We gleaned an insight into the design aesthetics and advertising sensibilities of the 1960s in Singapore, from the programme books of the staged productions of When Smiles Are Done and A White Rose At Midnight. Many of the advertisers and perhaps sponsors’ of the staged plays were automobile brands, beauty/cosmetics brands, electrical appliances companies and banks.
Take a look at some of these brand and product advertisements of that ‘Mad Men’ era:
- “Economy. Quality. Performance. Style. Peugeot 404″ [Asia Motor Co. Ltd] View
Another version of the Peugeot 404 advertisement, selling similar product attributes, was in the programme book of A White Rose At Midnight.
- ” We were right to choose an Austin 1100.” [A Mann Egerton Company] View
- “Don’t choose your new car by shooting dice… get behind the wheel! SIMCA, Chrysler” [The Associated Auto Co. Ltd.] View
- “Will we ever kill the bug? Volkswagen” [Champion Motors Ltd.] View
#23 in this series of Volkswagen advertisements was in the programme book of When Smiles Are Done.
- “My family lives happily with a GRUNDIG TV. Do you own one?” [Kian Gwan Malaya Ltd.] View
- “Aroma Rich. Sensational New NESCAFE … open up – smell that wonderful aroma!” [Nescafe] View
This advertisement was in the programme book of When Smiles Are Done.
- “SHISEIDO. The promise of beauty.” [The Emporium Ltd] View
This advertisement was in the programme book of When Smiles Are Done.
- A blog post recalling some creative advertising slogans in the 1960s. View.
- A visual display of Beauty and Hygiene advertisements in the 1960s, beyond Singapore. View.
- An article referencing 1964 Pepsi advertisements, titled “Sometimes selling the demo profile of a product rather than the product itself sparks connection.” View.
By Daniel Teo
Published on 17 September 2014
The Vault 1.1 – Nineteen Sixty-Four revisits When Smiles Are Done and A White Rose at Midnight, refreshes and retells the stories in them through the eyes of four artist-collaborators on 22 September 2014, 8pm at Centre 42 Black Box. Admission is free.
Find out more here.
