The ads in This Week were copious and varied. Unlike the Sunday Times Magazine few luxury goods were advertised and This Week carried a lot more food product ads than its competition. Ads for women’s undergarments, hygiene and deodorant products, drug store items such as over-the-counter medications and first aid treatments, and household items like toilet tissue, bleach and detergent also were abundant. Like The Times, This Week ran a directory of private schools and camps.
One of the more interesting food placements was a full page ad for Maxwell House Coffee with a reproduction of a painting, Arbor Day, by a prominent artist of the day, Doris Lee. Although she had studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and had started as an abstract artist, by 1946 Lee painted in a folk art style reminiscent of Grandma Moses, then at the peak of her popularity. Lee also did magazine illustrations including several commissions from Life; a recent series on Hollywood for the magazine included her behind-the-scenes look at the filming of The Harvey Girls. In April of 2008 a Manhattan gallery that specialized in forgotten artists of mid-twentieth century had a show of her works. An art critic for The New York Times wrote at the time that Lee was worth a look today, for her historical importance if nothing else.
A couple of food ads carried recipes. Shefford Cheese presented recipes for scalloped potatoes using grated Chevel (their trademark) cheese and Blue Bonnet margarine. Shefford pre-dated Kraft- in fact J.L. Kraft had worked for Shefford before starting his own company--but in 1944 it was swallowed up by Standard Brands. The Betty Crocker ad included a recipe for shrimp au gratin made with American cheese and white sauce. The ad suggested serving it with a salad bowl of watercress or lettuce with pineapple cubes or grapefruit sections topped with French dressing. The ad also recommended a quick cinnamon bread (recipe included) made with Bisquick.