#34 Postcard Trivia 10.16.18
Postcard from collection of J Garner. Purina Mills advertisement. Mid-20th century.
Never be surprised by inclement weather again! Just hang this postcard outside and trust Maud’s twine tail to give you up-to-date weather info 24 hours a day. This Purina Mills advertising postcard is a classic! Since its beginning in 1894, as a small feed mill in St. Louis, Missouri, Purina Mills, also known as Ralston-Purina, grew to dominate the livestock feed and pet food business throughout the 20th century. Maud the mule was a successful ad campaign after WWII. But the best-known trademark for Purina has been the iconic red and white checkerboard. One of Purina’s original founders, William Danforth, was responsible for incorporating the checkerboard into company marketing and packaging. He even wore red and white checked ties, coats, and jackets and encouraged employees to do the same. The company celebrated every year with a designated Checker Day, and the headquarters became known as Checkerboard Square. My husband was a proud Purina feed dealer in the 1980’s and 90’s at our feed store in Forney, Texas. And we still enjoy collecting memorabilia with the Purina checkerboard! Today, St. Louis is home to a family attraction called Purina Farms. This interactive park includes wagon rides, cow-milking demonstrations, dog shows, and an animal barn. The world-class dog competitions are amazing demonstrations of canine agility and performance. Sounds like this would be a great stop for a family summer vacation!
Trivia Question:
Purina adopted the term “chow” for many of its feed products (Puppy Chow, etc.) Where did William Danforth get the idea to use “chow” for his feed products?
A. Chow is an Italian word for food. B. Soldiers in World War I referred to meals as chow. C. Chow is a breed of dog.
See answer below.
Answer to Trivia Question:
B. Soldiers in WWI referred to meals as chow. When William Danforth worked at a YMCA during WWI, he observed the positive interactions soldiers had to the term chow instead of rations.
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