Let’s explore billboards— the funny, the sad (literally— it’s crying!), the brightest, noisiest, smelliest— and much, much more!
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illboards are so much more than just an advertisement. A billboard is a huge, make-you-think, out-of-the-box way of saying something. Let’s explore billboards — the funny, the sad (literally — it’s crying!), the brightest, noisiest, smelliest — and much, much more!
Location, Location, Location
Billboards are sometimes strategically placed on tunnels and bridges… and sometimes even around telephone wires! Check out this cleverly placed picture on the entrance of a tunnel advertising an Oldtimer Rest Stop in Austria from 2007. There’s no glancing away when you’re heading right into its jaws!
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
In 2007, a mini sports car called the Brabus Ultimate in the Netherlands was advertised with this extremely clever billboard. It was carefully arranged along the side of a lift bridge, so each time the bridge lifted up to allow ships to pass below, it looked as though the car was jumping in the air! The ad was a humongous success: Over 2000 of those cars were preordered before they even hit the dealerships!
Early Days
Billboards weren’t always so exciting. The earliest billboards were hand painted by merchants to advertise their wares. In approximately 1835, the first large 50-plus-square-foot poster was printed by Jared Bill, letting people know that the circus was coming to town.
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