Thanksgiving Feed - Campbell's Bean and Bacon Soup (1950)

Here's one that's near and dear to my heart, Campbell's Bean and Bacon Soup. You see, one of the memories from the all to infrequently golden days of my youth centers around Campbell's Bean and Bacon Soup and Ritz Crackers. Sunday evenings at our house, back in the days before NFL games that ran until midnight and ten-thousand channels of unwatchable reality shows, meant The Walt Disney Hour and The Andy Griffith Show, the ladder of which was often enjoyed while eating a bowl of Campbell's Bean and Bacon Soup that was so packed with Ritz Crackers it had a texture more like oatmeal than soup. Ah, the sometimes good old days.

As for the ad itself, I think I could have gone my whole life without hearing beans described as "munchy meaty and zestful."

Thanksgiving Dinner - Ritz

Strikingly modern ad from 1950 featuring Andy Griffith's favorite cracker, Ritz. I remember Ritz being advertised during the Wonderful World of Disney. It probably was due to the fact that Mayberry RFD was on immediately following Disney. Recently I watched a few of the RFD episodes, its amazing what you notice when you watch a show with adult eyes. Now I can see how checked out Andy Griffith was, he was there for everyone else, but not himself.

Ritz was the cracker of choice in our house, though I'm not sure if it was due to Andy's endorsement or something else. I remember mashing them to powder and putting them in Campbell's Bean and Bacon soup. For better or worse, that simple dish will always remind me of my father and Sunday nights.