Coca-Cola Advertising History
The soft drink Coca-Cola, one of the world's most recognized and famous brands, has been marketed and promoted for decades through a variety of print and video advertisements. And who can forget its infamous "New Coke" marketing blunder? This guide looks at the history of Coke and various ads through the ages.
Created by : Susan MacDonald
Subject : Marketing and Advertising
Tags : ads, advertising, cincinnati ad musuem, coca-cola, coke, marketing

Guide Creator

  • Susan MacDonald

Current Editors

  • Mer Holthaus
  • Pete Blackshaw
  • Pete Healy
  • Steve Platt
  • Sundar Kadayam

Contributors

  • None
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Reference

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Coca-Cola
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants and vending machines worldwide. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company, based in Atlanta, GA.
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Web Sites

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http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/
... advertising jobs and more, at the official website of The Coca-Cola Company, the ... Learn more about our ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility iniatives ...
http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/presscenter/av_advertising.html
The Coke web site provides access to Coke ads.
http://www.coca-cola.ee/movie/
Contributed by
Coca-Cola Old Ads Blog
http://cocacolaoldads.blogspot.com/
A blog features classic Coke print ads from around the world.
http://www.coca-cola.com/hf
A global leader in the beverage industry, the Coca-Cola company offers hundreds of brands, including soft drinks, fruit juices, sports drinks and other beverages in ...
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Coca-Cola Print Advertisements

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Coke Print Ads
These vintage Coca-Cola advertising in print are as visual and varied as the TV commercials.
Coca-Cola
http://www.coca-cola.com/
Coke has been advertised in many different media and in many different art forms.
AdClassix: Coca-Cola Index
http://www.adclassix.com/cocacolaindex.htm
Navigate through dozens and dozens of print ads for Coke from 1918 through 1971.
AllPoster.com: Coke Ad
http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Coca-Cola-Posters_i314178_.htm
$13.99 and it's yours!

Coke and Santa: A history of print ads
http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/heritage/cokelore_santa.html
From the Coke web site: "Through the centuries, Santa Claus has been depicted as everything from a tall gaunt man to an elf. He has worn a bishop's robe and a Norse huntsman's animal skin. The modern-day Santa Claus is a combination of a number of the stories from a variety of countries. .... 2006 marked the 75th anniversary of the famous Coca-Cola Santa Claus. Starting in 1931, magazine ads for Coca-Cola featured St. Nick as a kind, jolly man in a red suit. Because magazines were so widely viewed, and because this image of Santa appeared for more than three decades, the image of Santa most people have today is largely based on our advertising."
http://www.scribd.com/doc/194306/Classic-Print-Advertising-1939-CocaCola-at-the-1939-Worlds-Fair
"The pause that refreshes" has been a longtime Coke slogan, dating at least to the 1939 World's Fair, featured in this ad.
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Coca-Cola TV Advertisements

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"I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing, in Perfect Harmony...." was just one of the songs from a line of infamous TV ads for Coke products.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ccmphtml/colahome.html
http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/heritage/cokelore_ontv.html
Where has Coke been featured in TV shows and movies? Here's the complete list.
Fifty Years of Coca-Cola Television Advertisements
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ccmphtml/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8H5263jCGg
"I'd like to buy the world a Coke and keep it company..."

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =Q8H5263jCGg
"I'd like to buy the world a Coke and keep it company..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1NnyE6DDnQ
One of the most intricately animated Coke commercials...

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =R1NnyE6DDnQ
One of the most intricately animated Coke commercials...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9zgT3WzTVA
This is a commercial for Coca Cola that only aired in Australia and once in the UK. The song playing is Love Is The Truth written by Jack White.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =Q9zgT3WzTVA
This is a commercial for Coca Cola that only aired in Australia and once in the UK. The song playing is Love Is The Truth written by Jack White.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieSzsh4hJWI
An ad based on the video game Grand Theft Auto...

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =ieSzsh4hJWI
An ad based on the video game Grand Theft Auto...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xffOCZYX6F8
"Hey kid," says Mean Joe Green before flipping his jersey....it's a classic.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =xffOCZYX6F8
"Hey kid," says Mean Joe Green before flipping his jersey....it's a classic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiMf5cCDy1I
When giant parade balloon characters fight over a giant bottle of Coke, it's gotta be good.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =xiMf5cCDy1I
When giant parade balloon characters fight over a giant bottle of Coke, it's gotta be good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0bx0SxzKBg
Did the Coca-Cola company invent Coke....or did god?

