Buccaneer Beer
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This month's can is a toughie from Texas, a Buccaneer Beer from Gulf Brewing in Houston, Texas.
Gulf Brewing's Buccaneer Days
Gulf Brewing's regular beer was called "Grand Prize." In 1956 Gulf Brewing introduced a new beer to take advantage of Corpus Christi's April "Splash Day" or Buccaneer Days, celebrating the beginning of the summer season. The official "Buc Days" website notes,
That first Buccaneer Days celebration in 1938 was a descendant of Splash Days celebrations that had been observed here for the previous 21 years. Apparently started in 1917, Splash Days consisted mainly of a bathing beauty contest on North Beach to signify the beginning of summer. By 1937, it has become a three-day event sponsored by merchants. However, most residents and participants in Splash Days felt the celebration lacked the glamour that the growing city of Corpus Christi deserved.
In 1938 the first Buccaneer Days Commission was formed to plan a celebration emphasizing the beginning of the summer season. The Commission's primary objective was to add more glamour and excitement to the annual celebration by building the event around the city's history, while developing and supporting educational, cultural and entertainment programs that would benefit all the citizens of Corpus Christi.
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| 1956 Corpus Christi newspaper advertising Splash Day (click to see larger). |
Gulf Brewing, wanting to expand their market in the area, developed a new beer that was, according to the brewery, "heavier and darker." They introduced the new beer, named Buccaneer, in April 1956. For a spokesmen they picked Victor McLaglen, an actor, former boxer, and World War I veteran. He played the kind of "man's man" role in movies that Gulf wanted as a spokesmen for their new, heavier, beer. McLaglen made numerous appearances, including at grocery stores where the beer was sold, and appeared in newspaper ads. (McLaglen is pictured in the upper left of the newspaper shown above)
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| An April 1956 newspaper ad. (click to see larger version). | A detail from an April 1956 grocery ad promoting a visit by McLaglen. (Click to see full ad). |
According to the brewery, the beer was immediately very successful. However, I've not found references to it being sold after 1956 (or, for that matter, before 1956). If any Texas specialists know whether or not it was sold after 1956, please email me and I'll update this page (with appropriate credit given to you).
Digging Buccaneers
My cans was found by Rusty Bunch member Bill L. in east Texas in 2004. The dump was deep and included another rare can, a Charro, also made by Gulf. They dug the dump at night after work. Thanks Bill, it's a great can!
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The photo from Rustlings. My can is second from the left, bottom row.
Sources Used
'A New Beer: Buccaneer" The Brewers Digest. (June 1956).
Lindstrom, Bill. "Night Crawlers" Rustlings (July 2004)
Smallshaw, John. "The Story of Howard Hughes and the Gulf Brewing Company" American Breweriana (May-June 2004)
Brewery research on Rustycans.com has been aided by Carlson's Brewery Research.
