Comments on: 11 Manliest Brand Icons of All Time

By: Greg Lindsey

Greg Lindsey — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:32:28 +0000

The Irish Spring fisherman in the soap commercials. Always wanted one of those sweaters

By: Marguerite

Marguerite — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:47:40 +0000

I dunno… Joe Namath for Beautymist Pantyhose? It’s a bizarre one, but he certainly doesn’t seem effeminate.. :)

By: Pat

Pat — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 03:22:31 +0000

Tony Sinclair from the Tanqueray ads is a perhaps unconventionally manly but no less bad-a** dude

By: Maxim Fields

Maxim Fields — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 22:15:18 +0000

You are right… no mustache, no Brawny

By: Danny

Danny — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:38:49 +0000

The new Brawny man just isn’t very Brawny looking. He looks like he should be in an office behind a desk.

By: Ben Trounson

Ben Trounson — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:49:34 +0000

A great article. Love some of the stories behind the campaigns and brand icons. Funny seeing the common traits.

By: Diocletian

Diocletian — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 16:00:13 +0000

I prefer the original Brawny Man, by far !

The new Brawny Man looks like a metrosexual douche dressed down for the weekend.

As a philatelist (student of and dealer in postage stamps for collectors) I look upon stamps as miniature “ads” of sorts, in that they depict a “product” (a country) and some of its salient features (historical events, cultural icons, etc.) that invite one to explore further, either through research, or a personal visit, or both.

In 1965 a US stamp was issued to commemorate Winston Churchill. The image of the stamp is derived from a famous 1941 photo of Churchill taken by photographer Yousuf Karsh. Just before Karsh took the photo, he grabbed Churchill’s cigar out of the latter’s mouth and immediately took the picture, thereby immortalizing Churchill’s indignant scowl, which, dropping context, was re-interpreted and promoted as a riveting, visual display of resolute determination in the face of the enemy.

Look for the photo inside the Wikipedia entry for Churchill, and judge for yourselves.

As an aside, Alexander Nels Elofson’s First Place photo in the AofM “Put up Your Dukes” contest, while very impressive, does not capture the essence of manliness as Churchill’s spontaneous expression and posture do in Karsh’s photo (to say nothing of the manliness that Churchill conveyed in his speeches !).

By: patch vader

patch vader — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 00:52:02 +0000

A more regional, but bob catterson olds, mr. noooobody.
.
The guys in the current viagra ads- “at the age of knowing?”
Those guys seem to project having it together
.
the teamsters who used to be on the levi strauss patch
.

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:35:21 +0000

Enjoyed this for what it was, a lighthearted look at men in advertising. Honestly, I like the Brawny Man post makeover more than the original. Somehow the 50′s ish look just seems more classic and timeless.

I rarely let myself be influenced by advertising if I can help it, but one of the very first things I tried after turning 21 (after having a martini, shaken, not stirred) was a glass of Jameson. I mean, how hardcore do you have to be to jump into the ocean during a storm only to show up at your own funeral a month later?

By: Tim S.

Tim S. — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 04:26:21 +0000

I read the article on creating a “Man room” prior to reading this. I now have a strong desire to use some of these advertising icons to decorate that space.