Ink Clot Babes. It’s Been A While.
All winter and we haven’t had a good babe story. And despite the new world order, the Babe section of WoodyBoater is by far the most searched menu item. Now, as a creative in the ad world. I have never understood the need to put a babe prop up next to anything to help sell it. It always seemed like borrowed interest to grab your eye.
Same woman as in the lead image. The hat adds alot
Aristocraft Babe
But if you are looking at boats? Why not just the boat? But looking back through the images and imagery of the time, I kinda understand. The image of an attractive woman and handsome guy are connected with fun and escape. Especially since most of this type of advertising was right after the war. The big one. WW2.
Chris Craft used women as models alot. ALOT!
One of the earlier Girls as a illustration
This is a common pose
Different time
With Color!
Lots of standing and waving
There is a wonderful series of Ad Tops used on small space ads for Chris Craft that used with the headline theme of COMMAND YOUR, is interesting.
There is an entire series of these
Ink clot comes from the poor color halftone printing
These are works of art
This is an earlier version for kit boats
Command a 1950 Chris – Craft
1950
The red and white shirt is perfection!
Still one of our favorites
Not sure whay in the 1980’s Chris Craft got into the clothing business? And the models feel more fake.
Lets go back when it all had a munch more innocent feel!
A fun get together
And a more complete image
I can hear the marketing folks say, we want the girl next door. And in many cases it may have been. many of these women were Chris Craft Employees.
Push buttons became a thing for a while.
See, push button easy Darla
Thanks Matt!
I needed a good Babe fix.
They were selling a lifestyle, not just a boat. As a young man with money to burn (imagination may be necessary for most of us, especially on the young part) would you rather buy a boat, or buy a boat that attracts beautiful women? And the command word shows up a lot. Hey Mr. Younguy, you may be taking orders at the office, but buy a Chris Craft and you will be the man in charge, the Commander!, and babes will love you!
In a lot of ways, the boating industry followed the automotive industry in styles of the times, assembly line manufacturing and advertising. Chris Craft sourced automotive steering components for their boats. Since car manufacturers used attractive models to augment their product offerings, it seems a safe assumption that boat manufacturers would follow suit.
Easier to justify a swim suit model on a boat than in a car though.
There is also the Riva style Babe brochure photo……
Riva and Donzi took it to a different place. not a bad place mind you, just different. The Chris Craft and Aristocraft girls were a more wholesome style. Also there is something about the inkclot halftones that just add enough for your imagination to fill in the rest. One can actually see themselves in the scene, where as with Donzi and Riva it felt a little unattainable. Which of course is part of their brand essence. The Evnrude and Johnson ads seemed to always feature a Gal, as part of a family which I found interesting. But to be honest, no one has ever done it better than Chris Craft. Sad that they havent had the courage to continue that in a time relevant way. Its such an intrical part of the brand!
So the guy in the final pic is showing Darla how to work the “crash-o-matic” shifter…..bet this did not end well….
John in Va
Those Chris-O-Matics (Crash-O-Matics) got a bad rap! Put in new pumps and they work GREAT!
Well look at that. The little lady can finally drive a boat now that it’s got push button controls, because moving a lever to just too taxing for a girl. Jeesuz.
Disappointing. I knew that CC showed eye candy female models with a few guys mixed in, to show a lifestyle, but showing women as feeble, weak, and incapable beings is just sexist. I thought they were above that.
One wonders how many women over the years convinced their husbands NOT to buy a CC, so as not to be a cleaning slave to one, to not be cast aside for the husband’s attention, and to always have to “rely” on the man to go boating.
An arousing story! I knew my comment yesterday about babes wearing red and green would awaken someone. Great story on this cold March morning. Its 18 in southern Ohio and 9 in Northern Michigan.
The header shows a Challenger, which is a fantastic model, only 12 built. There used to be one out here in the PNW – I think it is gone now – lat time I was aboard it was pretty sad. I love the picture with the young lady at the helm of the Commander Express with the “Crash-O-Matic” controls! (Those can be converted to work with cables and hydraulic gearboxes…) Thank you for the smiles this morning!
But whats up with “the Commander” in the header pic checking his watch? Already bored with the shoot? “Been standing here for over an hour waiting for “the right light”?
theres a boat babe section!!??
where in the hell have i been?
Enjoy – https://www.woodyboater.com/blog/category/classic-boat-babes/
Here’s the Mullins ad with the hot women of the day. A well turned ankle as they used to say.
Love the pencil drawing of the babe in a CC captains hat. The economy of line is wonderful…