Peter Hawley

If you're "in" to mid-century advertising, you probably have seen many of Peter Hawley's illustrations. Jantzen, American Greeting Cards, movie poster art, Bell Telephone and more.

I think he must have been a very private person.  I can't find many biographical details but enjoyed some tidbits about him on "Today's Inspiration" Pete Hawley: No doubt, the envy of his peers! and Pete Hawley's Fabulous 50's and Pete Hawley: Betsy Bell Ushers In the 60's.
I found a simple gravestone on Find-A-Grave (and was disappointed he's not included in their "Famous Grave Search").  The Social Security Death index indicates he was born July 13, 1916 and died 17 years ago today on February 15, 1996.  So I'd like to remember him today by sharing some of his Betsy Bell illustrations.


January 20, 1958 Life Magazine



May 19, 1961 Life Magazine


June 23, 1961 Life Magazine


September 8, 1961 Life Magazine


April 20, 1962 Life Magazine


June 15, 1962 Life Magazine (also found July 4, 1960 and June 9, 1961 Life Magazines but I wanted to embed the one that mentioned the Seattle World's Fair!)



August 3, 1962 Life Magazine


September 21, 1962 Life Magazine


March 8, 1963 Life Magazine


June 14, 1963 Life Magazine


September 6, 1963 Life Magazine

I've previously posted his Jantzen ads here (May 9, 1955 Life Magazine, May 23, 1955 Life Magazine, and June 20, 1955 Life Magazine)

Check out this extensive Pete Hawley collection on flickr

Christmas Gift Ideas 1956

These ads were found in November and December 1956 Life Magazines


Acme Cowboy Boot Christmas



"Telephones as Christmas Gifts"



"You can't buy moments like these . . . but you can give them with a gift of Scrabble" $3.00


Rexall "Preview of Christmas Surprises"


"Woolworth's Toyland is a Christmas Joyland"


"Penney's is your Santa!"


"RCA Living Color" from $99.95 RCA Victor "The Gift that Keeps on Giving"


General Electric Portables "The most exciting gift you can carry home this Christmas"


"New General Electric Transistor Pocket Radio with recharger ends battery replacement"


"Wake to the music of the stars" with Telechron Timers Clock Radios


Smith-Corona "The world's first and fastest portable"


Melmac Dinnerware "It's beautiful . . . it's break resistant . . . it's the ideal gift"


Tri-Taper by American Tourister


"Especially at Christmas . . . The Holy Bible"

Western Electric and theTelephone

March 7, 1876 - four days after his 29th birthday, Alexander Graham Bell received his telephone patent. Three days after that on March 10, 1876, Thomas A. Watson heard A.G. say, "Mr. Watson—Come here—I want to see you" in the first telephone transmission.

So Happy 136th Birthday to the telephone!

Western Electric was founded in 1872, a few years before this first successful transmission.  Apparently one of the early partners was one of the several who filed against A. G. Bell over the telephone patent.  Eventually Bell Systems (named for Alexander Graham Bell but in my quick research, he doesn't appear to have much to do with the company) acquired Western Electric in 1881 - they had become the manufacturer of Bell Systems equipment meaning (among other things) the telephone.  For the telephone's birthday enjoy these ads from their early maker.

February 24, 1947 Life Magazine
The text of this reads:

“His genius gave wings to words
It was an historic moment, Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone had just spoken its first words – “Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you!”
That evening in Boston – March 10, 1876 – Dr. Bell’s crude instrument transmitted his voice only to the next room. But out of it was destined to come a whole new era – the era of quick, easy nation-wide telephone, of radio telephony in all its varied forms of talking pictures, voice and music reproduction systems and electrical aids for the hard of hearing. Few inventions have played a greater part in shaping the world we live in!
Since 1877 – just one year after Bell’s long experimentation was crowned with success – it has been Western Electric’s privilege to help carry forward his great idea which gave wings to words. In that year Western Electric made its first telephone. More than 45,000,000 have followed it – over 4,000,000 of them in 1946 alone.
Today, from coast to coast, in factories, offices, distributing houses and central office installation crews, there are more than 110,000 Western Electric workers. Imbued with the Bell System spirit of service, they are helping to provide equipment in record quantities to meet telephone needs far beyond any envisioned by the inventor.”

August 27, 1945 Life Magazine

February 1955 Life Magazine
What a great idea!

From Vintage Goodness

March 28, 1955 Life Magazine

February 13, 1956 Life Magazine
(a little disturbing they included a map to tell enemies where to start looking to take down Air Force communications)

March 26, 1956 Life Magazine

February 1957 Life Magazine

February 10, 1958 Life Magazine

March 24, 1958 Life Magazine

February 15, 1960 Life Magazine

March 21, 1960 Life Magazine

February 23, 1962 Life Magazine

February 22, 1963 Life Magazine

I missed this one for A. G. Bell's birthday post with the other Bell Telephone System ads; it's an awesome birthday party one so I will include it for the telephone's birthday!

March 19, 1956 Life Magazine
Pin It

Alexander Graham Bell

Happy Birthday Alexander Graham Bell


I think most of us are pretty grateful for the invention of the telephone. Since its inception, the phone has become more indispensable and ownership more accessible to everyone.

In the 1940s it appears Bell Telephone System was schooling the general public on proper telephone etiquette for their single phone. (Many of these ads are fun to read but too small in the blog - click on them and then look for the magnifying glass and + sign above the photo.)

August 1942 "The American Home" magazine

June 1943 "The American Home" magazine

In the 1950s and 1960s the ads were about staying in touch, especially peace of mind and being able to talk long-distance

January 1955 Life Magazine

March 14, 1955 Life Magazine

February 21, 1955

March 5, 1956 Life Magazine

February 1957 Life Magazine

March 18, 1957 Life Magazine

January 25, 1960 Life Magazine

March 14, 1960 Life Magazine

March 8, 1963 Life Magazine

And then there are ads to encourage having a second line for the home

March 21, 1955

February 1959 American Home Magazine

February 1961 American Home Magazine

February 1962 American Home Magazine

February 1, 1963 Life Magazine

Operators and friendly Bell Telephone Service

January 23, 1956 Life Magazine

and Mr. Bell featured on an ad, too!

February 27, 1956 Life Magazine

January 11, 1960, Life Magazine
(This is super cute!)

January 24, 1963 Life Magazine

March 19, 1963 Life Magazine

Check out these predictions and service improvements

January 24, 1959 Saturday Evening Post Magazine

Picture of Tomorrow. Will tomorrow's telephones be smaller and lighter and specially designed for each room? Will the dial, mouthpiece and receiver all be in the unit you hold in your hand? Will you be able to get your party just by pushing buttons, instead of dialing? We're working on many types and testing them at Bell Laboratories and in homes and offices.

March 7, 1960

The high frequency radio waves that carry telephone and television signals travel in straight lines and refuse to follow the earth's curvature. To overcome this, it may well be possible and practical to send them over long distances by using earth satellites as relay points.

January 18, 1963 Life Magazine

February 8, 1963 Life Magazine

March 15, 1963 Life Magazine

July/August 1976 Bicentennial Issue of Saturday Evening Post

. . . For example, even now we're starting Electronic Long Distance Switching - a computerized way to make long distance calling faster and more efficient than ever before. Further in the future, we'll have Lightwave Communications, a system that will carry phone calls on a beam of light.
Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone to help people communicate better. Our goal is to keep improving on his dream.

You might also like this on the Wall of Retro The Way We See It – Bell Ad from 1983

So for all the countless times I've relied on my phone, thank you and Happy Birthday Alexander Graham Bell!