>

Tag: vintage advertising

Vintage Summer Olympic Posters & Advertisements

Today’s post is all about 1920s-1960s Summer Olympic posters and advertisements (and the stories behind them).

These vibrant, eye-catching pieces of art not only provide a visual feast, but also offer a unique glimpse into the past. From the bold designs of the 1920s to the sleek graphics of the 1960s, get ready to be transported to Summer Olympics of the past.

Let’s begin!

1940s vintage advertisement for the 1948 London Summer Olympics featuring an illustration of runners

1920 Antwerp Summer Olympics

The poster represents the flags of the participating nations all flying together. In the top right, the coat of arms of the organising city. In the centre, a discobolus, a reference to the Games of Antiquity. In the background, the city of Antwerp with the Tower of Notre Dame. 90,000 copies were made in 17 languages (Source).

Vintage Olympic Poster: 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium.

Source: Olympics.com

1924 Paris Summer Olympics

The poster shows semi-naked athletes—a reminder of Antiquity—making the Olympic salute. In the background, the flag of the French Republic. In the foreground, palm leaves, symbols of victory (Source).

1924 Paris Summer Olympics. The poster shows semi-naked athletes—a reminder of Antiquity—making the Olympic salute. In the background, the flag of the French Republic. In the foreground, palm leaves, symbols of victory

Source: Olympics.com

1928 Amsterdam Summer Olympics

Interesting Facts:

  • Symbolic Fire: For the first time, a symbolic fire was lit during the Games. The fire was lit in a cauldron that was placed at the top of a tower in the stadium, which had been designed by Jan Wils, a celebrated Dutch architect.
  • The number of female competitors more than doubled, as women were finally allowed to compete in gymnastics and athletics (Source).

Further Reading: 1928-Canada’s First Female Olympic Medalists

1920s vintage poster for the 1928 Amsterdam Summer Olympics

Source: Olympics.com

1932 Los Angeles Summer Olympics

The 1932 Olympic Games were held in the middle of the Great Depression and, given the transport links of the time, in the relatively remote region of California. Consequently, participation in the Games was the lowest since 1904, with only half as many athletes taking part as had in 1928. Despite this, the standard of competition was excellent (Source).

1932 Los Angeles Summer Olympics Poster

1932 Union Pacific Advertisement for the Los Angeles Summer Olympics, featuring the Discobolus of Myron [the Discuss Thrower], the personification of the athletic ideal and one of the unofficial icons of the Olympics.

1930s vintage advertisement: 1932 Union Pacific Advertisement for the Los Angeles Summer Olympics, featuring the Discobolus of Myron [the Discuss Thrower], the personification of the athletic ideal and one of the unofficial icons of the Olympics.

Source: swanngalleries.com

Coca-Cola has been an official sponsor of the Olympic Games since the 1928 games in Amsterdam. For their 1932 summer Olympics sponsorship, the company distributed 3 million miniature cutouts of Olympic athletes with a history of Olympic records printed on the back. This ad, displayed in store windows across the Games’ host city of Los Angeles, is a larger version of the cutouts from the summer of ’32 (Source).

1930s vintage advertisement: Coca-Cola has been an official sponsor of the Olympic Games since the 1928 games in Amsterdam. For their 1932 summer Olympics sponsorship, the company distributed 3 million miniature cutouts of Olympic athletes with a history of Olympic records printed on the back. This ad, displayed in store windows across the Games’ host city of Los Angeles, is a larger version of the cutouts from the summer of ’32

Source: mascola.com

1936 Berlin Summer Olympics

The Berlin Games are best remembered for Adolf Hitler’s failed attempt to use them to prove his theories of Aryan racial superiority. As it turned out, the most popular hero of the Games was the African-American sprinter and long jumper Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and long jump (Source).

1930s Vintage Olympic Poster: 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics

Source: Olympics.com

The original poster for London’s 1948 games. The competitions were the first following a 12-year break during World War II, and London hosted despite rationings and a cityscape still battered from wartime bombings (Source).

