Want to catch the latest buzz on Louis (that fly)? Do you recall why we were all so sweet on Aeroplane Jelly? How about being called upon to ‘do the right thing’? Or did you ever have ‘moments like these’ with Minties?
Welcome to the world of Australian advertising! The world of jingles, songs and catchy phrases that stayed in our minds — whether we wanted them to or not.
The Sell: Australian Advertising 1790s to 1990s, which opens at the National Library of Australia on 23 November, celebrates this commercial world.
Showcasing over 200 gems from the library’s advertising collection, from 1912 Electoral Roll posters to an ad that promised ‘the world’s most economical car’, it’s all there and more at the free exhibition.
Although this sort of ephemera was not meant to last, it has. A wealth of printed materials, from posters and flyers to original artwork and printer proofs, letters and brochures, have been unearthed from the National Library’s archives to tell Australia’s advertising story, shedding light on 200 years of iconic (and some lesser known) Australian brands.
The stories of these brands will be familiar to many, evoking a sense of nostalgia, while also realising how spectacularly politically incorrect some of them are today.
The Sell: Australian Advertising 1790s to 1990s, opens at the National Library in Canberra on 23 November 2016 and runs until 25 April 2017.
