Be sociable

Once upon a time, cola drinks were respectable drinks for adults -this was way before the obesity epidemic started in America.

The message is that it's fine for "hipsters" to drink Pepsi. Be one of them.

"The Sociables", 1960
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Wigs of the times

If you were not blessed with massive amounts of hair, the only solution for an afro hairstyle was by wearing a wig, like those for sale in this ad.

The one in the middle of the page with two projecting domes is particularly funny. People would stop you and call you "Mickey".

"A wig you can dig", 1972
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Drive and dine

Fathers who take their families once a week for dinner are "the greatest guys in the world". They get to spend the beautiful Spring days together, and Dad can let Mother "off the kitchen duty once a week".

Charming. Truly vintage 1950's sexism.

Not surprisingly, the ad itself is sponsored by General Foods International -a conglomerate- and the National Restaurant Association. Talk about propping up the market!

"Drive and dine", 1956
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Trailer trash

For a brief period in the 1950's, trailers were an almost acceptable lifestyle - advertised with enticing words about "no long-term debt" and "trailer parks are beautifully landscaped".

A world away from the trailer park of the 21st century, with squalid living, declining self-esteem, meth-labs and violence.

"The Mobile Home", 1959
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Glamorous Foodarama

More 50's extravaganza and excessive consumption. The Foodarama refrigerator.

"Foodarama", 1956
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Only in prosperous post-war America you could find a behemoth fitted with a "freezer-wrap dispenser", a "breakfast bar " and a "banana rack" - truly, a glowing statement to the rising standards of living and the new status symbol of home appliances.

And, with the added value of a stereotypical 50's family using the fridge.

"Spaciousness", "glamorous", "beauty" and "magic" are all there to see - a perfect example of the work Mad Ad Men are paid to do.

Click, click, click

According to this ad in a well-know American music magazine, in the early sixties Australia is still a land of... sheep-rearing people.

"Click go the shears" is a traditional Australian folk song. Not surprisingly, it is about men shearing sheep. Surprisingly enough, someone used this concept to draw the reader's attention into the growth and popularity of American music in the Australian market.

Talk about stereotypes. And gotta love the photo of the factory -near Sydney- at the bottom of the piece.

"Click go the shears", 1963
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Simple is better

Somehow the message of fun and simplicity is lost on the following piece.

The ad talks a lot about the "stainless steel trim", the "new appealing bowling colors" and there's even a mention about the "nylon rail guard". And it's easy to service too.

Only at the very end of the copy it says something about the user experience. "Six profit-proven games-in-one". Wtf?

But it does not say squat about them, either.

It's a coin-op amusement machine, for crying out loud. It's supposed to be fun. And simple.

"Strike ball", 1963
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