Just Open A Can

Life, July 8, 1940 [big version here]

Early in the morning, as I stagger back down from the kitchen to my basement office, slurping coffee, I sometimes say to myself: Just open a can of Diet Coke and breakfast is different. Because, you know, it is really hot out these days and I am too lazy to make iced coffee that early, etc. etc. Or something like that.  And maybe I just groan a little, too, if the caffeine hasn't kicked in yet.

But even in a crabby, decaffeinated state of mind,  I adore this 1940 ad which shows a family from Not This Planet, snappy dialogue swirling out of their smiling mouths, fresh from the Hollywood Movie Set wardrobe and makeup facility that they clearly have in their garage.

And why do they look so petrifyingly pleased?

Juice, my friends. Libby's juice. And so here is Libby's Family of Juiceheads, ready for the day. This is the point where we all might make a few jokes like: I'll bet I know what's in THAT juice!

The only juice that really seems different - not exciting, mind you, just different -  is the loganberry juice, so that ought to be the one that's messing with their heads. But they're getting all het up (as my grandmother used to say, only not about juice of course) about the tomato juice. Maybe Mother made them all Bloody Marys. Just open a can and Breakfast Is Different!

That little girl is the only one not saying something unctuous. She is thinking: I'm not touching the Libby's juice. No way.

Go ahead and click to see the big version which gives you a frighteningly good view of this disturbing scene!