Friday, December 23, 2022

Meyer Goldberg Christmas Ad – Dec. 17, 1962

For many people, getting ready for the holidays means laying in a good stash of groceries to feed a houseful of family and friends. In that case, a full-page ad like this one for the well-remembered Meyer Goldberg grocery store chain would be of particular interest. It ran in the Journal back on December 17, 1962.

That's a nice illustration of Santa Claus about to tie on the feedbag. It captures what the classic, iconic Santa looks like: a jolly guy with a full face, small nose, big cheeks and bushy beard – not what passes for Santa these days on TV commercials, where any guy with a white beard (often trimmed) will do.

Although a turkey is quite noticeable is the Santa cartoon, it's ham that rules the roost in the ad, with a variety of selections including semi-boneless hams, pic-a-nic hams, canned hams and (if you'll pardon the expression) butt portions. Similarly, beef selections include the, er, rump roast. There's even Canadian Bacon, eh?

Anyway, what's interesting about the ad are some of the other sale items, which include Hawaiian Punch, and Kraft's Miracle Whip. 

Miracle Whip is one of those things that many of us grew up with but shunned once we left the family nest. My mother never, ever had mayonnaise in the house – just Miracle Whip. When I asked her years later why, she answered, "Because mayonnaise doesn't have any flavor." Mom made a lot of things like ham salad and bologna surprise (a sandwich spread) that called for some kind of salad dressing, and it was always Miracle Whip that she used. There's a similar old-time product called Spin Blend that has that tangy flavor as well. 

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And here's wishing longtime blog contributor and all-around great guy Alan Hopewell a Happy Birthday today, and an early Merry Christmas too!

10 comments:

-Alan D Hopewell said...

Thank you, Dan, and a Merry CHRIST -mas to everyone!
Me, I never liked mayonnaise, salad dressing, Miracle Whip, it's all the same to me; give me ketchup, barbecue sauce, or A-1.

Rae said...

Happy Birthday Alan! and Merry Christ-mas to all too. Mustard for me.

Don Hilton said...

Hippy Birday, Alan!

One thing I *do* miss from the old days is food like mayo and peanut butter in glass jars.

That clinking the knife made when you were trying to make just one more sandwich!

Heaven only knows what kind of chemicals are leaching from those plastic ones.

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas, Dan! Thanks for giving all of us who remember Lorain as it once was an opportunity to “go home “ every day. Thanks for all the work you put into your blog, I, along with your many readers, truly appreciate it. All the best to you, your family, your readers, and the Great City of Lorain!
Charlie Marko
Los Angeles, CA

Buster said...

Merry Christmas, all - and happy birthday, Alan!

Dan Brady said...

Thanks for the holiday well wishes, everyone! I truly appreciate the kind comments about the blog also, and especially thank Alan and Don for all the fun and interest they add to this blog regularly!

Don Hilton said...

Thanks, Dan.

Your blog is always the first place I come to if I have any questions about LoCo.

It's like what dad used to say about the local hardware store:
"If it ain't there, you don't need it!"

Stay warm!
For those in the future, it's -1.3 (f) outside.
That's minus 18.3 (c) because you're in the future and we've switched to metric.
Right? Right?!!

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday to any and all who celebrate on the same day.Remember to look out for you and yours and cherish those memories as long as you live..........Santa

Anonymous said...

I mentioned before on a prior post, my Dad was the butcher at this Meyer Goldberg store. Paid my way through college. Happy Holidays, Dan.

Dan Brady said...

Thank you very much and I wish you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year as well. Your father did a good job, my mother bought a lot of meat there!