Bowman Ice Cream Ad – June 27, 1962

A dish of ice cream is still one of the simple joys in life.

When I was growing up, there was always a carton of ice cream in our freezer. I don't recall what brand Mom bought regularly; it's only the flavors I remember: chocolate, vanilla or Neapolitan – nothing too exotic in the early days.

But the concept of exotic flavors is exactly what's being promoted in this ad for Bowman Ice Cream that ran in the Journal back on June 27, 1962. The three "Fantas-tic" flavors in Bowman's Fantasy ice cream line included Swiss Style Chocolate Vanilla; Swiss Style Chocolate Candied Pecan Vanilla; and Orange-Sherbet Caramel Nut Vanilla.

Yuck. I don't think all those nutty flavors would have been a big hit with my siblings and me. 

What's interesting is that in the 1962 ad, there are two versions of the Bowman bowman mascot: the cartoony version at the bottom of the ad, and a more angular, "modern" rendering of him near the top of the ad by the LIFE magazine logo.

Anyway, Bowman Ice Cream continues to fascinate me, probably because of the huge painted sign promoting it on the side of Whalen Drug in the 1960s. Where else could you buy it in the area? Check out this listing of local stores that ran on the same page as the ad.

Bud Bowman Ice Cream Ad – April 25, 1947

Although for many years, Lorain had many fine local dairies producing their own ice cream, there was still a market for ice cream produced by national and regional companies, including Chicago-based Bowman Ice Cream.

(I sometimes think of the huge Bowman Ice Cream logo that used to be painted on the side of Whalen Drugs facing Meister Road. I can see it in my mind’s eye.)

Anway, I’ve written about Bowman Ice Cream and its mascot Bud Bowman before, including this post featuring a 1962 ad, and this one which revealed that there was a live-action version of the cartoon archer that traveled around the country not unlike Oscar Mayer’s Little Oscar.

The ad shown above, which appeared in the Lorain Journal on April 25, 1947, is kind of amusing. In it, Bud is shown shoveling a spoonful of his namesake ice cream into the waiting maw of a real person.

Although this blog is one of the few places on the internet where you can find Bud Bowman, he still pops up here and there on Ebay.

Here he is on the front and back of a vintage milk bottle currently on Ebay.

And this Bud’s for you on a 1954 WBKB TV Chicago ad, also on Ebay.

National Pharmacy Celebrates 25 Years – 1950

Here’s another May “leftover” that didn’t get posted. It’s a full spread, two-page ad for National Pharmacy celebrating its 25th Birthday that ran in the Lorain Journal on May 19, 1950.

The ad is interesting in that it never really comes out and says when it opened; it just says it was “nine thousand, one hundred and twenty-six days ago.” (That was enough to stop me from going back and trying to find a Grand Opening ad.)

National Pharmacy must have liked that particular graphic border design because it was still using something similar in its 1986 telephone directory ad (below), 36 years later.

National Pharmacy managed to hang on at 300 E. 28th Street until it disappeared from the Pharmacy listings beginning with the 1994 phone book.

Here's the former National Pharmacy store today.

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Of interest in that 1950 Journal ad is the mention of Buddy and Betty Bowman making an appearance at National Pharmacy.

As you might remember, Bud Bowman is the cartoon archer (sometimes referred to as an elf) that appeared in Bowman Ice Cream ads. Here he is in a 1962 ad (below).

As the 1950 ad noted, “These nationally known trade marks for the Bowman Ice Cream Company will be on hand to entertain you Saturday, May 20th. Here is your chance to see this tiny couple (scarcely 36” tall).

Here’s a promotional postcard showing the diminutive couple in their Bowman costumes.

And here’s a closeup.

I’ll bet they had a lot of fun at their jobs. Plus it’s hard not to make friends when you’re handing out free ice cream in dixie cups!

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I received at least one email reminding me that I neglected to mention Joseph Ivey, also known as DJ Joey. He has performed on the corner right in front of the former National Pharmacy for many years (although I recently saw him dancing in front of Czech Grill). You can see him in this Google Street View (below).

Bud Bowman Ice Cream Bars – July 1962

With all the writing here about ice cream and spaghetti lately, this is almost turning into a food blog!

I've mentioned a few times that I remember a huge, painted sign for Bowman's Ice Cream on the side of Whalen Drugs in the 1960s. Well, here's a Bowman Ice Cream ad featuring Bud Bowman that appeared in the  Lorain Journal on July 12, 1962.

Courtesy of Ebay

The smiling cartoon archer advertising mascot not only appeared in Bowman ads, but also was featured on other items such as the promotional button shown at left that was recently on Ebay.

Online research reveals that the Bowman Dairy Company was based in Chicago with roots in that city dating back to the 1880s. By the late 1940s, the company had grown to become the largest distributor of milk in that city and employed 4,000 people. 

Bowman expanded into other Midwest cities by acquiring ice cream companies and small dairies in neighboring states. This included some companies in Cleveland, and that's why Bowman had such a big presence in Lorain despite all of the local dairies such as Lorain Creamery.

At the time of the above 1962 ad, Bowman Ice Cream was sold at more than 60 dealers in the Lorain County area. Besides Whalen Drug, the dealer list in Lorain included Bob's Donuts, National Pharmacy, Fligner's Market, Reagan Grocery and Middendorf Pharmacy. In Sheffield Lake, you could find Bowman Ice Cream at the Sheffield Grill (now Dock's Tavern). In Elyria, it was available at the Hess & Hess Drug chain, Ed's Cigar Store, Serfozo Grocery and at Foodway stores.

Unfortunately, the Bowman Dairy Co. experienced some legal problems during the 1950s, being charged with violating anti-trust laws. A declining home delivery market also contributed to its downfall, and in 1966 the company was sold to the Dean Foods Company.