12 Vintage Cigarette Ads They Would Never Get Away with Now
Cigarette’s aren’t bad for you, in fact they make you happier, sexier, more popular and quite possibly richer. Not true? Then take a look at these vintage ads and see what the “Mad Men” of the time tried to get away with - and did.
Before the days of ‘Fatal Attraction’ and bunny boiling, men were encouraged to believe that women would succumb to the allure of the scent of a good cigarette. These were marketed here solely on the basis that if you blow the smoke in a woman’s face she will become instantly besotted, strip off to her undergarments (OK might be an evening gown!) ad stare in to your eyes. However, even then it was a little past its sell by date as a marketing technique. Is the woman about to jump him or rip his head off? That look could mean anything!
We all love the enduring classics but if you were to see a billboard today with a woman, blackened eye and smoking, you might just think it was an advert against domestic violence. Or, if the above should be taken literally, domestic violence in a lesbian partnership caused by a disagreement over which brand belongs in the house. The two lipstick lovelies look mighty smug. It can only be hoped they had health insurance (for the cigarettes and the constant battering they obviously received). The lesbian motif is surprisingly twenty-first century. The violence and the ciggies are not.
Oh, baby! Despite the WTF expression on the baby’s face, this advert would be banned in three, two, one, if any of those ‘Mad Men’ chose to hoist it upon the public now. You and your baby son needed never to feel ‘over-smoked’ with this particular brand. No, there’s always an oxygen tent for the poor little mite, after all.
Most people are aware now that in the bad old days cigarettes were tested on dogs, and this was certainly no big secret way back then. It is surprising that even then the canine companion was the choice of mammal for this cigarette advertiser. It rather looks as if they may be escaping en masse from a laboratory where they have been cruelly experimented upon. One more jump, lads, and it’s freedom!
Of course the time came in the seventies when people knew that cigarettes were bad for you. So, of course, the health warnings were plastered all over the adverts of beautiful people enjoying their ciggies, staring at you with apparent longing and showing that tempting piece of cleavage. There is an underlying message here too that smoking is sophisticated and goes hand in hand with an opulent lifestyle. As for the brand! Salem? We can only wonder what this lady’s ‘lot’ was to be. Pass the mask! And breathe slowly!
Way back in 1951, Ronald ‘Ronnie’ Reagan was a struggling Hollywood actor and endorsing a brand of cigarettes was a way to line his pockets without feeling guilty about it, especially at Christmas time when, if we are to believe this, Mr. President-To-Be would gleefully send all his buddies out a large pack of cancer sticks. Naughty, naughty. Some prezzie from the Prezzie!
Oh, but it gets worse! Not content with selling death at Christmas via the endorsement of B-listers, these guys just had to take the fun out of the festive season altogether by giving Santa Claus a strike and a light! Plus they made the present giver look like Will Geer out of The Waltons which is just unforgivable. No doubt the makers of this ad are on a spit somewhere in the depths for their wrong doing! One wonders if they debated whether to portray Jesus and the Disciples having a postprandial cigarette after a certain supper. The rotters.
Back in 1890, Oscar may well have been at and people were going ‘wilde’ for the brand above. However, certain words were yet to change their meaning and this ad might not get widespread approval these days, from any section of the community. On a lighter note, many Americans have been puzzled in to muteness (a strange and unusual thing!) when their British friends have exhorted that they are “dying for a fag”! Ah, two nations, one language, divisions.
Less than sixty years ago, racial stereotyping was considered just fine and dandy for some cigarette manufacturers. One can argue that times - and attitudes -were different, but there is little or nothing that would attract the modern consumer to this caricature.
Female emancipation and cigarettes? Well, yes, why not! You’ve come a long way, baby, boasts this advertisement to the modern woman of the seventies. Strange how it still manages to get the patronizing ‘baby’ in at the end.
What better person to advertize cigarettes than an athlete! It is highly unlikely that you will get Michael Phelps advertising this particular product on a billboard near you soon!
One for the road? Yes, you had better switch cigarette, this advert implies, to one which will not irritate your throat. The less gullible consumers of today might well read in to this that the little tickle in this gentleman’s throat is in fact lung cancer! Never to be seen again!
