Coca-Cola has a history almost as colorful as the drink itself. The Coca-Cola Company’s headquarters are located in Atlanta, Georgia, where the beverage was first concocted in 1886. Since it’s invention by Dr. John S. Pemberton Coca Cola started it’s way to the top, blessed with some of the most visionary and inspired promoters, marketers and advertisers in advertising history.

Coca-Cola – the longest continuous corporate partner of the Olympic Games

June 17th, 2010   |   No Comments   |   1900 – 1930

Robert Woodruff would spend 60 years as Coca-Cola’s leader introducing it to the rest of the world. Woodruff captured foreign markets with brilliant and creative campaigns, in one instance sending Coca-Cola with the U.S. team to the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics and in another, emblazoning the company logo on racing dog sleds in Canada. He even plastered Coca-Cola banners over the walls of Spanish bull fighting arenas.

1928 Amsterdam Olympics

1928 Amsterdam Olympics


Poster at the entrance to the games

Poster at the entrance to the games


Coca Cola non-soda items

June 17th, 2010   |   2 Comments   |   1900 – 1930

Coca-Cola allowed the use of its name and logo with a variety of non-soda items produced by outside manufacturers, such as candy and cigars. One such product was Coca-Cola chewing gum, a product that enjoyed some success in the early part of the 20th century. Eventually, though, Coca-Cola became more reticent about allowing the use of its trademarks with anything other than official company-sponsored products, especially when those products were of such low quality that they might reflect badly on Coca-Cola itself. Such was the case with Coca-Cola chewing gum, which by 1924 had so deteriorated in quality as to be an embarrassment to the company. Coca-Cola sought to remedy the situation by purchasing the nearly bankrupt chewing gum maker through an intermediary and quietly retiring the product.

Coca Cola Pepsin Gum, 1912

Coca Cola Pepsin Gum, 1912


Foil Coca-Cola candy wrapper, 1925

Foil Coca-Cola candy wrapper, 1925


Coca-Cola cigars were sold in the open market, and given away at company banquets in the 1930's.

Coca-Cola cigars were sold in the open market, and given away at company banquets in the 1930's.


Coca Cola ads on buildings 1911 – 1912

June 16th, 2010   |   No Comments   |   1900 – 1930
Elwood F. Bell, Chemist, office covered with Coca-Cola and other ads 1911

Elwood F. Bell, Chemist, office covered with Coca-Cola and other ads 1911


Covered roadside grocery store. Baton Rouge, LA 1911

Covered roadside grocery store. Baton Rouge, LA 1911


Covered building in ruin. Petersburg, VA 1911

Covered building in ruin. Petersburg, VA 1911


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Coca Cola old delivery trucks

June 16th, 2010   |   1 Comment   |   1900 – 1930
Coca-Cola truck from 1908

Coca-Cola truck from 1908


Rapid Motor Company Delivery Truck, 1909 First delivery of Coca-Cola to Knoxville, TN

Rapid Motor Company Delivery Truck, 1909 First delivery of Coca-Cola to Knoxville, TN


Coca-Cola, trucks, Asheville, NC c1920s

Coca-Cola, trucks, Asheville, NC c1920s


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Deposit Ticket for one Bottle

June 16th, 2010   |   No Comments   |   1900 – 1930

Turn of the Century Deposit Ticket for one Bottle of Coca-Cola, c.1903

Coca Cola century deposit ticket

Coca Cola century deposit ticket


Lillian Nordica – new face of Coca Cola

June 15th, 2010   |   3 Comments   |   1900 – 1930

From 1904 to 1905, Lillian Nordica became the new face of Coca-Cola. Born Lillian Norton in 1857 in Farmington, Maine, Madame Nordica was also a singer who had performed with the Metropolitan Opera in New York, as well as in many major musical venues in Western Europe and Russia. Early calendars and other promotional items featuring the divas of the time not only launched the popular Coca-Cola Girls advertising platform but Clark and Nordica items had also become some of the greatest hits with vintage Coca-Cola collectors over the years.

1905 Lillian Nordica Coca-Cola Ad with Coupon

1905 Lillian Nordica Coca-Cola Ad with Coupon


Lillian Nordica, Opera Star, c. 1905

Lillian Nordica, Opera Star, c. 1905


First Coca Cola Girl

June 14th, 2010   |   6 Comments   |   1860 – 1900, 1900 – 1930

Singer Hilda Clark became the first celebrity model for The Coca-Cola Company. Also known as the First Coca-Cola Girl, Hilda’s image was used on cardboard signs, tin trays, trade cards, bookmarks, drink tickets, and calendars from 1899 to 1903.

An 1890s advertisement showing model Hilda Clark in formal 19th century attire. The ad is titled Drink Coca-Cola 5¢.

An 1890s advertisement showing model Hilda Clark in formal 19th century attire. The ad is titled Drink Coca-Cola 5¢.


Calendar with Hilda Clark

Calendar with Hilda Clark


Hilda Clark actress

Hilda Clark actress


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Coca Cola coupons for free drinks, punch cards

June 14th, 2010   |   No Comments   |   1860 – 1900

Coca Cola coupons for free drinks, punch cards for accumulating free drinks:

Promotion c.1900, One 5 cent Drink with every punch

Promotion c.1900, One 5 cent Drink with every punch


Free drink coupon

Free drink coupon


Drink Coca Cola in bottles

Drink Coca Cola in bottles


First steps of Coca Cola

June 7th, 2010   |   No Comments   |   1860 – 1900
John S.Pemberton

John S.Pemberton

Coca-Cola’s inventor John S. Pemberton was not a shrewd marketer of his drink, and the ownership of Coca-Cola eventually passed to Asa Candler, whose company remains the producer of Coca-Cola today. It was Candler’s successful marketing, and continued by successors such as Robert Woodruff, that established Coca-Cola as a major soft drink in the global marketplace.
Frank Robinson, Pemberton’s bookkeeper, became Coca-Cola’s first marketing genius in short order, convincing Pemberton of the urgency for advertising the brand, and designing the famous Coca-Cola script and trademark. He pressured Pemberton to engage in lavish advertising promotions, issuing free drink coupons and plastering Atlanta with oil-cloth banners and streetcar signs to promote the brand. The extravagant advertising budget paid rapid dividends, quickly promoting Coca-Cola to become the most popular local beverage of it’s kind.

Coca Cola Script

Coca Cola Script


Free drink coupons

Free drink coupons