Earl Moore Photography
Coca Cola 5¢ a bottle

I’m always on the look out for advertising painted on the sides or roofs of buildings. It’s a form of advertisement seldom used any longer and with age and demolition the remaining examples are becoming rarer to find.

From 1887 to 1959 Coca Cola was selling for five cents per bottle. In 1928, Coca Cola was present at the Olympic Games and introduces the six pack. You could get it a few pennies cheaper If you bought a six pack of Coca Cola in 1945.


19 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
pj
pj
12 years ago

Great one Earl. Love it. I’m drawn to those too… guess that’s one reason I’d rather prowl the alleys than walk the streets…

Monte Stevens
12 years ago

I’m right there with you and Paul. In fact, I shot something very similar today in an alley while up in Fort Collins. I remember that price and the old cooler where the bottle hung by it’s neck. My grandpa would take me there and buy me a soda and Cherry Mash candy bar. Living the good life then. :-)

Tom Dills
12 years ago

I like the treatment on this one, Earl. And it looks a little familiar! :)

When I was a kid my brother and I used to pick up discarded “pop bottles” along the freeway near our house and returned them to the local pizza shop for the 2 cent deposit, then used the money to buy pizza.

Ken Bello
12 years ago

This is something special for me, Earl, because I love these old signs. It may not be readily apparent to the casual observer but there was a lot of care and precision in producing these signs. I like the treatment on this, too.

Paul
12 years ago
Reply to  Ken Bello

And not only that, Ken, they lasted a very long time, as witnessed here!

Derrick Birdsall
12 years ago

nice composition and edit…

Paul Maxim
Paul Maxim
12 years ago

Just want to add my compliments, Earl. It’s a wonderful image – and, as you say, one that is becoming harder and harder to find. What I really like is the vignette you’ve created. It drives the eye straight to the “5”.

Paul
12 years ago

With Tom – This looks very familiar, but your treatment is fantastic! I remember talking about this, or similar advertisements. I love the way that they used to paint the advertisements on the sides of buildings.

I don’t remember soda being 5 cents, but I certainly remember going around with my wagon and collecting bottles out of empty lots, taking them home, washing them out with the hose and taking them to our local store, Lawson’s, and redeeming them for 2 cents each. It was big time if you could an empty, gallon milk jug. Those babies were worth 10 cents! That’s how I made my living as a youngster, that and cutting grass. :) Great memories.

John
12 years ago

Very appealing shot – and a great treatment as well. I think we all have an attraction to old fading advertisements such as these. They make intriguing subjects, much like rusted out vehicles. Lots of character.

Otto von Münchow
12 years ago

A great monochromatic picture.