Looking at the Sunny Side of Life

Everybody sing!: "Always look on the briiiight side of life..." (Insert cheerful whistling here.)

Okay, phew!- now we've gotten that out of the way. (Because, y'know, I've been singing that song ever since I started scanning this booklet, and didn't want to be the only one.)

Here we are today, with The Sunny Side of Life Book from 1934! "To Keep Happy, Keep Well-- a new way of living!"

So, what is this new way of living, you ask? Is it... holding hands with your family members, while running around the backyard?


Er... okay, so yes, it does look that way, doesn't it? But mostly it's about keeping well! And how do you keep well?

The book tells us:

Millions of people "kept on the sunny side of life" last year. They kept themselves free from common constipation due to lack of "bulk" in the diet, an ailment that frequently tears down resistance to fatigue and infections. They kept themselves at the peak of health largely by eating the right kinds of foods!

Modern home makers know that diet plays a tremendously important part in maintaining the health and good spirits of the whole family. In the selection of meals from day to day, it is imperative that proper "bulk" be included in the foods that are served. Otherwise, the system fails to eliminate regularly. Common constipation, with its attendant evils, sets in.

Wives may lose their freshness and charm. Husbands become morose and irritable. All because they are really not well...

Of course, wives can keep their freshness if you store them in Tupperware, too, but perhaps that's another booklet.

So what have we learned so far? That the key to happiness is eating fiber! A totally and wholly unbiased helpful tip put out by.... er....


...W.K. Kellogg, the makers of All-Bran. Of course, pay no attention to that, that is a complete coincidence.

So... do you remember those old Bob Hope movies, The Road to Rio, The Road to Bali and the like? Well, here we have a lesser-known film...


The Road to Regularity! The happy housewife and terrier wave goodbye to Mr. Handsome Young Executive who, we know, will have a happy day like every other day because he started it with All-Bran and some quality time in the W.C.

Says W.K. Kellogg:

"You'll be surprised how much this influences your actions, your moods, your manner toward others, your whole outlook on life!"

Wow, now that's some powerful product marketing! But being happy isn't just about regularity. It's about keeping fit...


And do you keep fit through winning archery competitions? Or housecleaning? Or Swedish exercises?

NO! You keep fit by getting the iron and vitamin B you need in All-Bran. Also by making sure that meatloaf and tomato aspic salad you had last night doesn't spend much time in your body.

But did you know, the Kellogg company wasn't just savvy about nutrition? They knew a thing or two about beauty, too...


Beauty, they tell us, begins at home!...

And the path to that beauty begins with...

(And I know this is going to be a huge surprise to you all, so brace yourselves...)

Reducing constipation with All-Bran!..

Keep your beauty by keeping your health. Avoid common constipation-- the beauty-killer! It takes the sparkle out of eyes. Vitality is lowered-- and charm dissipated. Complexions may lose their loveliness-- take on a sallow, lifeless tone. Wrinkles and pimples may appear.

I had no idea constipation caused so many visible problems, did you?

Well, now we know why that family on the cover is all running around the backyard...

They're trying to make it into the house-- fast—due to the, er, happiness-inducing power of All-Bran!

Oh-- before we go today, I thought you all would also get a chuckle out of this recipe I found inside the Kelloggs' book...

"Boy, what a swell cake! Real caramel flavor!" exclaims the male disembodied head.

You know, we just don't use disembodied heads in our ads like we used to. Or the word "swell." Maybe, if we all band together, we can bring 'em back. What do you think? :)

• If you missed last Wednesday's post, where Carnival glass and other thrifty finds abound, click here.

• And if you'd care to check out even more vintage advertising fun, click here to see the "Brow-furrowing ads of Successful Farming Magazine"

Have a wonderful week!