Table of contents
Introduction
Below is a collection of some of the most interesting advertisements from the 1929-32 period. They are interesting, arty, have quirky stories, or are just a bit odd.
Please note that the original ads often appeared in multiple publications.
The issue and page noted are for the version that appears here. (The advertisement may have been repeated elsewhere in the VFL Football Record).
I have reduced the size of many of these advertisements so that they are easier to browse through. Many of the full page ads have been reduced in size, so the sizes of the advertisements here may not be proportional to their original size and prominence in the Football Record. The objective of this article is to highlight interesting aspects of the advertisements rather than to accurately represent the relative importance of the various advertisements within the magazine.
A digitized version of the VFL Football Record can be found at the State Library of Victoria's Football Record Page.
Personal Endorsement
VFL Football Record 1931 VFL v SA p.21 - Basil McCormack
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Syd Coventry - London Stores - VFL Football Record 1931 Round 12 p.7
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Football Products
Some of the advertisements related to football specific products. Some are familiar today, but some are not.
Rain Insurance' is something that could be taken out on a per game basis. There are many references to rain insurance in newspaper reports in the 1930's, with specific details about the policies. For example, the VFL took insurance for games in the 1931 finals. See Argus 15-Sept-1931
John Rosier and Sons - VFL Football Record 1930 Week four finals p5
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Jack King - VFL Football Record 1932 Round 1 p.28
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Beer and Pies
Alcohol advertisements appeared regularly in the Football Record. Beer advertisements were no more popular than advertisements for gin or whisky. The breweries though were quite involved in the football scene at this time, and sponsored their own teams in the Saturday Morning Industrial League.
Food at the grounds was not advertised in the Football Record. Rather a number of cafes, pubs and eateries took out small advertisements.
Eyes and Umbrellas
Dobbie Brothers advertised that they tested the eyes of VFL umpires. Today umpires are sponsored by OPSM. Not that big a change...though today is probably a better deal for the umpires.
Dobbie's - VFL Football Record 1932 Round 1 p.21
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Dobbie's - VFL Football Record 1932 Round 2 p.31
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Lord and Kingston - VFL Football Record 1931 Round 5 p.24
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Lord and Kingston - VFL Football Record 1931 Round 6 p.3
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Hats, Coats and Shoes
Crowds at the football were predominantly made up of males, rather than families. Hence many of the ads in the Football Record were advertisements for trendy hats, hard-wearing shoes, and quality coats. There was however an occasional ad for a jeweller.
Mountfords - VFL Football Record 1929 Round 6 p.2 advert
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Mountfords - VFL Football Record 1930 Round 2 p.2
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Mountfords - VFL Football Record 1930 Week three finals p.2
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Public Transport
In the 1930's most people did not have cars and the concept of mass tourism was relatively new. During 1932, the back cover of the Football Record contained an advertisement from Victoria Railways encouraging rail travel with a range of parables and fun stories.
Soapy Boots - VFL Football Record 1932 Finals week three p.32
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RIP Collingwood - VFL Football Record 1932 Finals week five p.32
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New Kind of Scoreboard - VFL Football Record 1932 Round 1 p.32
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Coventry at Full Back - VFL Football Record 1932 Round 2 p.32
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One Team In It - VFL Football Record 1932 Round 3 p.32
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League Records - VFL Football Record 1932 Round 4 p.32
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Snowy - VFL Football Record 1932 Round 5 p.32
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Orange Peel - VFL Football Record 1932 Round 8 p.32
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Supermarkets
To increase the amount of shoppers, some supermarkets offered free competitions and posted the results in their store windows. Note that Archie Crofts was President of South Melbourne Football Club at this time.
Crofts Stores - VFL Football Record 1932 Round 7 p.11
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Fred Hesse - VFL Football Record 1932 Round 7 p.18
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Tobacco and Alcohol
In the 1930's, the dangers of smoking were not known (as they are today) and tobacco companies advertised heavily.
Capstan - VFL Football Record 1932 Round 7 p.29
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Capstan - VFL Football Record 1930 week two finals p.15
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Old Court Whisky - VFL Football Record 1930 Round 1 p.26
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Old Court Whisky - VFL Football Record 1929 Round 9 p.26 advert
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Old Court Whisky - VFL Football Record 1932 Round 7 p.26
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Old Court Whisky - VFL Football Record 1932 Round 8 p.26
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Dance
Dance Halls were popular in the 1930's and many clubs, at all levels, raised money through dance nights.
VFL Football Record 1930 Round 1 p.27
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VFL Football Record 1930 Round 1 p.27b
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VFL Football Record 1930 Round 11 p.27
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VFL Football Record 1930 week three finals p.27
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VFL Football Record 1930 week four finals p.27
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VFL Football Record 1930 week four finals p.27b
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VFL Football Record 1929 Round 2 p.27a advert
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VFL Football Record 1929 Round 2 p.27b advert
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VFL Football Record 1931 Round 4 p.27
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VFL Football Record 1930 Round 16 p.27
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VFL Football Record 1930 Round 16 p.27
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VFL Football Record 1930 Victoria v Subiaco p.27
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Radio
The first radio stations in Australia began in the 1920's. Radios, and indeed all electricity in the home, were still new in the late 1920's and early 1930's.
Other Oddities
Crackajack - VFL Football Record 1930 Round 12 p.18
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Crackajack - VFL Football Record 1930 week two finals p.18
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In the early 1930's the 'talkies' were the newest innovation in cinema. Theatres needed to be upgraded to handle the new technology. And, as they do today, theatres tried a range of gimmicks to try and entice people to the cinema.
Yes, Football Dogs....I'd see that!
And that is all.
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