Asphalt Ad – July 30, 1956

One of the unpleasant aspects of summer (besides the 90º heat waves we’ve been having) is the ubiquitous roadwork taking place. Although it is much needed, it doesn’t make it any more tolerable when you are driving over a freshly scraped roadbed awaiting its layer of asphalt, throwing up pebbles and dust as you speed along.

Asphalt is almost becoming a regular topic on this blog. Back in November of last year, I featured a 1957 ad by the Ohio Road Improvement Company promoting the economic benefits of using “black, velvety asphalt” for paving roads instead of pouring concrete.

And here’s another ad in that same series. This ad appeared in the Lorain Journal on July 30, 1956. This time, the focus is on the farmer and the ability to get his produce to market quickly thanks to asphalt.

I love the cartoon veggies in the ad, sprinting down the highway with a helpful push by the farmer.

I suppose that only old-timers get the visual pun of the cute “tomato."