Buy It Here: Laurel Advertises
February 10-December 2008The Laurel Museum’s newest exhibit: Buy It Here: Laurel Advertises explores how advertising illustrates one American town’s story. It also explores American advertising techniques and how they were used to sell everything from housing to circus tickets in Laurel.
Objects dating as far back as 1866 illustrate how advertising methods were tailored to the needs of a small town community. Through several story areas, visitors see advertising objects that lined Laurel’’s Main Street, came through residents’ mailboxes, sat beside the columns of newsprint in the local papers, or broadcast out to them on their radios. (Click to listen to a 1972 auto ad.)
Laurel Advertises explores “Where We Lived,” “What We Ate,” and “How We Had Fun.” These are illustrated by objects both familiar to today’s shopper or evocative of times long gone. Visitors will see familiar objects such as a metal pig from today’s Laurel Meat Market, and a program from the 19th Century Academy of Music that once graced 4th & Washington Street. An 1896 Fairall and Ross Directory is a precursor of today’s Yellow Pages. Live-broadcast radio ads evoke by-gone cars and days at Laurel Race Track. A colorful circus poster brings back memories of traveling circuses. In the “Made in Laurel” area postcards, newspaper advertisements, and colorful magazine ads promote objects created in Laurel, but sold to businesses far and wide. They’ll also see giveaways such as piggy banks, ceramic mugs, dish sets, calendars and matchbooks that brought a businesses into the homes, cars and pocketbooks of many a Laurelite.
Many of these advertisements are our only record of the shops and businesses that existed as Laurel evolved from a company mill town to a 20th century commuter town. They are a vital part of Laurel’s history and its story.
As in most American small towns, Laurel advertisers worked hard to connect with the local community. They often sponsored community events. Advertising techniques and products changed over the years but the messages were fundamentally the same: a desire to entice the consumer to buy this hand made boot, try that beauty treatment, sample this delicious food, enjoy a movie playing on Main Street, and much more.
The focus and style of Laurel advertisements reflect America’s and the advertiser’s customers evolving tastes and desires and needs. It is Laurel’s story, and the story of an American institution: advertising.
Objects dating as far back as 1866 illustrate how advertising methods were tailored to the needs of a small town community. Through several story areas, visitors see advertising objects that lined Laurel’’s Main Street, came through residents’ mailboxes, sat beside the columns of newsprint in the local papers, or broadcast out to them on their radios. (Click to listen to a 1972 auto ad.)
Laurel Advertises explores “Where We Lived,” “What We Ate,” and “How We Had Fun.” These are illustrated by objects both familiar to today’s shopper or evocative of times long gone. Visitors will see familiar objects such as a metal pig from today’s Laurel Meat Market, and a program from the 19th Century Academy of Music that once graced 4th & Washington Street. An 1896 Fairall and Ross Directory is a precursor of today’s Yellow Pages. Live-broadcast radio ads evoke by-gone cars and days at Laurel Race Track. A colorful circus poster brings back memories of traveling circuses. In the “Made in Laurel” area postcards, newspaper advertisements, and colorful magazine ads promote objects created in Laurel, but sold to businesses far and wide. They’ll also see giveaways such as piggy banks, ceramic mugs, dish sets, calendars and matchbooks that brought a businesses into the homes, cars and pocketbooks of many a Laurelite.
Many of these advertisements are our only record of the shops and businesses that existed as Laurel evolved from a company mill town to a 20th century commuter town. They are a vital part of Laurel’s history and its story.
As in most American small towns, Laurel advertisers worked hard to connect with the local community. They often sponsored community events. Advertising techniques and products changed over the years but the messages were fundamentally the same: a desire to entice the consumer to buy this hand made boot, try that beauty treatment, sample this delicious food, enjoy a movie playing on Main Street, and much more.
The focus and style of Laurel advertisements reflect America’s and the advertiser’s customers evolving tastes and desires and needs. It is Laurel’s story, and the story of an American institution: advertising.
