Breck Girls
Breck shampoo was founded in 1930 by Dr. John H. Breck, Sr. in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Breck company preferred to use real women as their models for advertisements and thus began the legacy of the Breck Girls. Artist Charles Gates Sheldon drew the first Breck girls for ads and was succeeded by Ralph William Williams in 1957. After Williams death in 1976, this style of advertising ceased. Breck is also remembered for sponsorship of the America’s Junior Miss contests.
The first Breck Girl was Roma Whitney Armstrong who was 17 in 1937. Anya Taranda was also a Breck Girl in 1937. It was until 1968 that another Breck Girl was introduced – Cheryl Tiegs. This started a long list of celebrity Breck Girls. Cheryl was followed by Cybill Shepherd, Jaclyn Smith, Kim Basinger and Brooke Shields. The last Breck Girl was Erin Gray in 1976.
In 1990, Breck was sold to the Dial Corporation. The Breck Girl ads are now in the advertising history records of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
[tags]Breck Shampoo, Breck Girls[/tags]
I like your blog!
My wife worked in Provivcetown Mass. in 1963.. An artist dis a pastel picture of herand it looks a lot like ther breck girls I can’t read the artist name
Is there any lists of pictures of Breck Girls on-line..I’m looking for a picture & info on a certain Breck girl, but I don’t know her name…I think the ad was in a Redbook Magazine from the 70’s.
Marylin Skelton, who was a Breck Girl in 1948, is well, and living in Stonington, Maine.
Marilyn J. Skelton is my mother and yes, living on coastal Maine. She was picked out from behind her secretarial desk in Springfield Ma. by Charles Sheldon to be a “breck Girl”!
I miss the wholesomeness of the Breck Girl image in today’s advertising.
As an Artist, when I was young, I would draw them, and do wonderful pastel paintings of the “American Girl” image. I gave them away to anyone who wanted them. I always had friends who waited for them, who would then would frame them…different times to be sure…
The look of the Breck Girl is timeless, and sorely missed today. America has lost its “sweetness ” in the imagery of females in advertising today.
What a shame.
I am trying to find where the pastel/painting of Mae Claire Kastner would be located. I have contacted the Smithsonian Institute and they can’t find her. Anyone have a suggestion?
Was there a “Breck Girl” named Marilyn wh omight have been around in the late 50’s and early 60’s.?
Was there a “Breck Girl” named Marilyn in the late 50’s and 60’s?
Marilyn, living in Stonington, Maine is an absolute gem.
I would like to know what happened to Jean Dernago (Joy) who was the Breck Girl in 1958. Anyone know of her whereabouts?
Is there a site that has pictures of all the “Breck Girls” from its beginning to the very end? I’m curious to see how the girls styles, fashions and hairdos evolved over the time span of 5 decades. Let me know! Thanks.
Jean Dernago is my mom. She still lives in Agawam, MA. She is doing great and is 75 going on 30 lol.
i think my mom was a breck girl or at least they took headshots of her..Her name was Katherine Guarino..Do you have any photos of her???
Does anyone know the name of the late 60’s BRECK Tahitian Girl model?
I went to school with her daughters and I am trying to locate them.
I go to church with Marylin and she is just as beautiful on the inside as the outside. Just learned that she was a Breck Girl .so very proud of her.