Why? Because my original 2013 write-up on the former Canada Dry Ginger Ale bottling plant facility on Colorado Avenue is my second most visited post of all time. That's more than 23,000 hits!
Actually, the hits are more likely related to the business that was located in the former plant: the Corner Store model railroad shop. Nevertheless, I like Canada Dry Ginger Ale (although I have a six-pack of Vernors in the fridge right now) and enjoy writing about its advertising.Speaking of which, here's a large ad for Canada Dry that ran in the Lorain Journal back on May 5, 1955.
It's interesting that it's not advertising the famous ginger ale. It's promoting large bottles of the Canada Dry family of beverage flavors: root beer, 'true fruit' black cherry, imitation grape soda, and 'true fruit' orange.
Here's a color magazine ad from 1955 giving us a good luck at the color scheme.
There was indeed something for every consumer's tastes: ginger ale, cola, root beer, cream soda, black cherry, orange and lemon-lime (their version was called Hi-Spot). And of course the famous mixers.
Here's another magazine ad, from only a few years later – 1961.
Looking at the ad, it's fascinating how much the Canada Dry advertising changed in so short a time. The little illustrations of formally dressed people were out – and photography was in. And the focus of the ad was different. It's not just a variety of flavors that was being promoted. Now, the ad was selling youth, a feeling, an attitude, a way of life.
Welcome to modern advertising.
Canada Dry Ginger Ale doesn't taste the way it used to, probably due to its acquisition by Dr. Pepper.
ReplyDeleteThe colorful bottle ad would have caught my attention. Spur Cola intriguing.
ReplyDeleteMy wife still laments the demise of Cotton Club ginger ale. To me, all brands (except Vernors) taste the same.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine drinking grapefruit soda, though!
Buster, I'm still shocked and disappointed that the whole Cotton Club line (including its ginger ale and 50/50) were discontinued by the Keurig Dr Pepper corporate overlords.
DeleteGinger Ale was Mum's go-to when us kids were feeling poorly. But the association of it with illness never changed my liking for it. Mostly because it's my preferred mix with bourbon, which I barely drink, anymore.
ReplyDeleteALAN: *Nothing* tastes the way it used to.
BUSTER: Grapefruit soda and vodka (which I barely drink anymore, too).
DON: Barbecued spareribs still do.
DeleteWhen The Buckinghams released their hit song "Kind of a Drag ( When Your Baby Don't Love You)," I misheard the lyric as "Canada Dry . . .🎶" as if the soda pop would relieve the heartbreak. Check it out for yourself and see if I'm not so crazy: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq1fpN1qWv8
ReplyDeleteLHS Blazer Man - That's one of the more amusing misheard lyrics I've come across!
ReplyDeleteDon - I always thought of drinks like Squirt solely as mixers. I was surprised to see the ad with a girl drinking grapefruit soda out of the bottle.
👍 You're welcome, Buster. And another thing, what's so dry about Canada or, for their matter, soda pop?
DeleteIt's not too sweet, it's a cool refreshing treat.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vieGx4xKBS0
ReplyDelete