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =m0bx0SxzKBg
Did the Coca-Cola company invent Coke....or did god?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIk7Q_DJIgQ&NR=1
The Beach Boys serenade Arctic polar bears...

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =xIk7Q_DJIgQ&NR=1
The Beach Boys serenade Arctic polar bears...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDoDUC9M0Sg
A caravan of illuminated Coke delivery trucks makes Christmas a happy occasion.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =fDoDUC9M0Sg
A caravan of illuminated Coke delivery trucks makes Christmas a happy occasion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJGmwLqonLk
When your team scores and you want to hug someone, who's there to hug? Maybe you don't want to know.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =oJGmwLqonLk
When your team scores and you want to hug someone, who's there to hug? Maybe you don't want to know.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUdlExb3b5s
Basketball stars from two countries and cultures promote Coke.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =WUdlExb3b5s
Basketball stars from two countries and cultures promote Coke.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94hQCcwswwU
Can you draw your way to a refreshing Coke? Maybe in the library you can.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =94hQCcwswwU
Can you draw your way to a refreshing Coke? Maybe in the library you can.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzxHDqUz8Sk
Remember Max Headroom? He did a Coke ad too.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =IzxHDqUz8Sk
Remember Max Headroom? He did a Coke ad too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8GHchvvzms
Dancing with Coke..

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =_8GHchvvzms
Dancing with Coke..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rZLJFflLwY

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =_rZLJFflLwY
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Books and Articles

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Coca-Cola: The History of an American Icon
http://www.amazon.com/Coca-Cola-History-American-Icon/dp/B00005M91J
"The history of Coke is the history of its advertising, and this documentary draws on a rich archive of print, film, and television material to show how John Pemberton's soda recipe became such a potent symbol of American society. Coca-Cola: The History of an American Icon is, unsurprisingly, a one-sided history. There is no suggestion that the Coca-Colonization of the planet might have a downside, and lines like "If the world's having a bad time, it's OK because there's still Coke" are delivered without a hint of irony. Nevertheless, this documentary offers some fascinating insights into the history of Coca-Cola. --Simon Leake"
The Real Thing: Truth and Power at the Coca-Cola Company
http://www.amazon.com/Real-Thing-Truth-Coca-Cola-Company/dp/081297364X
The Real Thingis a portrait of America’s most famous product and the people who transformed itfrom mere soft drink to symbol of freedom.
For God, Country and Coca-Cola: The Definitive History of the Great American Soft Drink and the Company That Makes It
http://www.amazon.com/God-Country-Coca-Cola-Definitive-American/dp/0465054684
"An encyclopedic history of Coke and its subculture. [Pendergrast] has used Coca-Cola as a metaphor for the growth of modern capitalism itself. His research and storytelling skills are prodigious."
I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke: The Life and Leadership of Roberta Goizueta
http://www.amazon.com/Like-World-Buy-Coke-Leadership/dp/0471345946
"David Greising's biography of Roberto Goizueta is the story of how Coca-Cola became one of the world's leading brands. The story follows Goizueta, a chemical engineer, who first worked for Coca-Cola in Cuba. After the revolution, Goizueta came to the United States and went on to become the youngest vice-president ever at Coca-Cola. In 1980, Goizueta became president of Coca-Cola and presided over the world's largest soft drink company until his death from lung cancer in 1997."
Classic Cooking With Coca-Cola
http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Cooking-Coca-Cola-Elizabeth-Candler/dp/1580290213
The great-great-granddaughter of the founder of the Coca-Cola company shares insider history and family recipes featuring the world's favorite beverage.
Secret Formula: How Brilliant Marketing and Relentless Salesmanship made Coca-Cola the Best-Known Product in the World
http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Formula-Relentless-Salesmanship-Best-Known/dp/0887307515
"The Coca-Cola Company's secretive top executive, Robert Woodruff, threw his support behind presidential candidate Lyndon Johnson, then spurned the loser, Richard Nixon, when he applied for a job at Coca-Cola. Nixon later became senior partner in Pepsi-Cola's outside law firm, while President LBJ, a close ally of Coca-Cola, arranged political favors for the company. These are among the charges presented in this highly entertaining history of a firm that traces its origins to Confederate war hero John Pemberton and his Yankee business partner Frank Robinson, who developed the soft drink in the late 1880s."
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New Coke

