Being Seduced Is Part Of Classic Boat History.
See it? You will.
I saw this photo in a 1950 Chris Craft catalog and thought. Mmm that’s a cute woman. Okay, wait, honestly and sadly, I liked the hat first and then noticed her. Yes, maybe it’s my age, or a BW art photo thing, or maybe on some level it was the torpedo bra. But no, it’s more subtle than that. See it yet? No? You think that flag mast is just there? Subliminal? Mmmm? Really, with retouching and all that’s possible, that mast is there and it’s on purpose. And you start looking around, And mmmm, there are sure a lot of tube shaped things in old photos. Hey! Again, I did not take these or draw them.
Right. Lets park the boat, and roast some wieners.
But I can tell you as an Art Director in Advertising for 36 years, EVERYTHING in a reproduced photo is thought through. EVERYTHING! So, there ya have it. There is even an old book on the topic. Yeah, its kinda nuts, but there is some truth to it all.
Yes. men bought boats, and they bought them thinking that to they attract women, or impress their wives. But, even if you have been married for years with a station wagon full of snot nose brats wanting a Stuckys Pecan log.
Well, you can at least dream of that boat babe, and your large mast. Hey! Once again, I am just reporting on this, you’re brain see’s it on an unconscious level.
That flag pole sure gets a workout
I ain’t saying nothing, she is just holding a wheel
A very popular photo for Chris Craft. It must have been cold out. That’s why they had hats on. Right?
Go Riva! See, we just took a photo of a boater, with arched back standing on some seats, in a marsh..
And then there is the just “never gonna happen” shots.
High heels and not looking to comfortable.
What is that she is sitting on? Michigan?
Proof that Plaid can be sexy!
If you own a 25 Sportsman, you are the man!
Proof! Wait, that’s Jimmy, not me. Damit!
Oh… SCREETCH! Okay, maybe we are just reading too much into this. That’s just Grandpa Vern fishing..right, that’s all it is? I mean the fishing pole is just a pole, right? not a metaphor? Ahhhhhhh.
waiting to see what troy puts up
HAHAHAHAHA We all are.. and cringing!
Well………..poof!!!!. Now we know what has been breeding all the shenanigans going on DC and Hollywood over the last few decades.
Matt, just please don’t step down from your position…OK?
Pretty early in the non-boating season to have spiraled down this far already. That said, what no Donzi girls?
Those aren’t just hats…..those say Chris Craft. Where do you get those today? Not so subliminal, but a detail of authenticity.
Those aren’t just hats…..those say Chris Craft. Where do you get those today? Not so subliminal, but a detail of authenticity. Same girl in both pictures too.
Young Chris Smith says they just used girls that worked in the office for models, so most likely the same girl(s) showed up in multiple ads.
Be careful, Matt, timing is not good. a new wave of paranoid puritanism is sweeping across the country. The thought police will be ringing your doorbell any moment.
On a wholly-unrelated topic, anyone hear from tim or brian robinson? I think they are out in the fallbrook, ca. where the new fires are?
meant to add , fallbrook area. Hope they are OK.
Called Brian yesterday. Fire was 4 miles from his house.
thanks, Jim
September boating in Lake Huron with my First Mate Debbie
Sorry for sideway add upload ok
One other comment, re fishing pole. I believe sigmund freud once said, sometimes a cigar is just a smoke!
And then again a cigar by any other name would smell as sweet.
Love this new two picture feature.
Second photo is for those who don’t know who the first picture is.
Matt,
Is it rerun season??
No, its cold out!
Nice article, Matt!
Advertising, brand identity, and their desired result… brand LOYALTY… are all such powerful elements of our culture. Just look at the way we try to identify with any given football team, political party, etc…
But, back to boats. Just as with the boats themselves, there is beauty and artistry in much of these iconic advertising images, also. I wanted to add to the collection here, my favorite image from Riva…
And, perhaps the best of them all…
Do I get extra points for a flag pole, bottle … and a straw?
HAHAHHA! Yes
I fast scrolled past all comments looking for Troy’s…..
nothing yet….he must be working on a killer post! While I admit to having had too many woodies….those pics failed to give me another….old age I guess…..
snow in Va not going boating….
John in Va.
HA, you will unknowingly feel compelled to buy a boat in the next 60 days…
Here is an interesting tidbit. Today by 10:30 readership is beyond any day last week. All that gift giving stuff, and on a Saturday that is a dead reader day, readership is up! mmmmm. We are all so predictable. Even Troy, who is clearly not opened Woody Boater yet. What will he post? Now it should be a contest?
youthfull imagination at an advance age none of that has any effect boats only
What a pile of sexist crap!
Keep up the good work!
Pile, not lie.
Al Franken must have been viewing too many CC ads or reading Troy’s responses back in the day.
Johnson steering of course.
No words necessary !
Wow ….. Nice shots, Guys ….Lots of fires here in Socal…. Be safe, everybody …..
But in all honesty, Pin Up Icon Betty Paige takes the prize for showing us all just how big that pole can get in a subliminal photo.
Some might think those railings are for safety…. oh wait, they are!
Boats are safer when they have Personal Flotation Devices on board…..! …. ?
And sometimes, it’s just someone taking a picture… get yer mind out of the bilge!
I wish I could come up with something clever. I think that it has all been said or posted. I too have been waiting for Troys post. He will present us with a true “American Beauty”. A great way to spend a cold Sat. in December. Keep up the good work Matt.
Mark….
It’s 85 degrees here in huntington beach…..!…actually TOO hot!
Anybody know how to get a hold of Troy? No comments yet. Something must be wrong. better check on him. If he is just trying to be good it’s too late!
I texted him this morning to let him know he was being summoned. He replied to me so I know he’s ok.
I think he prefers the political BS talk now
Regarding the CC photo with the dude and two lovelies….I would just like to quadruply “point” out that that windscreen is very cool and a work of engineering genius. I wish our windscreen folded down like that as sometimes it just magnifies the beautiful views.
Makes me want to find the movie with nurse Diesel in it(Mel Brooks-High Anxiety
Even works for Beer and Bread!
Then again some are not so subliminal.
The “Bottoms Up” campaign by Heineken brings new meaning to the term lets have a Heiny.
And what are we doing to our Kids?
Actually that Mickey mouse one is old enough that the question maybe should be “What did our parents do to us?
This cartoon pretty well sums it up.
This is one of my all time favorite ads.
Well, ok. I guess Troy has spoken!
WHAT THE? DEAR GOD. We all knew it was coming, but dang! I feel so G rated.. MICKY!
Thanks troy for that lesson in subtlety and subliminal messages ..that are in advertising; a great lesson in understanding the politics of boating
Did you all notice that Troy managed to get Monica in there while we all still had him as AWOL? Nice trick by the trickster himself!
John in Va.
The reoccurring model that started to appear in Thompson catalogs in 1973. Never was able to figure out if she was an option or standard equipment.
Greg Hildebrandt pin up girls
Title “Woody”
Greg Hildebrandt pin up girls
Greg Hildebrandt pin up art girls
So last night while watching some “Boob Tube” there was an ad (or is it add. Doesn’t matter this is WoodyBoater) for Hershey Layers. The final statement in the ad was “Get Layered!”. What are they trying to say?
Hows this for Subliminal?
Thank you. The weather here in NY suuuuucks and you have warmed the cockles of my fogged carburetors.