Figure 1.--We also note an ad for Porsoknit union suits for boys that appeared in the Literary Digest for 1917. This is a summer union suit for boys which also is made in adult sizes. Notice that the appeal is to the athletic side of boys--those who ride bikes. .

We do not have a complete picture of the type of advertising in the magazine. We note that there we quite a range of advertising in with the political, literary, and cultural articles. There wwere many family-oriented advertisements. The products offered were quite an electic mix. Many products are represented such as razors, shoes, collars, typewriters, tires, automobiles, fountain pens, bathroom fixtures, etc. No specialized areas of advertising. Men's and boys' clothes are strongly represented--though perhaps more emphasis on adults than on children. Underwear, however, is very prominent--especially men and boys' underwear. So the Porosknit ad is not at all unusual for this magazine. At least some of the ads were for underwear, includfing full page advertisements. We find it rather surprising that a culture msagazine would have prominent full page ads for underwear. Not that we see anything wrong with underwear mind you, but it seems strange to mix full page ads kike this in with masterpiece paintings and discussions og great literature. I'm not sure if it would have been viewed differently at the time when the ad here was published in 1917. Of course the advertising industy was still young. Perhaps companies hasd not yet well worked out where it was best to place their advertisements to reach potential custimers.

Created: 8:09 PM 10/12/2004
Last updated: 12:38 AM 10/14/2004