The Bribe by Norman Rockwell

1921 Lime Crush Advertisement

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This Lime Crush advertisement featured a Norman Rockwell painting, entitled The Bribe.

The ad appeared in the June 11, 1921 issue of The Literary Digest.

Crush International was a soda pop company in 1921. Its original name was The Orange Crush Company in 1916 when the business started.

This painting was one of the first Crush advertisements Rockwell painted. We can ascertain this because of the quality and humor evident in the painting. Rockwell is said to have painted twelve illustrations for The Orange Crush Company in 1921. I have only seen five.

Rockwell was apparently approaching the limits of his creativity by the completion of the twelfth painting.

Read more about Norman Rockwell and The Orange Crush Company advertisements here.

Lime Crush, The Bribe

A youn lady has just been pulled over by a policeman. Or maybe he is a sheriff. This was painted before police uniforms became commonplace.

We do not know her infraction. Maybe she was speeding. She certainly wasn't talking on her cellphone.

She offers the officer a Lime Crush. Maybe he will let her go. Or maybe he will drink her Lime Crush and then write her a ticket.

Rockwell actually painted the Lime Crush bottles green, instead of clear. I have another copy of the ad published in another magzine. That copy was published in full color.

The ad copy reads as follows:

Like Limes?
Drink Lime Crush.
This latest addition to the "Crush" family has a distinctive lime flavor, equal in deliciousness to Ward's Orange Crush and Lemon Crush. These flavors are blends of fruit oils, fruit juices and citric acid from oranges, lemons and limes.Get the genuine.

At Fountains or in Bottles
Guaranteed under all pure food laws, Federal and State.
Prepared by Orange-Crush Co.Plamt and Laboratories, Chicago
Research Laboratory, Los Angeles

No doubt sales of Lime Crush were boosted after Rockwell painted The Bribe for the company.

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Norman Rockwell's The Bribe (1921) Copyright © 1921 The Orange Crush Company

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Want to See Them All?
Take the Rockwell Crush Advertisement Tour

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Orange Crush An Orange Crush

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