419. A Tickle of a Pickle Ad: RAINBOW PICKLES, by Ycasas Food Products, 1964

A TITILLATION IN ART DIRECTION, RAINBOW PICKLES AD, 1964

 An example of an ad gone wrong---all because of failed art direction. Instead of promoting these tasty RAINBOW PICKLES, the print ad comes across as simply tasteless. The way the poor model is shown  presenting a humongous phallic-looking pickle sticking out of a jar in her direction, creates an uncomfortably, suggestive image that is kitschy and crass at the same time.  “The Tastiest…The Crispiest…”, so the ad proclaims. Might as well add “Trashy” to the adjectives. What was the Art Director thinking? And the Creative Director? And the Client who approved it?

Anyway, this was the only RAINBOW PICKLES ad I could find, manufactured by Ycasas Food Products. If this came out today, it would win--hands and pants down--the worst ad of the year. Or it would have been banned by the AdBoard.