F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company
Encyclopedia
F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company was founded in 1842 by Frederick Schaefer
, a native of Wetzlar
, Prussia
, Germany
. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1838 at age 21 and set up a brewery shop in New York, NY. The brewery get its name from Frederick and Maximilian, the brothers who founded Schaefer. There is some doubt as to whether or not he had been a practicing brewer in Germany, but there is no doubt that he was soon a practicing brewer in his adopted city. Schaefer Beer also had a brewing company in Albany, New York
, but it was closed in the mid-1970s. F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company is not related to Engels and Schaefer Brewing Company of Cedarburg, Wisconsin
.
The company sponsored the Schaefer Music Festival
at Wollman Skating Rink in New York City's Central Park from 1968–1976, hosting some of the biggest names in popular music.
At one point in the 1970s and through the middle 80s, Schaefer owned the naming rights to Schaefer Stadium, the then home of the New England Patriots. The name was changed to Sullivan Stadium in the mid 1980s when Schaefer did not renew its contract.
The company also sponsored a long-running television program
of quality first-run motion pictures
, titled "Award Theatre" (also known as "Schaefer Award Theatre"). The series presented such movies with only four commercial
interruptions. In New York City
, the program ran several times a year on WCBS-TV
through the late 50s and early 60s.
In 1981, Schaefer was acquired by Stroh Brewing Company which, in turn, was acquired by Pabst Brewing Company
in 1999. Schaefer continues today as a Pabst label. The company's preservation society, Team Schaefer, is centered in Long Beach, California
.
Frederick Schaefer
Frederick Schaefer was a German revolutionary and Union Army colonel during the American Civil War. He was a brigade commander at the battles of Pea Ridge and Stones River where he was killed in action.-Biography:...
, a native of Wetzlar
Wetzlar
Wetzlar is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany. Located at 8° 30′ E, 50° 34′ N, Wetzlar straddles the river Lahn and is on the German Timber-Framework Road which passes mile upon mile of half-timbered houses. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Lahn-Dill-Kreis on the north edge of...
, Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1838 at age 21 and set up a brewery shop in New York, NY. The brewery get its name from Frederick and Maximilian, the brothers who founded Schaefer. There is some doubt as to whether or not he had been a practicing brewer in Germany, but there is no doubt that he was soon a practicing brewer in his adopted city. Schaefer Beer also had a brewing company in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, but it was closed in the mid-1970s. F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company is not related to Engels and Schaefer Brewing Company of Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Cedarburg is a city in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States with Cedar Creek running through it. The city is bordered by the Village of Grafton to the east and the Town of Cedarburg elsewhere...
.
The company sponsored the Schaefer Music Festival
Schaefer Music Festival
The Schaefer Music Festival was a music festival which had been held in the summers between 1968 and 1976 at the Wollman Skating Rink in New York City's Central Park. The series had been sponsored by F. & M...
at Wollman Skating Rink in New York City's Central Park from 1968–1976, hosting some of the biggest names in popular music.
At one point in the 1970s and through the middle 80s, Schaefer owned the naming rights to Schaefer Stadium, the then home of the New England Patriots. The name was changed to Sullivan Stadium in the mid 1980s when Schaefer did not renew its contract.
The company also sponsored a long-running television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
of quality first-run motion pictures
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, titled "Award Theatre" (also known as "Schaefer Award Theatre"). The series presented such movies with only four commercial
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
interruptions. In New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the program ran several times a year on WCBS-TV
WCBS-TV
WCBS-TV, channel 2, is the flagship station of the CBS television network, located in New York City. The station's studios are located within the CBS Broadcast Center and its transmitter is atop the Empire State Building, both in Midtown Manhattan....
through the late 50s and early 60s.
In 1981, Schaefer was acquired by Stroh Brewing Company which, in turn, was acquired by Pabst Brewing Company
Pabst Brewing Company
Pabst Brewing Company is an American company that dates its origins to a brewing company founded in 1844 by Jacob Best and by 1889 named after Frederick Pabst. It is currently the holding company contracting for the brewing of over two dozen brands of beer and malt liquor from defunct companies...
in 1999. Schaefer continues today as a Pabst label. The company's preservation society, Team Schaefer, is centered in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
.