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Coke
"New Coke was the unofficial name of the sweeter formulation introduced in 1985 by The Coca-Cola Company to replace its flagship soft drink, Coca-Cola (a.k.a. Coke). Properly speaking, New Coke had no separate name of its own, but was simply known as "the new taste of Coca-Cola" until 1992 when it was renamed Coca-Cola II. Public reaction was poor..."
http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/heritage/cokelore_newcoke.html
... the return of Coca-Cola classic, the history of New Coke illustrates how intelligent ... Coca-Cola classic was introduced alongside Coca-Cola ("new Coke"), and ...
http://www.buildingbrands.com/didyouknow/08_new_coke.php
"The launch created a public outcry, with Coke receiving over 40,000 letters of complaint and over 6,000 calls a day to the company's '0800' phone number. After only 87 days the company responded to the public's demands and re-introduced the original Coke formula."
http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/newcoke.asp
People said they liked the new Coke better than Coca-Cola or Pepsi, and by a ... Prior to New Coke, Coca-Cola's flagship product was bottled and canned under a ...
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Coca-Cola Collectibles

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Bar signs to print ads, plastic bottles to bottle openers, coasters to lunch boxes. Coke products are highly collectible, and the range is huge and wide.
Warman's Coca Cola Collectibles: Identification And Price Guide (Warmans Coca Cola Collectibles)
http://www.amazon.com/Warmans-Coca-Cola-Collectibles-Identification/dp/0896893111
-Full-color definitive resource to "The Real Thing" collectibles.
http://www.cocacolaclub.org/faq.shtml
The Coca-Cola Collectors Club is a non-profit organization ... A guide to Coca-Cola® collectibles will tell you more about the cases and their current values. ...
http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/heritage/collectorsclub.html
Find out about official Coke paraphernalia and products, including the annual convention of Coke memorabilia collectors.
Petretti's Coca-Cola Collectibles Price Guide: The Encyclopedia of Coca-Cola Collectibles
http://www.amazon.com/Petrettis-Coca-Cola-Collectibles-Price-Guide/dp/0896896919
"Chapter by colorful chapter of Coca-Cola calendars, serving trays, bottles, signs, vintage advertisements, toys, coolers, dispensers and countless other items representing the foremost name in soda pop collectibles await you, in this new edition of the superior Coca-Cola collectibles identification and values reference."
http://antiquecocacola.com/
Find what's available now on Ebay if you're looking for Coke-related products.
Coca-ColaStore.com
http://www.coca-colastore.com/
Flip flops to freezers, the Coca-Cola store offers appliances, home goods, glasses and hundreds of Coke-branded products.
http://www.2collectcola.com/cokememorabilia.html
Super Collectible Specials. Coca Cola Town Square. Toy - Sport Collectibles ... FAQ - Store Policies - Contact Us - What is My Coca Cola Collectable Worth? ...
http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/heritage/collectorscolumn.html
Learn about Coca-Cola collectibles straight from the source. Information on all of our collectible items, from vintage antique products to new collectibles, it is ... Contributed by
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Coca-Cola in Pop Culture: Product Placements to Rumors

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It's a regular companion to the judges on "American Idol" and rumored to be a spermicide. How ubiquitous is Coca-Cola? Very.
http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/formula.asp
Is Coca-Cola's formula so much a secret that only two men each know half of it? ... least one of the ingredients called for in the recipe would be next to ...
http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/heritage/chronicle_birth_refreshing_idea.html
John Pemberton, the man who invented Coca-Cola, changed the beverage market forever when he introduced the drink in ... reading "Coca-Cola" appeared on ...
http://snopes.com/cokelore/sperm.asp
Is Coca-Cola is an ... of four different Coca-Cola formulations to act as a spermicide. ... Coca-Cola may not be promoting its product as a spermicidal douche, ... Contributed by
http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/ourcompany/hal.html
Get the nutrition facts on Coca-Cola products. Explore our health information and the ingredients we use to formulate our famous beverage recipes. Contributed by
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