This is the time of year when we see Santa Claus in many of Coca-Cola's advertisements, including on their products. The Coca-Cola Santa Claus that the world would grow to love was created by Haddon Sundblom. According to Coca-Cola, "For inspiration, Haddon Sundblom turned to Clement Clark Moore's 1822 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (commonly called 'Twas the Night Before Christmas). Moore's description of St. Nick led to an image of Santa that was warm, friendly, pleasantly plump and human. For the next 33 years, Sundblom painted portraits of Santa that helped to create the modern image of Santa -- an interpretation that today lives on in the minds of people of all ages, all over the world."
The picture above was the debut of the Coca-Cola Santa in 1931 in the Saturday Evening Post. The slogan "the pause that refreshes" quickly became a traditional trademark in Coca-Cola's advertisements.
This advertisement was created in 1936 and shows Santa Claus playing with the toys he had just delivered (while, of course, enjoying a Coke).
This advertisement has to be my favorite among the Santa Claus series. In 1964, the Coca-Cola Santa plays with a brother and sister and their new gift -- a dog. The dog was based on a gray poodle that belonged to the florist in Sunblom's neighborhood; he changed the color to black to make the animal stand out.
Amidst this busy holiday season, be sure you take advantage of "the pause that refreshes."
I love these old Coca Cola advertisement at Christmas Time. They are so well done and say so much about the season.
ReplyDeleteI love them, too! Nostalgic! My late mother loved Coke --- I always bought her the glass-bottle six pack with the Santa on it for Christmas --when she was a kid, her Dad's store sold that size.
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