*Mr. and Mrs. Conrad sitting on the bumper of the advertising car. [2019.015.0084]*

In April of 1923, Mr. Claire Flint had an idea. It was a strange one but also intriguing. At a meeting of the Great Falls Kiwanis Club, he proposed the idea to his fellows. He suggested the club purchase an automobile and sell advertising spaces on it, then drive it to the upcoming international convention in Atlanta, Georgia. The idea was moved and seconded, and a committee was put together to see whether this scheme was feasible. Mr. Flint along with Mr. Leon Singer, Mr. Leonard Diehl and Mr. Howard Stanley made up the committee. Later that month, Mr. Flint reported on behalf of the committee to the officers. The idea was considered a splendid one and Mr. Flint was given authority to go ahead with the scheme.

A Buick Sedan was purchased, and advertising was sold to almost 200 companies and merchants. The $3,600 from the advertisers went to funding the trip to the convention and what was left over went to the Great Falls Municipal Band. Also, the advertisers were all put into a drawing, the winner of which would receive the car itself upon its return. Advertising for Dempsey-Gibbons fight that was to be held in Shelby, MT in July of that year graced the engine cover. On the back of the car, over 1,000 citizens placed their signatures as wishes for a successful trip. The car was a grand display representing the City of Great Falls and its tributary country. Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Conrad were to be delegates for the Conference, with Mr. Walter Thisted to drive them.

*Negative of people looking at the 1923 Kiwanis advertising car. [2019.015.0075]*

They began their journey on May 8, setting out for Lewistown. It was a slow start as Montana did not have paved roads or even graveled roads in places. Mr. Thisted began a diary of the trip, but he gave up on it on the 19th. As they got into more populated areas, their travel progress increased, but also their stops. They did stay over a day in some cities to be guests of Kiwanis Clubs along the way and saw many sights while being a sight themselves. On today’s roads, the trip would have taken 33 hours and just under 2,200 miles to reach Atlanta, GA, but remember this is 1923. They arrived on time and enjoyed the convention.

*Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Conrad and Walter Thisted with the 1923 Kiwanis Advertising Car. [2019.015.0023ab]*

On the trip back, they took a different route to show off the car more and visit other cities. Mr. Conrad and Mr. Thisted, being not only Kiwanians but Shriners as well, detoured from the planned return route out to Washington D. C. to attend the national Shriners’ convention as well. After 3 days (June 5-7) at that convention, they began to make their way home. From D. C. they headed to Toledo, OH, then Detroit, making a stop at the Buick factories in Flint, MI where the vehicle received special attention. From there it was to Chicago, where crowds caused traffic issues everywhere it parked, and then Minneapolis. For the last leg of the trip, they went to Fargo and Minot, ND before touching Montana soil again. It was heading for Glasgow when finally, the good luck ran out.

*Negative of the advertising car outside of the Mitchell Corn Palace in South Dakota. [2019.015.0079]*

On June 24, after continuous rain throughout the northern part of Montana for days, the 3 occupants of the famed car were forced to abandon it. The roads were had become washed out and impassible. The Conrads and Mr. Thisted returned to Great Falls by train that night, the car set to follow by train later. A truly disappointing ending to a grand journey.

In the end, the car covered 19 states, 7,000 miles and was seen by hundreds of thousands of people over the span of its 7-week journey. When the car finally returned to Great Falls, the drawing was held and Mike Mullen, owner of the Mikehasit clothing store, was the winner. He happily displayed the car out front of his store and used it in his ads.

What happened next? Well, the car was lent to the Kiwanis again in September that year to drive it to the Custer Battlefield Highway Association National Convention in Sioux Falls, SD. Mr. Mullen closed his store in October the same year. From what could be found, we believe Mr. Mullen moved away some time in the late 1920’s. He passed away in Ashbury, New Jersey in 1960. There is no indication as to whatever happened to the vehicle.