The Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company (later Mountain Bell, later US West, later QWEST, currently Century Link) ran a series of advertisements in the mid-19-teens. I always enjoy both the artwork and the text. Most of the ads are describing the expense of maintaining a large, far-flung utility and maintaining reliable service levels. During World War I, many of the ads explained that the company prioritized military needs over private requests for service.
They often used seasonal themes, such as the Christmas ad shown above. They show many “types”–a businessman, a cowboy, a young couple, and “the old folks at home.” I like the two men wearing their smoking jackets–so Edwardian! The text reminds people that the phone company is still on duty, even when everyone else is celebrating the holiday.
Some of the other ads in the series appear below.
