Vintage Christmas Ads Pt. 3 - Jim Beam, 1967

In addition to collecting Christmas music, I have collected nearly 1000 vintage Christmas ads over the years. Many of these include celebrities, radio, television, cigarettes, liquor, modern appliances, and the like.

Last Friday and every Friday from here until I run out, I will feature an ad from my collection.

I invite you to add a fun comment, witticism, clever remark, or observation in the comments section provided. Any comments deemed worthy of repeating will be included into this entry where all the world will see it.

It's celebrity endorsement time!

Back in 1967, the entire James Bond phenomenon had reached its peak. The production of "You Only Live Twice" was heading to Japan to film several sequences when Connery decided to announce to the world this would be his last Bond film.

When he landed in Japan, this was international news. World paparazzi began to fly to Tokyo to get final pictures of Connery as Bond. Thirty extra private security guards were hired to combat the excess noise and hindrance but even the guards started to take photos!

The Japanese press were just as brutal. During news conferences the press insisted on referring to Connery as James Bond. The final straw came when Connery attempted to use a public restroom and several memebers of the Japanese press and photographers followed him into the john to get an interview and pictures!

Connery made it out of Japan alive and agreed to fulfill all of his promotional obligations for "You Only Live Twice". He made one final round of press conferences, interviews, and photo shoots for the film so he could be done with 007 once and for all.

The Jim Beam company decided to tie in their bourbon with Bond just in time for Christmas:

(Click on image to enlarge)

Connery's whole demeanor is one of "give me the drink and take the bloody picture". He's dressed in festive Christmas black and I'm guessing that background was airbrushed in behind him. Or maybe Sean sampled some of that drink before the photo shoot began.

One can only imagine what his thoughts on the Japanese were when this picture was taken.

What do you think?

Ernie says: Perhaps they were referring to that little episode in Lost In Translation when Bill Murray is in that whiskey photo shoot.

Creedmoor says: Look how bored he looks in this ad. Getting paid well to pose with a bottle of booze. I'd be Beaming!

Stephen says: I thought of just the scene Ernie mentioned. "For relaxing times, make it Jim Beam times. Now get the hell out of my face before I kick yer bloody arse."


Any other opinions?



Capt