The Narragansett Beer Products culture - Circa: mid-fifties New England.
Narragansett Beer Products sponsored the Boston Red Sox on radio and television.. The name was broadcast into homes, cafes bars and clubs daily. There were no Celtics, like today’s Celtics. Ed Sadowski, a tall heavy center was the star, and Bob Cousy was just out of Holy Cross, where Tommy Heinsom was still a student. The Bruins were building their team with a rookie named Bobby Orr, along with the Chief; Esposito; Pie McKenzie and Derek Sanderson. Bruins seats were about $2.00 per game- up high.
The Celts had rookies like Cousy, Havlecek. McCale and were yet to draft Larry Bird.
The Patriots were non-existent. The Southie Football Team against the Charlestown Townies was the annual football draw- over at the stadium on the beach. The Boston Yanks were an also ran Semi-Pro football team, and soccer was for foreigners. There were no e-mails; the internet was yet to be developed; and TV sets were rare.
WWII was over about a decade earlier. The Korean "Police Action" had been completed leaving scars on servicemen and political parties that would never heal. The GI Bill had helped to enroll thousands of ex-servicemen and women into college programs. It was an age whose heroes still wore the uniform of their country, not the local sports team. It was a simpler time.
In New England, Bars and Taverns were the extension of the family "living room". Guys went out for shots and beers to their local tavern, which became a secondary community for coalescing; for gambling; for drinking with buddies and for watching or listening to sports events. Narragansett was a favorite. It met the " Neighborly" value of a community. It still does.
Barbeques became fashionable as a neighborhood event in the fifties as more veterans could buy houses. Beer at these events was essential. Having a local beer was very American. Narragansett was a natural choice. It was a New England Beer. It employed locals; It endorsed and supported our own New England Baseball team and it was a very decent drink. It also celebrated "neighborliness".
Hi Neighbor, have a "gansett" was more than a slogan. It was an expression of confidence- in America-In our ability to build our community, and to coalesce as a nation recovering from an expensive and brutal war, while routing for our home team.
We need to recover that spirit
TPJ