Dying pigs’ squeal used to sell pianos
Found in Popular Mechanics, October 1907:
I wonder how many pianos he sold using this method.
It has long been the boast of the Chicago packing houses, that in killing hogs everything is utilized — except the squeal. The squeal has now been turned to account in this way:
An ingenious piano salesman travels through the country, taking several instruments with him. To draw a crowd he gives a free evening entertainment with a moving picture machine. Between each series of views he demonstrates on the pianos. One of his pictures shows the progress of events at a packing house. To make the scenes in the killing room realistic he visited the plant and secured some phonograph records of the porkers as they let out some vigorous remarks. Now when the moving picture reaches the pig sticking act, he turns on his phonograph and his visitors can see and hear just as if they were actually present at the original scene of operations.
An ingenious piano salesman travels through the country, taking several instruments with him. To draw a crowd he gives a free evening entertainment with a moving picture machine. Between each series of views he demonstrates on the pianos. One of his pictures shows the progress of events at a packing house. To make the scenes in the killing room realistic he visited the plant and secured some phonograph records of the porkers as they let out some vigorous remarks. Now when the moving picture reaches the pig sticking act, he turns on his phonograph and his visitors can see and hear just as if they were actually present at the original scene of operations.
I wonder how many pianos he sold using this method.
Comments
Back in 1900 there were more people who had already heard a pig squeal than ones who hadn't so, I'd expect that those farmers' mouths would have been watering remembering the taste hot, fresh cracklings. Piano sales would have soared.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kUDRn-sPqtE/TOw1XdUm3AI/AAAAAAAAALQ/HEShzQeX0MQ/s200/homer_drool_1.gif
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kUDRn-sPqtE/TOw1XdUm3AI/AAAAAAAAALQ/HEShzQeX0MQ/s200/homer_drool_1.gif
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 12/23/12 at 09:24 AM
What a bizzare way to sell pianos. But then, now-a-days, they sell everything from beer to cars with sex.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 12/23/12 at 10:21 PM
Pig squeals and sex reminded me of the movie "Deliverance".
Posted by BMN on 12/24/12 at 02:33 AM
It’s a very rude way of just selling pianos. Some people nowadays are disgusting.
Posted by Edea Krammer on 01/05/13 at 01:10 AM
Wow, Edea, were you really around 110 years ago when this ad hit the papers? BTW, are they still using elephant ivory for the white keys?
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 01/05/13 at 01:19 AM
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.
Category: Animals | Music | Advertising | 1900s