In 1984 Wendy’s fast food chain made a star of retired Russian immigrant manicurist Clara Peller when she was cast in a commercial touting the chain’s slogan “Where’s the beef?” The catchphrase which was the brainchild of advertising director Joe Sedelmair became a pop sensation worldwide resulting in other commercials with Clara and a 31% jump in the sale of Wendy's hamburgers catapulting the company to the third most popular hamburger chain behind McDonald's and Burger King, all to prove that the international passion for beef that began in prehistoric times continues to modern day.
Bovidae have been a mainstay of majolica iconography from the beginning. Of course they have! Any tableware dedicated to elegant service is going to represent products from cows and bulls and bison; mainstays of victorian dining, milk, cream, cheese, butter and beef.
Majolica made by both large and small potteries, English, American and European Continental have bovine everywhere! Here are a few examples.
George Jones majolica calla lily cheese bell
George Jones majolica acanthus cheese bell
George Jones majolica acanthus cheese bell
Adams & Bromley tall cow finial cheese bell
Adams & Bromley low cow finial cheese bell
Wedgwood majolica cow finial cheese bell
Wedgwood majolica cow finial cheese bell
Cow and apple finial cheese bell
Cow finial majolica cheese bell
Cow finial blackberry cheese bell
Cow finial low blackberry cheese bell
Skey majolica cheese weddge
Adams & Bromley pineapple butter
Adams & Bromley pineapple butter
Adams & Bromley pineapple butter
Majolica Brownfield cow butter
GJ majolica cow butter
Wedgwood majolica butter dish
Etruscan Majolica butter dish
Cow finial majolica terrine
George Joness majolica terrine
Brownfield majolica terrine
Continental majolica smoking stand
Continental majolica candle stand
Continental majolica card holder
Continental majolica humidor
Austrian buffalo majolica humidor
Austrian majolica buffalo humidor
George Jones America compote Eichwald majolica bison pedestal
Portuguese Palissy majolica bull toothpick holder
Caldas bull toothpick holder
Wedgwood majolica bull
Pierre Perret majolica bull
Eichwald majolica cow with calf
Massier majolica steer with cart Jérôme Massier majolica bulls with cart
Majolica Palissy wall pocket
Sergent majolica wall pocket
Cow majolica milk pitcher
Cow majolica creamer
Wedgwood majolica transfer plate
Adams & Co. majolica intaglio plate
So, what became of Clara Peller? Well, her moment in the spotlight was bright but brief. In addition to the Wendy’s campaign she appeared on Saturday Night Live, television talk shows, a movie, an episode of the Amazing Stories TV series and even WrestleMania.
After her success at Wendy’s her fame brought her commercials for Prego tomato sauce that claimed she found the beef and an insect repellent called Ben’s 100 using an altered version of the Wendy’s slogan, “Where’s the Ben’s?.” This terminated Clara’s contract with Wendy’s and ended the famously successful ad campaign. She died of congestive heart failure at the age of 85 just three years after fame first brought her worldwide attention but she lives on as the embodiment of one of the most successful ad campaigns in history. A book about her fast fame was written by her daughter, Peller: An American Icon.
Wendy's spokesperson Clara Peller. (1902-1987)
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