Hires To You headerThe Illustrated History of Hires Root Beer

1944 

IT HAPPENED IN…1944

The Soviet Union announced the end of the 880 day German siege of Leningrad during which 600,000 died.

The federal government relinquished control of the railroad after settling a wage dispute.

Oil was discovered in commercial quantities in Alabama.

Meat rationing ended May 3rd except for steak and choice cuts of beef.

The D-Day invasion of Europe involved over 4,000 ships, 3,000 planes, and four million Allied troops.  During 10 weeks of combat 300,000 men, women, and chidren died at Normandy.  American armored units moved rapidly across France in August and by year end Allied forces were at Germany’s eastern and western borders, preparing for the final assault. 

The “Batman and Robin” comic strip premiered in newspapers.

A Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus tent fire in Hartford, Connecticut killed 168 people and injured over 175 others.

Smokey the Bear made his debut as a spokesman for fire prevention.

Race riots took place in Athens, Alabama.

Franklin D. Roosevelt was re-elected President for a fourth term in November.

The Battle of the Bulge, Germany's last major war offensive, began December 16th.

Paper shortages led publishers into the successful production of soft-cover books.

Motion pictures enjoyed a record box office year, grossing almost $2 billion.

The GI Bill of Rights, formally known as the “Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944,” was passed granting World War II veterans benefits, particularly housing subsidies and college education funding.

Newly introduced products and inventions included kidney machines, Kocacolor photography, the “Clue” game, and Chiquita bananas.

5,922 U.S. soft drink bottling plants were in operation.  Per capita consumption was 147.1 bottles.

Hires’ 1944 advertisements promoted the “It’s HEIDT TIME for HIRES” radio program “EVERY MONDAY NIGHT – BLUE NETWORK.”

(Figure 1944-01, magazine advertisement)

This newspaper advertisement is another version of Figure 1943-05.  Note the mention of "war production."

(Figure 1944-01,5 Pittsburg (KS) Sun newspaper, 2.5" x 6.0". March 11, 1944)

The Hires company-owned bottling plant in Columbus, Ohio opened March 13, 1944.

This newspaper advertisement is another version of Figure 1943-01.  Note the continued mention of "war restrictions on production."

(Figure 1944-01,8 Pittsburg (KS) Sun newspaper, 2.5" x 6.0", March 19, 1944)

(Figure 1944-02, Saturday Evening Post, May 6, 1944)

(Figure 1944-02.5, magazine advertisement, 6.0" x 7.0")

(Figure 1944-02.8, magazine advertisement, 6.0" x 5.0")

(Figure 1944-03, magazine advertisement, 5.0" x 6.0")

(Figure 1944-04, paper poster, 8.0" x 18.0")

Time, handling, and storage have yellowed this cloth banner that shows stains and creases from folding.  It is pictured as is.

(Figure 1944-05, cloth banner, 44.5" x 33.5")