1948 Olympic Poster for the London Summer Games July 29th 1948

Source: cntraveler.com

“Fly BEA (British European Airways) to the Olympic Games in London, July 29th-August 14th 1948.”

1940s Vintage Advertisement: "Fly BEA (British European Airways) to the Olympic Games in London, July 29th-August 14th 1948."

Source: swanngalleries.com

1952 Helsinki Summer Olympics

The poster below is the Paavo Nurmi version created for the 1940 Games, which were never held because of the Second World War. It was just updated with the dates and the lines around the countries, drawn in red on a globe in the background. 82,000 large format copies were made in nine languages and 33,000 small format copies in 20 languages (Source).

1950s vintage Olympics Poster: 1952 Helsinki Summer Olympics

Source: Olympics.com

1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics

The poster is in the form of an invitation card folded three times. On the first flap, the Olympic rings, in the background of the third flap, the arms of the city of Melbourne (Source).

Interesting Fact: Melbourne won the right to host the 1956 Olympic Games by one vote over Buenos Aires.

1950s vintage Olympic Poster: 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics. The poster is in the form of an invitation card folded three times. On the first flap, the Olympic rings, in the background of the third flap, the arms of the city of Melbourne

Source: Olympics.com

1956 Melbourne Olympic Games Souvenir Programme.

1956 Melbourne Olympic Games Souvenir Programme featuring an illustration of the Olympic Flame.

Source: vrwc.org.au

1960 Rome Summer Olympics

The poster was the result of a competition in which some 212 artists participated. It is made up of a Roman she-wolf, from which Remus and Romulus, founders of the city of Rome, are suckling, on top of a column. Underneath, a victorious athlete being crowned in accordance with Roman custom, surrounded by people dressed in togas cheering him (Source).

1960 Rome Summer Olympics Poster

Source: Olympics.com

1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics

The poster recalls the official emblem, composed of the Olympic rings superimposed on the emblem of the Japanese national flag, representing the rising sun. There was a total of four official posters, all designed by Yusaku Kamekura. They were all made by photoengraving using several colours, highlighting the technology of the Japanese printing industry. The posters themselves received a number of prizes for their excellence, including the Milan Prize for poster graphics (Source).

Interesting Fact:

The 1964 Tokyo Games were the first to be held in Asia. The carrier of the flame, Yoshinori Sakai, was chosen because he was born on 6 August 1945, the day the atomic bomb exploded in Hiroshima, in homage to the victims and as a call for world peace (Source).

1960s Vintage Olympics Poster: 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics. The poster recalls the official emblem, composed of the Olympic rings superimposed on the emblem of the Japanese national flag, representing the rising sun.

Source: Olympics.com

1968 Mexico City Summer Olympics.

The series of posters for these Games came from the collaboration of three artists: Pedro Ramirez Vazquez, architect and President of the Organising Committee for the Games, Eduardo Terrazas (MEX) and Lance Wyman (USA) who designed the “Mexico 68” logo. They then developed it to create the black and white poster, which recalls the patterns of the Huichol (Source).

Interesting Fact:

The choice of Mexico City to host the 1968 Olympic Games proved to be a controversial one because of the city’s high altitude above sea level: 2,300m. It was the first times the Games had taken place in Latin America, and the altitude proved an advantage in the events which needed a brief, but intense effort, such as short-distance running (up to 800m), jumping, throwing and weightlifting. But the rarefied air proved disastrous for those competing in endurance events that lasted longer than two minutes, such as long-distance and middle-distance running, swimming and cycling (Source).

1968 Mexico City Summer Olympics Poster. 1968 Games emblem reflected the fashion of the time: hippy psychedelia.

Source: Olympics.com

I hope you enjoyed this Olympic sized post. Please share in the comments section what your favourite poster was and anything else you wish to share on this topic.

Further Reading:

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

Discover 1920s-1960s Vintage Furniture Advertising

I love looking back at vintage advertisements to see what people were buying to outfit the interiors of their homes. From flooring, to wallpaper and even Formica tables, the advertising was everywhere.

