Elegant women, strong cowboys, powerful executives, and Fred Flintstone smoked. Shouldn’t that make you want to, too?
Cigarette ads once ran as frequently as alcohol ads run today. Today we see a voluptuous woman ordering a Disarono at a male-packed bar or a seemingly over-worked CEO kicking it on the beach with a freshly-cracked Corona, but not too long ago similar ads were run to encourage smoking. Although cigarette advertising seems in the not-so-distant past, taking a look at the ads themselves seems surprisingly shocking as we now live in a world that slaps “SMOKING KILLS” and pictures of black lungs on the packs themselves. Take a peek into the University of California, San Francisco Tobacco Industry Videos Collection to recall the days.
Phillip Morris sponsored I Love Lucy which scored them a pitch from Lucille Ball herself. “Don’t say cigarette! Say Phillip Morris,” Lucy exclaims to Ricky.
Similarly, Winston sponsored The Flintstones. The pitch comes in the form of a “Winston break” Fred and Barney take while their wives run around doing housework.
Pouncing on the untapped market of female smokers, Virginia Slims was always known as the woman’s cigarette. Here, it is marketed as empowering: “You’ve come a long way, baby. You’ve got your own cigarette now, baby.”
Marlboro, on the other hand, is the man’s cigarette. Out in Marlboro Country, this cigarette is perfect for the rugged cowboy who can wrangle wild stallions.
Wild horses were apparently quite the draw for male smokers. Mustang had a similar campaign, including the slogan, “If you think it would take wild horses to make you change, you’re right! You’re ready for Mustang!”
This Newport ad is a great example of the jingles and and songs used in all kind of cigarette ads.
In a much different approach, this ad shows the good people behind the tobacco and pipe industry, reaching for feelings of community and patriotism through the business of tobacco.
To hearken back some more, check out the UCSF Tobacco Industry Audio Recordings Collection and visit their homepage.
–Cara Binder
LIVESTRONG said
Nice collection. Can you believe how far we’ve come in 40 years? Got more work to do though.
akb said
Admiral Cigarette from Edison in 1897.
k.d. said
We really haven’t come very far since cig ads were banned. Look at all the hard liquor ads on TV now, especially during sporting events.
Ryan B said
I agree with k.d. We will not have come far enough until every aspect of every person’s life is looked over by the government.
Doug said
In the event the USA truely has a government of the people, by the people for the people. Wouldn’t we simply be looking over ourselves?
Ryan B said
HA HA HOO HA HA HEEHEE he…
That ain’t been true in over a century.
doug said
smoking sucks
Sam said
I once wrote a whole college paper, basically entirely on this collection. Thanks, these are great!
Bruce said
All this talk makes me want a cigarette….I think I will….thanks!
Prettyboy said
Not many fools left that enjoyed smoking.
Nathan said
A government by the people and for the people, hmmmm.
Too bad that a large part of these people’s decisions are based on what the government, amongst others, feeds the people every darn day.
Besides that, a lot of people I met while living in the USA haven’t got a real clue of what’s happening in their own country and are totally clueless to what is happening in other countries and these two combined, to my humble opinion, does not contribute to form an objective decision comes election day. In other words, I see it more as a government by the government and for the government (as most governemnts are, democracy is a farce)
As you all seem to have access to the internet, I’d say, educate yourselves, read foreign news once in a while.
Nathan said
And yes, smoking does suck.
Ryan B said
If the people in the U.S. woke up 90% of congress would be replaced in the next couple of elections and we would see a a president elected from a third party.
I do read forein news and its just as skewed as it is in the U.S. The real problem is sheeple, no matter the news source you have to use your head and ask what the source’s agenda is.
torcelli said
Where is, alas, the right of smokers to enjoy the pleasure of sexy cigarettes. Women used to look sexy when holding a cigar, and men looked powerful and arrogant, too.
Besides, who speaks on behalf of the tobacco workers, mainly families who make their living with tobacco industry?
What if they (smokers)decide to live altogether in a caribbean island?
formersmoker said
I can really recommend smoking e-cigarettes to try to quit smoking! Me and my wife are trying to stop using ecigs.
Cedric Solidon said
Let me just add that before focusing on the male market, Marlboro was seen as a cigarette brand for women.
Thus, the Marlboro Man and Marlboro Country were created to change that image.
me said
There is almost nothing sexier. Unfortunately, there is also nothing stupider.
It is a shame that it is addictive.
More then likely wouldn’t be seen as attractive, if it wasn’t in some way a vice. Kind of like, an empty headed, emotionally preturbed, histronic actress.
matt said
i liked the chesterfield ads they used to play on dragnet (1950s)
they used to have a doctor in the ads that would say that after 6 months of smoking chesterfields resulted in no ear , nose or throat problems.
pretty amusing.
jhonptr said
hemmmmm………..yehh!!!!!!!
joel said
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh yeahhhhhhhhhhhh baby