Last Friday and every Friday from here until I run out, I will feature an ad from my collection.
I invite you to add a fun comment, witticism, clever remark, or observation in the comments section provided. Any comments deemed worthy of repeating will be included into this entry where all the world will see it.
It's hard to believe now but cigarette advertising in America once dominated the industry. Radio and television cigarette commercials were the norm. Every magazine had ads promoting cooler, milder, smoother, and longer lasting smokes.
Doctors were endorsing cigarettes as harmless while celebrities were identified with certain brands of cigarettes. For example, Jack Benny was Mr. Lucky Strike, his long time radio show sponsor. He once went on Fred Allen's radio show and, in a skit, had his pants removed onstage only to reveal custom boxers that read "Luckies" as a pattern!
By the time this ad was published in 1956, that had all changed. A scientific study was released showing cigarette tar caused skin cancer in mice so filter cigarettes were introduced to ease people's minds.
The Federal Trade Commission then released a series of guidelines that prohibited all references to "throat, larynx, lungs, nose or other parts of the body," or to "digestion, energy, nerves or doctors" in all cigarette advertising.
Cigarette sales were plummeting so Pall-Mall decided to remind people of the good old days:
(Click on image to enlarge)
Remember how much fun you had when you lit up? Think of all the joy you had when you inhaled that warm, rich, cigarette smoke without a filter! Give your guy or gal a carton of cigarettes for Christmas - see, that fun couple below are doing it, why not you? Smoke two, three, even FOUR packs a day and have FUN doing it!
What do you think?
Stephen says: Ah yes, nothing says Christmas like a pack of Pall Malls under the tree. Just don't light up too close to it.
Anonymous says: Give the fun of emphysema for Christmas!
Tim says: Christmas: outstanding...AND it is mild!
Creedmoor says: I remember my parents exchanging cartons of smokes with friends and co-workers for the holidays. It was standard procedure. Nothing celebrates the birth of Jesus better than a trache ho-ho-hole.
Any other opinions?
Capt
