All-American Ads of the 30s

Jim Heimann

$79.99

Hardback

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Taschen GmbH
25 July 2025

Step (or jitterbug) into the dazzling world of 1930s American advertising, where bold promises, slick design, and more than a touch of wishful thinking kept the country dreaming through the Great Depression. While wallets tightened, creativity soared-glossy magazine pages teemed with cheerful, colorful ads selling everything from beauty creams to Hawaiian vacations, all wrapped in an air of optimism that defied the hard times.

At the dawn of the decade, the sleek, modernist aesthetics of European avant-garde design shook up the industry, introducing stylized, symbolic, and even abstract ads that emphasized visuals over words. But as reality set in, admen pivoted to a more hard-sell approach, favoring bold headlines, big promises, and down-to-earth pitches that resonated with a nation struggling to get by. Irony and subtlety had no place when people needed practical solutions-and so began the golden age of persuasive, no-nonsense marketing.

This treasure trove reveals the relentless optimism of 1930s campaigns that painted pictures of affluent, carefree American life, where a better future was just one purchase away and Lucky Strikes helped Hollywood stars find their focus on set. Whether it was for a Shaeffer pen, a Buick sedan, or the Frigidaire '35, these endorsements reassured hard-working folk that prosperity was just around the corner.

A vivid time capsule of Depression-era consumerism, with more than 800 vintage ads, it reveals how Madison Avenue didn't just sell products-it sold hope, glamor, and the great American dream.

Edited by: Jim Heimann
Imprint: Taschen GmbH
Country of Publication: Germany
Edition: Multilingual edition
Dimensions: Height: 255mm, Width: 196mm, Spine: 41mm
Weight: 2.126kg
ISBN: 9783836588669
ISBN 10: 3836588668
Pages: 640
Publication Date: 25 July 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Jim Heimann is the Executive Editor for TASCHEN. A cultural anthropologist, historian, and an avid collector, he has authored numerous titles on architecture, pop culture, and the history of Los Angeles and Hollywood, including TASCHEN’s Surfing, Los Angeles. Portrait of a City, California Crazy, and the All-American Ads series.