Pacific Bell Advertising

Here’s something I don’t understand.
Back when there was only one phone company to choose from they advertised.
A lot.
For decades they used the bell logo and even spent millions to named a baseball park after it.
Brand managers will tell you that brand recognition has a high value and the Pacific Bell had that. From utility covers to work trucks the bell logo was everywhere.
Phone calls to information were answered by local operators who knew the community.

When the phone company was broken up over a few short years I lost track of what to call them. Pacific Telesis Group, (What’s a telsis?) SBC (Some Boring Company?) now AT&T with a logo that looks like a zebra striped beach ball.
The ads from 1924 and 1966 are very similar in tone.
The message?
Bell is reliable, thousands of people are working to serve you, don’t break the monopoly up.
Now I understand.

Bell potato chips are gone now too. There used to be a bell shaped chip in each pack, if it hadn’t broken.
If it’s Bell, it’s swell.

At least we still have Taco Bell.

Related posts:

1. Pacific Telephone & Telegraph operators
2. Turn of the Century advertising
3. 1964 Telegram-Tribune Advertising Staff
4. 1913 Pacific Coast Amusement Co. Pool Hall
5. Southern Pacific Daylight Cuesta Grade