Today’s post is for all kinds of furniture ads (not just one kind) from the 1920s to the 1960s with their vibrant colors, playful illustrations, and clever copy that grabs your attention and transports you back in time.

Let’s take a look!

1950s Vintage Furniture Ad-1958 Bassett Furniture ad featuring bedroom and dining room furniture for your home.

1958 Bassett Furniture ad-Source: Etsy-PlentifulPages


Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay, are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Note: If the item you clicked on is no longer available, just do a search for like items. There are loads of vintage items being added to Etsy and eBay daily!


Vintage Furniture Advertising 1920s-1960s

I’m a sucker for classic Mid Century furniture pieces (and great wallpaper) like in this 1950s advertisement for the ‘Baumritter’s care free VIKO collection“.

“Yesterday’s basement transformed into a delightful, livable family-room”. ” Constructed of tubular steel, plastic upholstery, and heat and stain resistant plastic table tops for long, family service.”

Further Reading: Vintage Photos of Wallpaper Designs in Mid Century Homes

1950s vintage advertisement: Mid Century furniture pieces (and great wallpaper) in this 1950s advertisement for the 'Baumritter's care free VIKO collection".

Source: eBay

1950 Samson Folding Furniture ad-“For tots…teens…and twenties”

1950s vintage advertisement for 1950 Samson Furniture featuring a folding card table for all sort of activites for the kids, teens and twenty year olds.

Source: Etsy-PlentifulPages

1920 advertisement for Velmo Mohair Upholstery Fabric by LC Chase of Sanford Mills Maine.

While not technically an advertisement for furniture, it’s for what goes ON the furniture and I very much enjoyed the couch and chair featured in the ads illustration. So I decided to add it to the mix.

1920s vintage furniture ad: 1920 advertisement for Velmo Mohair Upholstery Fabric by LC Chase of Sanford Mills Maine.

Source: eBay

Simmons Hide-A-Bed 1950 vintage advertisement featuring images of how the bed looks in the living room and how to easily pulls out to house guests.

1950s Vintage advertising for Simmons Hide-A-Bed (sofa bed) as seen on September 16, 1950 in The Saturday Evening Post magazine. The vintage ad features images of how the bed looks like a 1950s living room and how it also looks sleeping in it.

Source: Etsy-PlentifulPages

One more sofa bed ad because I love Breeze Blocks! 1961 Simmons Hide-A-Bed advertisement featuring a breeze blocks table and room divider.

Further Reading: Mid-Century Cool: Breeze Blocks

1960s vintage ad: 1961 Simmons Hide-A-Bed Vintage Ad featuring breeze blocks. Fantastic Vintage house interior inspiration

Source: Etsy-PlentifulPages

1940 advertisement for Branchflower furniture. Home office furniture for the entrepreneur in your home.

Vintage Furniture Ad-1940 advertisement for Branchflower furniture feature a desk and chairs for your home office

Source: Archive.org

1929 KRAPPEN furniture ad for “vivid individuality in a small apartment”. Bold patterns and furniture pieces that stand together and on their own in the room.

I love the green chair at the bottom left of the ad.

1920s furniture ad for -Krappen furniture from 1929 featuring a small apartment living room with 1920s furniture pieces.

Source: eBay

1950s Vista by Bassett advertisement for bedroom furniture. “For the woman who will be satisfied with nothing less than the newest”.

1950s vintage Ad, Vista by Bassett, bedroom furniture.

Source: eBay

“The new look in dinettes….says engaging ESTHER WILLIAMS”…”is one of functional beauty, the colorful, friendly, liveable beauty of a modern CHROMCRAFT dinette suite”. 1948 vintage ad for Chromcraft dinettes.

Further Reading: “Vintage Formica Tables”-Mid-Century Modern Design Ideas for the Vintage Home

1940s vintage furniture advertisement-1948 Chromcraft Dinettes featuring Esther Williams. The Dinette includes the matching sectional buffet. Colour in the ad is green but comes in different colours. Fun vintage interior inspiration

Source: eBay

Vintage advertising print ad from 1956 for a Formica Furniture Shopper Guide featuring a dining table that also has storage. Perfect for small spaces.

