Looking Back

From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History

accessible at www.djnfoundation.org

62 | APRIL 29 • 2021 

Blasts from the Past
M

y last few columns have 
addressed rather serious, but 
important, aspects of Jewish 
Detroit history. I thought I might continue 
this trend, and write about another very 
serious subject: historic advertisements in 
the Jewish Chronicle and JN.
OK, OK — advertisements may not 
be as serious as world politics, religion 
or poverty. Nevertheless, I 
argue that historic adver-
tisements are an important 
window into our under-
standing of the past. Aside 
from that, they are just plain 
fun to read, and one of 
my favorite parts of cruis-
ing through the William 
Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish 
Detroit History. Some of them speak to 
strikingly different times; some represent 
companies still in business decades later.
For example, 100 years ago, in the Feb. 
13, 1920, issue of the Chronicle, there were 
ads for two automobiles that no longer 
exist: Case and Stutz. What is more inter-
esting is the case for “Case” vehicles — 
sold at Weisman Motor Sales, by the way. 
The Case was advertised as a car for “year-
round service.
” It featured glass roll-up 
windows and an enclosed steel body. Case 
had a really good idea here. Riding around 
in an open car in a Michigan winter might 
be a bit chilly.
Speaking of innovations, in the Dec. 
31, 1949, issue of the JN, Rosenfeld Radio 
on Dexter Avenue in Detroit was selling a 
modern marvel, the “hottest thing in TV 
Today;” a GE “Daylight Television.
” It was 
a table model with a big 10” screen (instal-
lation extra), and one did not have to wait 
for sundown in order to watch TV!
My favorite ads are those for food. Have 
you ever munched some Krun-Chee pota-
to chips? At one time, Detroit had more 
than a dozen makers of potato chips, such 
as Krun-Chee, Vita-Boy and Superior. In 
the 1970s, the famous Chef Boy-Ar-Dee 

catered to Jewish homes. The Chef sug-
gested that if you “like kreplach, 
you’ll like the Chef’s cheese 
ravioli,
” or “Put the Chef on 
your shopping list and you’ve 
got the geshmakste sauce.
”
Some food ads do seem 
to be a bit dangerous. For 
example, see the one for Heinz 
Vegetarian Soup in the Dec. 
12, 1940, JN. Two children 
are pictured saying “Just like 
Mamma’s Own Soup.
” I don’t 
think telling your mom that a 
canned soup was just like her 
homemade soup will win you 
any favors!
There are ads for long-lost 
beers. I never heard of Detroit 
Beer: “There’s only one Detroit 
and there’s only one Detroit 
Premium Pale Beer.
” An ad 
in the April 4, 1941, JN for 
Koppitz Silver Star Beer touted 
that it was “brewed by electric-
ity.
” Interesting selling point. 
Perhaps this was in response to 
Stroh’s fire-brewed beer? The 
Koppitz mascot was a police 
officer with “Kopp” on his hat 
and a huge star on his tunic. 
Last but not least, I would 
be remiss if I did not mention 
some of the most important 
advertisements, those for the 
Detroit Jewish News. I like 
the one from 1957. It began 
with a simple statement: 
“Your News.
” Followed by 
another succinct statement: 
“Guardian of Your Freedoms.
” The graph-
ics are definitely 1950s artwork. But, six 
decades later, I think the message remains 
the same. The JN is “Your News.
” 

Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation 
archives, available for free at 
www.djnfoundation.org.

Mike Smith
Alene and 
Graham Landau 
Archivist Chair

catered to Jewish homes. The Chef sug-
gested that if you “like kreplach, 
you’ll like the Chef’s cheese 
ravioli,
” or “Put the Chef on 

your shopping list and you’ve 

example, see the one for Heinz 
Vegetarian Soup in the Dec. 

are pictured saying “Just like 
Mamma’s Own Soup.
” I don’t 

think telling your mom that a 
canned soup was just like her 
homemade soup will win you 

There are ads for long-lost 

beers. I never heard of Detroit 
Beer: “There’s only one Detroit 
and there’s only one Detroit 
Premium Pale Beer.
” An ad 

Koppitz Silver Star Beer touted 
that it was “brewed by electric-
ity.
” Interesting selling point. 

Perhaps this was in response to 
Stroh’s fire-brewed beer? The 
Koppitz mascot was a police 
officer with “Kopp” on his hat 
and a huge star on his tunic. 

Last but not least, I would 

be remiss if I did not mention 
some of the most important 
advertisements, those for the 

“Guardian of Your Freedoms.
” The graph-

ics are definitely 1950s artwork. But, six 

There are ads for long-lost 

beers. I never heard of Detroit 
Beer: “There’s only one Detroit 

