Steve plays the Coca-Cola Can Joe!

A unique musical instrument arrived in the mail for the Archives a few years back. While I would often pluck away at it, I always thought it would be interesting to see what it’d sound like in the hands of a true musician. Meet Steve Soltis, who also works with us at Coca-Cola. Steve has played the banjo for a number of years, and he agreed to have a go at the Can Joe for us. The original inventor of the Can Joe (also referred to as the canjo) was Herschel Brown of Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Herschel Brown had the idea that sending Can Joes to troops serving in the military would allow him to put music and happiness into the hands of people all around the world. He titled his business “Can Joes For World Peace”, and said his instruments were for everybody – whether you could hold a tune or not. Even though the Can Joe was designed for those who could not play a lick, Steve proves that it doesn’t hurt to have the skills (it sure doesn’t sound like that when I play). Many thanks to Herschel Brown for sending the Can Joe to us.

 

Coke, Sprite and Soul Train

Did you know that The Coca-Cola Company was an inaugural sponsor of Soul Train? The show was a favorite of mine and a launching pad for many popular music groups over time. Coca-Cola also sponsored the first annual Soul Train Music Awards in 1987, and continued for many years. There are a number of pretty interesting Spirte Soul Train promotions in our collection, and we'd like to salute the show by sharing this 1991 Soul Train Sweepstakes Promotion.

Kathlene Martyn - Star of the Ziegfeld Follies And Coca-Cola

I was doing some research in The Friendly Hand, one of our earliest sales publications and predecessor to the Red Barrel, this week and came across a great article.  The headline on the story is "The Prettiest Girl in All New York and One We've All Seen Before."  As I read the story, it notes that Kathlene Martyn had appeared in both the Nine O'Clock and Midnight Frolic and her photo was in many of the magazines of the day.  The story then noted that she had appeared in the window cutout of two girls on the beach pointing up at an airplane.  The story quoted Jos. S. Potsdamer, director in charge of sales of the Ketterlinus Lithographic Manufacturing Company, which made the cutout, said "he had to pose her for both girls because it was impossible to find another to match her." 

We have the cutout and had it on display at the World of Coca-Cola for many years.  However, we do not have the airplane.  We know what it looks like as it was shown in the 1922 advertising price guide, so, take a look in your attic or garage and if you find the plane shown in the photo, let me know!

ABBA and Coca-Cola - Slipping Through My Fingers

I spent the afternoon re-filing items that had begun to stack up around my desk in the Archives.  One of the items that gave me a chuckle was the ABBA record, "Slipping Through my Fingers" from 1981.  This 45 rpm was a promotional created for Coca-Cola Japan by Discomate Records.  The cover of the record features an illustration of the ABBA band members Benny Andersson Bjoun Ulvaeus, Agnetha Faltslog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad and the back has the lyrics to the song and the advertising slogan used at the time in Japan, Yes Coke Yes. The record itself has the song on one side and an autographed photograph of the band.  While the song was not one of the bands biggest hits, it was used in the musical and movie versions of Mamma Mia.  As a collectible, you can find several copies on e-Bay for $ 40.00 to $ 60.00.

 

 

Philippines - Where Will Happiness Strike Next?

I was fortunate to travel to the Philippines for work just over a year ago.  I blogged about my visit as I gave both media and employee presentations on our rich history in that country.  During my stay there, I learned that the Philippine people love the Christmas season and begin decorating months ahead of the actual holiday.  I was there in early November and Manila was already decked out with lights and Christmas carols.

I was reminded of my trip when one of my colleages from the Philippines sent me this inspirational video. This Christmas version of "Where will happiness strike next" captures the holiday spirit.

 

Who is Albie Louw?

While processing our International Collection a few months back, we came across a photocopy of a record album cover that featured a classic Coca-Cola ad that we have in our collection. The album is entitled "Wonderful One", by Albie Louw "The Keyboard King". Does anyone have any information on Albie Louw? We are really interested in hearing the story of why he selected this Coca-Cola image for the cover of his album - maybe he was a Coke fan?? If you have any insights, please share it with us! In the meantime, you can see below the original ad from our collection. This version of the ad is a 1960 poster from The Netherlands. Verfrist U Het Best translates to "Refreshes You The Best" in English.

A 115 Minute Pause That Refreshes

Do you remember the 1960s Billy Wilder movie entitled "One, Two, Three" about a Coca-Cola manager in Germany? Critics at the time of release called it a "115 minute pause that refreshes"! Of course, I originally had to "google" the movie because I hadn't heard of it, but enjoyed the special "One, Two, Three" employee screening of at the World of Coke. Just recently, I also learned that we produced advertising posters, window streamers and six pack carton stick-ins to promote Coca-Cola as a tie in with the movie. Below is an image of one of the truck posters. The space on the right was left open so that the name of the local movie theater could be printed on directly.

 

Watermelon Queen and Coca-Cola

I found a couple of interesting items today as I reviewed a collection of letters written by Coca-Cola Bottlers around the world addressed to J.J. Willard, the editor of the Coca-Cola Bottler magazine.  The bottlers were sharing photographs and stories they hoped Willard would include in the publication.  The collection dated between 1930 and 1945.

The first item is a letter (below) from the Grenada Mississippi Coca-Cola Bottler with a photograph of the 1933 Queen of the Watermelon Carnival in Water Valley Mississippi.  The day of the judging, the bottler proudly noted they sold 1,000 cases of Coca-Cola.  If you look closely at the photograph, you will notice the "Loving Cup" that was presented to the Queen.

Ticket to a Century of Progress

We recently acquired a sample coupon that would have been used at the 1933 Centruy of Progress Exhibition in Chicago, Illinois. The fair celebrated the hundredth anniversary of the founding of Chicago.  The Expo, whose slogan was "Science Finds, Industry Applies, Man Adapts," featured numerous exhibits envisioning the future.  Some of the most popular exhibits were the "Homes of the Tomorrow," and one focusing on dream cars.  The innaugural Major Leage All-Star game was held at Comiskey Park in conjunction with the fair.  Over 40 million people attended during the two years the Exposition was operating.

The Century of Progress was very important in Coca-Cola history because it was the location for the introduction of the Dole Master fountain dispenser.  We have blogged about the dispenser before, but this was the first automated fountain device to provide cooling at the point of service for carbonated water and syrup.  From the photos, it looks like quite a few of the 40 million people stopped at the Coke booth to get a sample!

Antiques Roadshow Films In The Archives

Last Saturday, the team from the popular public television program, Antiques Roadshow were in Atlanta filming for upcoming 2012 episodes.  While over 6,000 people brought their items to the Roadshow appraisal area to be reviewed, the Roadshow team sent a film crew to the Archives to record a segment.  The segment will focus on the three missing Norman Rockwell Coca-Cola paintings.  While Rockwell painted six for the Company, we only have three of the works and have been searching for the other three (Wholesome Refreshment, Office Boy, and Old Oaken Bucket) for decades.

First, host Mark Walberg and noted appraiser Lelia Dunbar were filmed discussing the importance of both Coca-Cola advertising and the works of illustrator Norman Rockwell.  Then Mark and I recorded a session discussing the three missing paintings and how people can contact us if they are found.  The team from WGBH was very professional and I would like to offer special thanks to producers Adam Monahan and Sarah Elliot for their guidance, and Bob Birkett and Charlie Collias, the camera and sound guys for making us look and sound good!

The program will air in 2012 and we will make sure to let you the date once it is set.