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74 Comments
claris, posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
i agree with verniel, nice article, it will be banned, thanks these are vintage ads.
Drake Harlem, posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
While I do agree most of them would never fly in this day and age, there are a few I don’t think would be outright banned. Would they be unpopular and probably get bad press? Sure, but they are far from being horrible wretched sinful monstrosities that demand smiting immediately.
Unofre Pili, posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
Very unique idea for an article. You are an exciting writer RJ. Unpredictable.
Bryce, posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
I smoked for four years. According to these ads I should be younger, more jolly, presidential material, and irresistible to the ladies. Where did I go wrong? *Cough*Cough*
goodselfme, posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
these are ancient ads alright. I recall some of them.
your mom.. , posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
good job man.. great find..
Lost in Arizona, posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
Oh my gosh, where to begin with this one..lol.. The one with the baby?! Jeez..
Lauren Axelrod, posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
I think these ad’s maybe the reason why women love cowboys. The Marlboro Man!
Angel Mass, posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
What about that smoking Santa
Heart-Plant, posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
Something I find highly amusing: I am researching cigarette advertisments for my A level art project and I am now dying to try a cigarette! They must be doing something right…
Josey, posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
I have never seen these before and I can’t believe I just saw one with a baby and one with Santa. That is crazy. Wow how times have changed! I will stumble this for sure.
Justin_Bobby, posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
I love the sears catalog chick on the grass holding the cig oh so model like!! OMFG hilarious!! Think the Gay Boy would still fly though - just substitute that picture with Clay Aiken!
Bozsi Rose, posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
Santa and the baby are my favorites! Great article.
johhny yuma, posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
I remember these or at least the majority of them. I think my favorite is I would rather fight than switch.
Damon
Chuck, posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
These are almost too easy. It would be even more interesting to run contemporary ads for common products which over the next few decades are likely to be stigmatized, litigated, or consigned to nationwide prohibition. Possibilities include McDonalds (Ronald says “have a triple by-pass burger”); Coca-Cola (”I’d like to teach the world how to get diabetes”); and cell phones (”Chat your way into brain cancer.”)
RJ Evans (author), posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
Great idea Chuck - now go write it up! I always like people who put their money where their e-mouth is! I will avoid writing about it for a few weeks to give you some time! :-))
Quite honestly, tho, this was a *retro*spective - but please, look to the future! It is a very good and workable idea!
C. Jordan, posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
Interesting. I’m off for a cig now!
thestickman, posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
WTF! Oddly though, I remember ALL but a few of these ads! 
(Tells ya about how old I am)
emmi, posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
Even the Flintstones got into the ac…check out this YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAExoSozc2c
chainprayer, posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
so funny! where did you ever find these?
eddiego65, posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
You’re right. The cigarette manufacturers will never get away with these ads now. All of them placed a higher priority on the bottom line than on consumer welfare.
Katja, posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
Directed to eddiego65:
Well, with that being said, do they place more priority on consumer welfare now, anyway? Being a smoker (I love my Cowboy Killers), I will not trifle with the whole argument of “Oh, but they give you caaaaaancer”… Well, duh. If you don’t know that by now, you’re marginally retarded. Cigarettes hurt your body. The companies know this, and the smokers know this. If the tobacco companies prioritized their consumers’ health, they’d stop producing.
Lee, posted this comment on Sep 25th, 2008
Yep, what was once acceptable is now not, and it will come around again. When people wake up to the fact that they are still being manipulated into believing a pack of lies. Its not the cigarettes that are killing you, its the air you breathe, the water you drink, the additives in your food, the chemicals in your beauty products and the petrochemicals you are exposed to every single day. But be led like sheep to the slaughter, keep believing its just the evil cigarettes that are causing your ill health. One day you might all just wake up and demand some real answers instead of being placated by the “cigarettes are killing you” lie.
Verniel Cutar, posted this comment on Sep 25th, 2008
Directed at Katja:
You may be right or you may be wrong. But one thing I know, I don’t agree with involving babies in cigarette ads. 
