Friday, December 09, 2005

Smokin' Santa!


Colliers Dec 1955, originally uploaded by leifpeng.

Just look at that nicotine - addled expression. Those were the days.

I originally had something else planned for today's Inspiration but a shipment of old mid-50's Colliers magazines arrived yesterday morning and this Santa was on the back cover of one of them. Well, what could be better than a smokin' Santa?

Only a boozin' Santa, of course, and as soon as I come across one of them you can bet you'll see it here first!

6 comments:

=shane white= said...

I remember seeing this version of Santa from my childhood...why I don't know, because I was born in 1970. I guess my parents had decorations and other motif from that period. Regardless, I think that's why I identify with a lot of older illustration as part of my childhood. Great stuff...right up there with Sundblom's Santa work.

leif said...

Interesting how you compared this to Sundblom's Santas, S. I agree.

D'you think this was done in watercolours? It just doesn't have that rich, warm creaminess you always see in Sundblom's Coke ads...

Anonymous said...

Nice piece today, Leif.

No luck tracking down Santa hawkin' liquor (at least not yet), but just in case anyone was asking "what's accu-ray"...

http://www.old-time.com/commercials/chesterfield_accuray.html

Bill Angus

leif said...

Fascinating, Bill. And here I thought it was some bogus term invented over a slew of manhattans and rusty nails by a gaggle of high priced Madison Avenue ad men!

Anonymous said...

I would've thought so too...

BTW, it seems Santa wasn't real strong on brand loyalty.

http://ephemeranow.com/xmas/xmas008.htm

From the always interesting, retro-advertising site

http://ephemeranow.com/

Bill Angus

leif said...

Don't be fooled, Bill... that Camels smoker over at ephemeranow was of those cheap department store Santas.

Everyone knows the REAL Santa likes "to put a smile in your smoking!"