Category Archives: Canadiana

A Million Dollars for your thoughts.

by Chadwick Gendron Posted on January 26, 2017

This amazing 1 Million Dollar coin, one of 5, is on display at the Royal Ontario Museum. The Royal Canadian Mint produced this 100kg bad boy in Ottawa in 2007, made of 99999 pure gold bullion, to show off a little. After some big-shots came forward wanting one for their vaults, the Mint made 4 more.

In October 2007, the Guinness World Records recognized the Canadian Million Dollar Coin as the largest gold coin.

Artist and senior engraver Stan Witten design the Tail side of the coin featuring some polished maple leafs, of course. The Head side by Canadian portrait artist Susanna Blunt oddly shows an effigy of Stephen Colbert (not Canadian) in drag, I mean Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (also not Canadian).

 

Not shown is the giant change-purse with a native beaded depiction of the Littlest Hobo in the next room.

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A Toast to Alcoholism in Canadian Advertising!

by Chadwick Gendron Posted on September 7, 2016

Here’s a few great ads that really accentuate getting toasted. Why drink a little when a lot is so much better?

Here's a great ad from 1957 for Dow beer. Has any one ever looked so crazy for the Taste of Spring?
Here’s a great ad from 1957 for Dow beer. It’s as if he told his wife that he would drink more than a six-pack. Little did she know the bottles would be the size of a pop bottle!

 

 

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When you want to make sure your husband passes out after a hard day’s work serve up some Brights 74 Sherry. Bright’s 74 Sherry ad 1959.

 

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When two bottles of wine with dinner just isn’t enough. Bright’s Canadian Wine ad 1958.

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If you’re like me, nothing goes better with swinging a racket than some nice, light whisky. Corby’s Very Light Canadian Whisky ad 1960.

In 1966, a number of people died in Quebec from excessively drinking Dow Beer. Mr. Gendron, the President of Dow Breweries made light of the situation, claiming you would need to drink 28-38 bottles of beer a day or something like to have a fatal result. Clearly from the advertising below Dow wasn’t suggesting that people drink that much beer – a two shelves of beer to one shelf of food is a normal ratio in a refrigerator.

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Who needs food when you need to keep all of your beer cold. Dow beer ad 1957.

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Or maybe booze isn’t your thing, maybe some of Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills would help you get back “In the Pink!” Dr. Williams Pink Pills ad 1953.

 

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Superman the SuperCanuck!

by Chadwick Gendron Posted on May 13, 2016

Joe Shuster was a Canadian comic book artist who co-created Superman for DC Comics, with writer Jerry Siegel. Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1 in June of 1938 and then made his second appearance in Superman #1.

Action cover 1
Joe Shuster

Think of just how Canadian Superman is.

  • He immigrated to Earth and was welcomed.
  • His alter-ego is very polite.
  • Metropolis is Metropolitan Toronto.
  • He works at the Daily Planet which is the Daily Star (Today the Toronto Star).
  • His girlfriend is a Female star reporter which would be far more likely in Canada in the 1930’s who was considerably more progressive.
  • Also, Superman’s weakness for the Kryptonite is similar to Margaret Trudeau’s weakness for Rolling Stones.
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Posted in Canada, Canadian Celebrities, Canadian Literature, Canadiana, Historical, Television | Tagged , | 1 Comment