Tuesday, October 23, 2012

A Brief History of Cigarette Advertising-- Part 1

From the June 15, 2009, Time Magazine by Scott Olstad and Randy James.

The article had a great "Call for Philip Morris" commercial at the top.  If you Yahoo search the headline, you can go to the New York Public Library with 10 more cigarette ads where your doctor and even your baby wanted you to smoke.

Almost as soon as there was a U.S., there has been tobacco advertising.  But new regulations on the tobacco industry may put a big crimp in the $13 billion a year business.

The first print ad for tobacco is believed to be from 1789 when what is now Lorillard Tobacco Co. advertised its snuff in a New York paper.  In the late 19th-century cigarette packs began including trading cards featuring celebrities and athletes.

Soldiers in both world wars received either free or subsidized cigarettes.  In the 40s and 50s there were catchy slogans like "Winston Tastes Good (go ahead and finish it)" and they backed popular TV shows.  NBC's Nightly News grew out of the Camel News Caravan.

The golden age of cigarette advertising started dimming in the 60s when the health risks became more clear.

More to Come.  --Cooter

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