1950s vintage ad: Vintage advertising print ad from 1956 for a Formica Furniture Shopper Guide featuring a dining table that also has storage. Perfect for small spaces.

1930s Harrods bedroom furniture suite advertisement. How glamorous even in black and white (the ad not the furniture).

1930s vintage furniture advertisement for 1930s bedroom furniture from Harrods

Source: Etsy-AncientAds

1965 Kroehler Sofas advertisement. “Why the softest Kroehler sofa can’t give you a hard time”.

1960s Vintage Advertisement: 1965 Kroehler Sofas advertisement featuring images of 1960s / Mid Century Couches / Sofas. Fun Vintage Interior Inspiration

Source: Etsy-PlentifulPages

Cedar Chests for Christmas! A 1950s Cavalier vintage ad.

1940s vintage furniture ad for Cavalier Cedar Chests. The perfect Christmas Present.

Source: Etsy-UnicornVintageAds

1930s advertisement-Lloyd Loom Woven Fibre Furniture. Love the green chair, matching lamp and other home decor items (the green wall sconce on the upper right side of the image, is fantastic!).

1930s vintage furniture ad for Lloyd Loom Woven Fibre Furniture-The advertisement features green chairs and a table in a living room.

Source: whoppah.com

“Now…Million Dollar Luxury built to stand a “Heap o’ Living!” from Kroehler furniture. 1940s advertisement.

1940s vintage furniture advertising: "Now...Million Dollar Luxury built to stand a "Heap o' Living!" from Kroehler furniture featuring sofas for your home.

Source: Etsy-AmericanCenturyShop

1950s advertising for ” Swing King Contoured Reclining Chair”. “For your health and comfort!”.

1950s vintage furniture ad for "Swing King Reclining Chair" featuring a 1950s woman in a red chair. The perfect Christmas gift.

Source: Etsy-AmericanCenturyShop

1936 Berkey & Gay Furniture advertisement featuring a beautiful bedroom suite (The Downing) and dining room suite (The Fairfax) illustrated here.

1930s vintage furniture ad: 1936 Berkey & Gay Furniture advertisement featuring a beautiful bedroom suite (The Downing) and dining room suite (The Fairfax) illustrated here.

Source: Etsy-RetroReveries

1950s Thayer advertisement for baby furniture (“Better living for babies”). “Baby is so Modern”.

1950s vintage ad: 1950s Thayer advertisement for baby furniture ("Better living for babies"). "Baby is so Modern".

Source: eBay

Magazines covers were another form of advertising and this October 1935, House Beautiful cover featuring stunning red & white furniture with black walls and flooring, is a true standout (the curved chairs are super!). Love the game of backgammon setup for play as well.

1930s vintage magazine cover for House Beautiful from October 1935 featuring red and white furniture and a game of backgammon.

Source: fineartamerica.com

1951 Cosco Furniture advertisement for colourful kitchen chairs, stools, baby high chair and a bar cart.

1950s vintage ad: 1951 Cosco Furniture advertisement for colourful kitchen chairs, stools, baby high chair and a bar cart.

Source: Pinterest

1950s MENGEL Furniture bedroom sets vintage ad. “Do you keep your bedroom behind closed doors?”. “Open the door to compliments…with MENGEL Furniture”.

1950s MENGEL Furniture bedroom sets vintage ad. "Do you keep your bedroom behind closed doors?". "Open the door to compliments...with MENGEL Furniture".

Source: eBay

Thanks for dropping by and browsing these fantastic vintage furniture ads. I once again had a blast putting this post together.

Please share in the comments section what your favourites were or any memories / comments you wish to share around the topic of this blog post. I love hearing from my readers!

Further Reading: Vintage Home Decor, Interior Design & Vintage Real Estate Inspiration 1920’s- 1960’s

Have a great day!

Liz