Bad Humor and Pomposity
Kings Brewery of Brooklyn in 1937 held a slogan contest for its beer. The winning line was, “Another Name for the Hall of Fame.” Advertising was prepared showing a container of Kings Beer cleverly positioned in the Colonnade to appear larger than any of the nearby busts. Johnson was not amused and said in effect, “Cease and desist.” The ad was withdrawn, but the advertising manager wrote, “I cannot believe that the proximity of a bottle of beer could injure the reputation of anyone in the Hall of Fame, at least until Mr. [William Jennings] Bryan is placed in position [Bryan was not elected] . . .I am sure Dr. Holmes would have laughed. I am sure Abraham Lincoln would have laughed and, well, perhaps not General Grant, but we have a record of Mr. Lincoln’s comment on Mr. Grant’s alleged weakness.” [Grant’s weakness was alcohol, especially whiskey. Lincoln was reported as saying that if he knew the brand he would order it sent to all his generals. Lincoln regretted he had not said it.]
“The great shortcoming of all clergymen of all denominations,” continued the advertiser, “is that they have failed to endow God with a sense of humor . . . God however was kind to his creatures. He gave us Mark Twain.” Twain had been elected to the Hall of Fame in 1920.