Advertising in the 20th Century

In a 1941 essay in Life, Henry Luce famously called this "The American Century." To which we would add, it was also the Advertising Century, and the two remain intimately twined. Advertising played a key role in powering the miracle American economy of the past 50 years, and has had a profound impact -- for good and ill -- on our culture. Top 100 Campaigns Top 100 People Top 10 Jingles Top 10 Slogans Top 10 Ad Icons Ad Century Essay Timeline …

…work for what it was -- an enormously successful brand-builder -- and for what it meant for our times. Of course, this issue offers much more than rankings. There are essays, stories and memoirs exploring with great insight the twists and turns of the advertising and media industries. And now, in the words of one of the greatest marketers of the millennium, P. T. Barnum: "Step right up, folks -- This way to the egress!"