Why don't you have a fag with your tape worms and lard?
Until the last few decades, "truth in advertising" was a joke and for the most part companies just said whatever they wanted to in their advertisements. Although the 1930s and earlier were especially ridiculous, we've found some pretty outrageous ads all the way up to the 1970s.
From the silly and male chauvinistic, to the dirty deceptive lies, here are some of the most ridiculous vintage print ads ever made by the Mad Men of yesteryear.
"Wrapped and Ready To Put A Smile In Your Smoking" - Chesterfield Cigarettes 1955
There's something so wrong about a smoking Santa. Hopefully Santa will also put an ashtray in your Christmas stocking.
"More Than Ever... It's Chesterfield" - Chesterfield Cigarettes 1942
With WWII on everyone's mind, this ad features Santa with a soldier's helmet on opening his big giant bag of... Chesterfields cigarettes. Ain't' Santa nice kids!
"Some day all beer cans will open this easy!" - Schlitz 1960s
Some day. We can hardly wait!
Please let us know when that day arrives.
"If your husband ever finds out you're not store-testing for fresher coffee..." - Chase & Sanborn Coffee 1950s
Is this ad endorsing domestic violence over a pot of coffee or a sex game? We can't tell.
"Blow in Her Face and She'll Follow You Anywhere" - Tipalet 1970s
Blow in her face?! Didn't realize bukake was popular in the 1970's. This ad is so wrong in so many ways.
"More Doctors Smoke CAMELS Than any Other Cigarette!" - Camel 1949
We have a correction to this ad: "More DEAD doctors smoke CAMELS than any other cigarette!"
"They're Happy Because They Eat Lard" - Viz Magazine 1992
If this family were any happier, they'd weigh over 300 pounds each and have constant heart attacks.
But unfortunately this ad isn't real. It's from the British humor magazine Viz [Issue 52, February / March 1992; Page 21].
"Let's Face It - You Could Get Hit By A BUS Tomorrow. Go On - Have A Fag!" - Viz Magazine 1992
Once the dangers of smoking became known, cigarette companies tried to put a positive spin on
smoking. This ad is a parody by Viz Magazine of those efforts. Regardless, these guys definitely make smoking look cool, right? Don't you want to friend them on Facebook?
"Eat! Eat! Eat! And Always Stay Thin! Fat the Enemy that is Shortening Your Life Banished!
How? With Sanitized Tape Worms." - Caswell's 1910s
OMG! The tape worm diet!? What's not to like? These tapeworms are Easy to Swallow, Sanitized, and there are No Ill Effects! Tapeworms truly are Friends for a Fair Form!
"You May Think She's Just Your Gal but She May Be Everyone's Pal." - US Government 1944 [ref]
That's right guys. V.D. is always a female problem!?
"For Feminine Hygiene use Lysol Always!" - Lysol 1920s
Ladies, don't douche with salt or soda. Use Lysol or else you'll be trapped in a spider web of despair and your husband will be distant and indifferent towards you.
"The Chef does everything but cook - that's what wives are for!" - Kenwood 1960s
Because women are cooking machines too!
"Vibra-Gum Massager" - Dentagene Company 1960s
We wonder if there’s another use for this… "gum massager"? BTW - anything that plugs into the wall should probably be kept out of your mouth.
"To Wake up GAY In the Morning!" - Ovaltine 19??
And you probably thought it was TANG. Now we know the Ovaltine secret! Please post a comment below if you know what year this ad was from.
"You mean a woman can open it?" - Alcoa Aluminum 1950s
Three cheers for aluminum caps! Woman can open them without a knifes, bottle openers or even a husband!
"So the harder a wife works, the CUTER she looks!" - Kellogg's PEP Cereal 1930s
"Gosh Honey, you seem, to thrive on cooking, cleaning and dusting and I'm all tuckered out by closing time. What's the answer?" Apparently fueling up your wife with the vitamins in PEP cereal.
NERD
NOTE: The 1930s were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression. In East Asia, the rise of militarism occurred.
In Western Europe, Australia and the United States, more progressive reforms occurred as opposed to the extreme measures sought elsewhere. Roosevelt's New Deal attempted to use government spending to combat large-scale unemployment and severely negative growth. Ultimately, it would be the beginning of World War II in 1939 that would end the depression.
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