Glynis Smy, posted this comment on Sep 25th, 2008
I enjoyed this and look forward to the new article, unless of course Chuck does take up your challenge 
! Thumbs up
tonisan60, posted this comment on Sep 25th, 2008
I hope this article remindes the world that our smpking adiction is not our fault but goverments of the world, advertising companies and cigarettes makers are guilty of our adictional desease.
Thank you for this article, my applauses for you.
Sheltonious, posted this comment on Sep 25th, 2008
Lol, those adds are pimp.
Everlast, posted this comment on Sep 25th, 2008
Wow! It’s blasphemy that I’ve enjoyed it, isn’t it??
Gale Barker, posted this comment on Sep 25th, 2008
A very entertaining article!
amyeverett, posted this comment on Sep 25th, 2008
great article
Claudine, posted this comment on Sep 25th, 2008
Ah ah ah! Gona resume my good ole smoking habit now I’ve got nothing to lose, being old enough. Thanks a lot, you revived me:) Very good ole ads.
Carl220, posted this comment on Sep 25th, 2008
I would rather have a Red Bull any day than a cigarette Good article!
joanna goddard, posted this comment on Sep 25th, 2008
hi there, i love this story! what fun to see all the old (and very irreverent) ads. i linked to you on my Glamour Magazine blog today — thanks so much! joannaxo
Ben, posted this comment on Sep 25th, 2008
Michael Phelps might not be pushing cigarettes on the kids, but he will be shilling for McDonald’s.
Six of one…
R J (Author), posted this comment on Sep 25th, 2008
Thankks to all of you!
Joanna - at you! Link up with http://webphemera.blogspot.com
It would be cool!
RJ x
Karen Gross, posted this comment on Sep 25th, 2008
We sure have come a long way! I’m glad we don’t have those ads anymore, although advertising today pushes a lot of stuff that isn’t good for us - like junk food and weight loss products.
RJ Chamberlain, posted this comment on Sep 26th, 2008
Hey R J this is great especially Santa puffing away. Classic stuff!
Melissa P., posted this comment on Sep 26th, 2008
Fantastic collection of memorabilia and mistaken ideas. If they only knew what we did now, eh?
Thanks so much for sharing this!
anonymous, posted this comment on Sep 27th, 2008
R.J. is your last name Reynolds by any chance?
Will Gray, posted this comment on Sep 27th, 2008
I love this piece. It brings back so many memories when we were actually encouraged to smoke. I think of all the poor people who were drawn into smoking by these ads and others and ended up with cancer. Great and unique!
G. Grissom, posted this comment on Sep 28th, 2008
I loved it! It defiantly took me back! I can honestly remember quite a few of those. Sad, huh? LOL!! One thing though, you forgot about the camel!! Keep your wonderful articles coming!
wtf, posted this comment on Sep 28th, 2008
Y i feel like smoking
lol
Diamond Blue, posted this comment on Sep 28th, 2008
This is a real beauty! I’m a smoker but this is something else. 100% for a tremendous effort. I not only liked it but I LOVE IT.
Shaunalynn, posted this comment on Sep 29th, 2008
I am so happy to be able to say that I do not recognize ANY of those ads. Maybe I’m not as old as I thought…
Westbrook, posted this comment on Sep 29th, 2008
Remember the colorful “Hit Parade” cigarettes? Each cigarette was a different color, something like crayons. It’s astonishing how fast the media can purshade gullible people. It reminds me of how many people vote for political candidates based solely on race, gender, charisma, and other unimportant things, rather than substantive issues. The media is very powerful, given that many people do not think.
ashley, posted this comment on Sep 29th, 2008
Just to point out… in the add with the two women-they aren’t lesbians, it’s the same woman. Apparently, her cigarettes are worth 2 black eyes.
Gail Nobles, posted this comment on Sep 29th, 2008
Great article and art.
Shergill, posted this comment on Sep 30th, 2008
Simply remarkable.
Darlene McFarlane, posted this comment on Sep 30th, 2008
Very good article.
Cindy, posted this comment on Oct 8th, 2008
Those ads are showing that smoking is cool and you’re making fun of them but, what about all of us that are trying to start smoking, where’s the help, without advertising, what brand do I choose?
I don’t want people to make fun of me but, if a big sports star smoked something, I could choose that brand. We need ads again to help us get started!
