old bright yella stuff.

[jmowreader]

48. Believe it or not, they still make the 6 oz glass jar

[The Magistrate]

49. Wonder Where They Sell Them, Sir

Does it actually get to stores, or is it an on-line specialty item?

I miss the little 6 1/2 ounce bottkles of Coca-Cola in the green glass, myself....

[jmowreader]

51. I know you can get them on Amazon

As to which stores you can get them in...not a clue. I'm a Gulden's kinda guy myself.

[Totally Tunsie]

11. Yuk! Once a Gulden's Girl, always a Gulden's Girl!

But I'll occasionally flirt with a Grey Poupon...shhhhhhh.

[The Magistrate]

25. My Own Holy Grail Of Mustards, Ma'am

Is the brown mustard they used at the hot dog counter at the zoo when I was young. The nearest I have found is Dusseldorf style. I do like Gulden's though, it has a nice bite to it.

[Rhiannon12866]

12. I bought some for my brother just last week

He likes it on his sandwiches and the store was out the week before - I almost got an extra one when I got groceries this week, just in case the store was going to be out of it again.

[The Magistrate]

26. That Was Nice Of You, Mem'Sahib

Might have been wise to get the second. 'Soviet instincts' are good to have and act on at present. I do not mean hoarding, but keeping in mind what you might need or want badly, and getting it if you see it's available on the shelves, even if it wasn't on your immediate list when you went into the store.

[Rhiannon12866]

36. I've been trying to do that since it's impossible to know what you'll find at the store.

I found canned tuna this week when they were out before, picked up mustard and mayo for my brother last week since they were out the week before, and cheese for myself since there was almost none last week - and I live in a "dairy state!" These sure are crazy times, I'm regretting not getting Kleenex for myself since there were some (among the few paper products on otherwise bare shelves) since that was the one thing my brother requested - he'd been to another store earlier in the week and found none.

[LudwigPastorius]

15. I've done that.

As much as I like to think I am aware of, and thus immune to, the manipulation of Madison Avenue, an ad on the radio will pierce my armor as I'm driving to work and I'll think, "Hmm...it's been a while since I've had a _______. That would be tasty".

Later that evening, Om Nom Nom!

[The Magistrate]

27. The Stuff Does Work, Sir, No Question

It's kind of like watching an old movie, and seeing everybody lighting up a cigarette....

[TrogL]

16. Those cartoonish figures always scare me

The huge screaming eyes, the massive mouth full of tombstone teeth, oversized clothing...

Reminds me of Robert Crumb and his damn boots.

[LudwigPastorius]

18. Yep, there's an frightening element of insanity or religious zeal there.

Hot Dan really likes his mustard, and he'd be willing to kill you and your whole family to get it.

[The Magistrate]

28. It Was The Yellow Jar, Sir, Not The Mascot

I agree that 'Hot Dan' is not a good look at all.

Don't mind Mr. Crumb's boots, though.

I had a job in a bookstore shortly after I left home where we sold 'Zap Comics' surreptitiously --- they were in a drawer under the cash station, and a customer had to ask....

[kairos12]

23. The dude's expression gives me pause, though.

[The Magistrate]

29. I Agree, Sir

He looks about to eat any prospective customer. With mustard, of course....

[IronLionZion]

24. Mustard is among the greatest condiments ever created

and I keep several varieties at home. I put some strong Irish mustard on my sandwich today for lunch. French's is great for hot dogs.

America's last real president likes mustard on his burger.

[The Magistrate]

30. That, Sir, Is a Lapse In Taste I Am Happy To Forgive Him For

Otherwise I quite agree about the value of mustard as a condiment. Over the years I have noticed that Chinese take-out seems to have slacked off including packets of hot mustard with egg rolls, and it is a shame. I have taken to making my own, with dry mustard and a little bit of water and vinegar. Brings tears to the eyes when gotten just right.

[IronLionZion]

33. Here's everything you need to know about mustard

https://www.chowhound.com/food-news/205188/ketchup-and-mustard-everything-you-never-knew-about-americas-favorite-condiments/

It's been used around the world for thousands of years but wasn't popular in the US until French's made their mild yellow version in 1904.

And the Chinese hot mustard is available in many Asian markets and online if you want to buy it.

[The Magistrate]

39. Interesting Read, Sir

Thank you.

[musette_sf]

46. I too regret that mustard is no longer a de facto condiment

provided with Chinese takeout. My local place will add to order if specifically requested, but I forget half the time.

[The Magistrate]

50. One Packet Mustard, Ma'am, One Packet Sweet and Sour, One Packet Soy Sauce

That's the law....

[musette_sf]

53. you know it

[NurseJackie]

34. French's yellow mustard is the best!

👍❤️💕

[The Magistrate]

40. It Certainly Has Its Points, Ma'am

And they say turmeric is good for you.

[denbot]

35. For the longest time I was on a hot/sweet mustard kick.

Recently I made myself a Chicago Dog and realized that my special mustard didn’t cut it. Nothing ruins a pastrami like a sweet hot mustard, and as to a proper Chicago Dog it totally screws that pooch.

There is limited space on a big rig, so I tossed a half full Walmart purchase (Walmart doesn’t sell Beaver, my go-to hot/sweet mustard) and went “Old School”.

Less than two weeks ago I switched back to good old French’s. The squeeze bottle is handy, but I do remember the old little jar with fondness.

[The Magistrate]

41. That Looks Like Quite A Set-Up, Sir

No resemblance at all to what I remember from my hitch-hiking days.

[denbot]

43. I hear ya.

I was put in a Volvo 860 Globetrotter, their top of the line rig. Turned the first down because it had an automatic transmission, it took my boss several months to get a manual for me.

I’ve been with this company since literally the first day, one of three old beat-down but safely functional trucks. After 7+ years we now have over 80 rigs on the road and the owner does not hesitate to show appreciation to us old plank owners..

[uriel1972]

37. The only thing French about it is the name!

I remember that from the Bush II era back when there were Freedom Fries /sigh

[The Magistrate]

42. True, Sir

And french fries are really Belgian....

[The Magistrate]

38. Down The Mustard Rabbit-Hole, My Friends

This thing has piqued my interest, and I have spent a little time looking into its origins. As is true of most things, there is someone who not only knows about it, but wants to share his or her fascinations with us all.

Here is how the thing looked in the summer of 1937, in color splash advertisements, either in magazines or Sunday papers:





This may be the first appearance, or nearly so: a newspaper advertisement from April, 1937:



Here is the sort of story in the picture texts:










And of course, it wouldn't be advertising in 1940 without something a touch risque..,.

[Devilsun]

44. Heinz guy

Even though I'm originally from Pittsburgh I have to admit French's is the primo mustard.

[The Magistrate]

52. Heinz Does Do a Mustard, Doesn't It, Sir

Never really registered. Personally I think the turmeric mustards have little to do with real mustard, but are a sort of separate thing of their own. One I certainly do sometimes have distinct yen for....