Today’s newsletter is presented by Nagisa Sushi.
Hello, Point Loma and Ocean Beach!
Long ago, in 1971 Point Loma was home to a spunky lager-fueled royal family. In fact their pink clad royal residence still stands as a relic to their bygone reign over the Sunset Cliffs. Their lasting impact though was King Snedley’s Beer, a marketing campaign produced by Lucky Lager to capture the younger frat-bro audience in San Diego who was losing interest in their brand.
A fictional narrative was crafted to sell the beer, with King Snedley of Hopland spending years crafting the perfect lager in his castle alongside his ragtag royal family. They even went so far as to list the Royal Embassy of Hopland in the yellow pages — 1203 Sunset Cliffs Boulevard.
No doubt every OBcean recognizes their former place of residence as the now dilapidated pink mansion that sits along Sunset Cliffs. The campaign’s original catchphrase was the “King would rather brew… than screw.” But even that was too offensive for the 1970s, so they opted for “Look for the royal family on the can.”
On top of that, the campaign was littered with other offensive stereotypes, like an overweight princess, which led to the marketing campaign’s quick demise.
Since then the beer can has become somewhat of a collectible and an urban legend whispered behind dumpsters up and down Ocean Beach’s alleyways. To celebrate the Ocean Beach artifact, the OB Historical Society is hosting “Ye Old Tale of King Snedley’s Beer and Holland Embassy on Sunset Cliffs” tonight at 7 p.m. at OB Joyfull (formerly Water’s Edge Community Center). It’s a chance to learn more about OB’s royal family and get to know the members of the historical society over a couple of beers. The best part about it is.. It’s free!
Steve Anderson
Peninsula Beacon newsletter host
Peninsula Beacon story spotlight
Point Loma’s forgotten whaling station: A little-known chapter in San Diego history
By Debbie L. Sklar • Times of San Diego
For about 15 years, Ballast Point’s peaceful shoreline once echoed with the sounds of San Diego’s early whaling industry.
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