Cindy, posted this comment on Oct 8th, 2008
Oh, and by the way… if someone “blew it in my face” I’d be on my knees in 2 seconds! (as long as he was cutie!)
thestickman, posted this comment on Oct 9th, 2008
OMG you gotta see THIS image! I mean WTF were advertisers thinking???
K-risten, posted this comment on Oct 16th, 2008
What the f#$k is the first one all about…”Blow in her face and she’ll follow you anywhere”??? Hilarious but soooo wrong….
Liane Schmidt, posted this comment on Oct 24th, 2008
It’s amazing how times have changed.
Blessings.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
Brandon, posted this comment on Nov 7th, 2008
I personally like smoking. The baby is too far. But it’s a culture that many people will never understand. I’ve struck up GREAT conversations with complete strangers for no reason other than we lit up outside of a supermarket, restaurant, bar, you name it- people who never would’ve talked to me, I never would’ve talked to, inspiring people, all over putting something in a body that will die one day anyway.
Aussie Steve, posted this comment on Nov 22nd, 2008
we actually believed this stuff, ahh to the bad old days
Jacob, posted this comment on Dec 17th, 2008
Some of it is clever. Most of it is crap.
Wanda, posted this comment on Dec 18th, 2008
This sickens me i can’t believe someone or company would put ads out like this i bet you if they showed this to a school 60% would be hooked. As a teacher i say that this is cruelty and they should be punished for the wrong.
jeremy, posted this comment on Dec 18th, 2008
i smoke everyday because of these ads!
krystal , posted this comment on Dec 18th, 2008
EW I SMOKE EVERYDAY HOW COME IM NOT DIEING I LOVE TO SMOKE SMOKE SMOKE IM A CHAINSMOKER AND IM PROUD.
fjolla, posted this comment on Dec 18th, 2008
wow! i never thought i would become thjis addicted to smoking. it all started when i was 12. i saw this ad that said it would pretty much make me cool. so i decided what the heck!? might as well try it. i thought that i would be able to quit easily but i was obviously wrong. it helps me release all the stress i feel. i am a teacher and i support these ads. i think kids should be allowed to smoke if they want to !!
Matt, posted this comment on Dec 18th, 2008
I LIKE BIG BUTTS
Dhrashti , posted this comment on Jan 5th, 2009
I myself am a smoker and these are the ads that made me hooked.
I’m currently taking niccotine patches to reduce my urges.
I bet I will be a non smoker befor im 85.
Kadush, posted this comment on Jan 8th, 2009
Really? I’m sure you will. Early Congratulations!!!!!!
By the way, why were the ads like that?????
WOW Santa, is cigarettes really worth 2 black eyes?????
laura nelson, posted this comment on Jan 17th, 2009
PLEEESE find the first ad of a woman’s hand holding a smoke!!!! I need it for College reasons. I am doind an ad critique, and want to call it “A Woman’s Touch”
oops, posted this comment on Jan 17th, 2009
I meant “doing” an ad critique……..sorry
dffgfhfh, posted this comment on Jan 21st, 2009
wow…..
doododf, posted this comment on Jan 23rd, 2009
if you smoke it kills you youdo it i wont talk to you
Drunken, posted this comment on Feb 21st, 2009
this juss makes me want a cig even more,haha
jess , posted this comment on Feb 24th, 2009
did you notice that some of the ads were things that kids like to look at, they want kids to see and i think it wrong
Throat hole, posted this comment on Mar 4th, 2009
I smoke and enjoy it. I can sing out my throat hole that was drilled buy my Dr. I have throat cancer and am the toast of each party that I attend. Proud to be an American at least I know I can smoke and I proudly stand up and sing out my cool throat hole.
cool kid , posted this comment on May 24th, 2009
nice artitlce
USA SOS, posted this comment on Jun 12th, 2009
This is just nice old adds. Remember everybody got away with not so truthful adds at one time like the one about the TRUTH on TV not so long ago that said the population on the US would be dead in a year from second hand smoke and smoking.
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Verniel Cutar, posted this comment on Sep 24th, 2008
I love this article, RJ!! haha..these ads are crazy. They would get banned if they were released today.