I was leafing through an old copy of Esquire magazine - March 1946 if
you’re interested - (that's it above) and there amid the many ads for stylish hats and ready-mixed
cocktails were a number of ads for shoes. By far the best was this one for British
Walkers. Those British types know all
about walking, y’know. And in fact I do own a pair of brogues that look very much like this.
Now I enjoy walking more than many people, but even I think this ad is
going a bit far. “Naturally walking’s fun!” it announces in the small print, and the shoes provide
“Just the walking joy you’ve always longed for.” Isn’t this overselling the product just a tad? Could any pair of shoes actually live up to
this hype?
But whether they could or not you’d surely want them to look their best
and fortunately there’s another relevant ad, this one for Hollywood Bootmakers
Stain Polish – I think I’d go for the “Redwood.” Who wouldn’t want the soft glow of richly
polished leather? Those Hollywood types
know all about looking good, y’know.
So between Britain and Hollywood, it might seem that these ads were
talking directly to me (had I been born in 1946, which I was not). But then, reading the smaller print I see
that British Walkers shoes are made in the USA, by JP Smith of Chicago, and
that the Hollywood Polish Company is based in Richmond Hill, New York. Still working out whether this is shameful
fakery, or just the way the world works (or, of course, both).
