1962 Oil Company Advertisement boasts about ability to Melt Glaciers

If this gasoline advertisement would be submitted to our infotizement contest, we would probably dismiss it for being too cynical and far fetched. Nonetheless, this ad was actually published in Life magazine in 1962. It shows pretty much the exact opposite image of what oil companies are trying to communicated today. If the letters are too small for you – and they are – here is the transcript:

EACH DAY HUMBLE SUPPLIES ENOUGH ENERGY TO MELT 7 MILLION TONS OF GLACIER!

"This giant glacier has remained unmelted for centuries. Yet, the petroleum energy Humble supplies- if converted into heat- could melt it at the rate of 80 tons each second! To meet the nation's growing needs for energy, Humble has applied science to nature's resources to become America's Leading Energy Company. Working wonders with oil through research, Humble provides energy in many forms- to help heat our homes, power our transportation, and to furnish industry with a great variety of versatile chemicals. Stop at a Humble station for new Enco Extra gasoline, and see why the "Happy Motoring" sign is the World's First Choice!"

Despite the ignorance of global warming and the environmental impact of oil drilling, they apparently were in 1962 already quite aware of the benefits of a biomimicmarketing strategy.

Via Boingboing, via Sociological Images, via MsMarx.