How recently have you seen an advertisement that made you cringe? Some of the advertisements you’ll see here would never be allowed in this day and age. So, if you think commercials these days are nothing to write home about, brace yourself for some old-fashioned ads that will make your skin crawl!
You Should Keep Them Close To Your Feet
If there was ever an advertisement that represented misogynistic mentality, this is it. The idea behind this commercial was undoubtedly to present a woman who was so taken with the man’s choice of shoe that she couldn’t take her gaze away from it. While that is all well and good (albeit it does demonstrate a lack of imagination), the phrase is clearly misogynistic. The tagline “Keep her where she belongs” has nothing to do with selling the product and can only be interpreted to mean that women should always be at a man’s feet. Though we have come a long way since these types of advertisements were widespread, we still have a long way to go.
You Should Keep Them Close To Your Feet
Avoid Mental Overload
Though new items are introduced on a daily basis, there is a handful that has stood the test of time. Even though they may have had to change their marketing techniques and branding, those products are still household staples around the world. Surprisingly, Coca-initial Cola’s advertising campaign has radically altered its strategy. Even though Coca-Cola is one of the most well-known brands today, when it was launched in the 1890s, it was touted as a “Brain Tonic.” According to the advertisement, the beverage could ease headaches and cure mental and physical weariness.
Avoid Mental Overload
Wife Spanking; 1950s
This image was influenced by 1950s fashion. Men could spank their spouses, as evidenced by an opinion column on the website dailymail.co.uk. Four males interviewed for the article concur that it is acceptable to beat wives for making mistakes. This image depicts the husband whipping his wife for purchasing stale coffee. This advertisement reflects the historical narrative that women are second-class citizens.
Wife Spanking; 1950s
Man’s World; 1950s
When the advertisement is titled it’s a man’s world, you can anticipate its content. This advertisement for Van Heusen ties took an unusual approach. The man is wearing a tie and sitting on the bed, which makes no sense because who goes to bed wearing a tie? The situation deteriorates from here. A housewife on her knees serves a gentleman by placing a delicious meal on his lap. Who doesn’t like breakfast in bed? However, the advertisement, like others on this list, depicts women as second-class citizens.
Man’s World; 1950s
Mr. Leggs Floors Tiger Lady; 1960s
OMG! This is incorrect on numerous levels. The advertisement says that the pants were so enticing that they stunned a tiger lady. The graphically violent advertisement delivers the incorrect impression about what is socially acceptable. Observe the wretched, blazing visage of the tiger lady. How does a consumer relate this to pants? They intended to make a “lady killer” advertisement, however, this falls within the heading of “violence against women.” Given that the 1960s were a time when women fought for their rights, this advertisement appears to warn men that wearing Mr Leggs trousers will help keep women down. Gross.
Mr. Leggs Floors Tiger Lady; 1960s
The Dummy’s Guide To Getting The Guy
As can be seen, many advertisements of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s targeted women in the hopes that scare tactics would increase sales. This old advertisement does not mince words regarding their opinion of women and their intelligence. The deodorant advertisement implies that anyone who uses the product must be smarter than the woman depicted, meaning that anyone who does not use it must be less clever. In reality, the underlying meaning of “beautiful but stupid” is that women, in general, are too stupid to think for themselves and will buy whatever they are told to.
The Dummy’s Guide To Getting The Guy
Exclusively For You
Advertisers have benefitted from the disparities between men and women for decades, but they often emphasize the sexes’ desires and needs rather than their physical characteristics. This started to alter in the 1960s. Women were beginning to assert themselves, prompting businesses to alter their marketing strategies in an effort to win them over. The problem was that males continued to make decisions. This 1965 advertisement for a girl-sized pen for a girl-sized hand made a poor attempt to appear to support the women’s movement, but the underlying message is that women are smaller and therefore cannot wield a man-sized writing instrument.
Exclusively For You
Child Endangerment
We have no idea how this advertising campaign made it to print. It is essential to run your ideas by your coworkers to ensure they make sense, as it is understandable that the creative minds behind marketing strategies can sometimes become stalled. Clearly, this was not done, as this advertisement makes no sense. Today, this advertisement proposing that a baby shave itself would attract a deluge of criticism. In addition to the fact that a youngster has no need for a razor, the consequences of giving a baby a sharp instrument are incomprehensible. Even naive individuals are aware of this!
Child Endangerment
Completely Dispatchable
The most effective advertising campaigns typically feature a catchphrase that is simple for customers to remember. This corporation changed the expression “the best things in life are free” to “the best things in life are wrapped in cellophane.” They deserve credit for their creativity, right? The ingenuity has gone a bit too far. Instead of wrapping a wonderful gift basket or box of chocolates with their product, they felt that wrapping a baby in plastic would be a tremendous hit. Although the stork is a nice addition, the advertisement should include a caution stating, “This product is not intended for wrapping humans.”
Completely Dispatchable
Balls
Tennis balls everybody!! One would assume this is an advertisement for a seedy club or a “all-nude-tennis” match. But no! It is advertising for a computer game. A computer game that simulates tennis. Tennis match. In a computer system. In the eighties. What should one anticipate before beginning to play this game with 1980s-era visual capabilities? Why would you use this image to market a computer game about tennis?
Balls
A Cure In A Bottle
There is nothing better than unwinding with a glass of wine at the end of a long, tiring day, right? While a glass of wine might be a stress-reliever, it is not advised for those experiencing depression because it can be a depressant. Today, we know all of these characteristics, but throughout the 1940s and 1950s, depression was rarely discussed. Although depression was rarely acknowledged, numerous advertising campaigns claiming to have discovered a solution incorporated the topic. This advertisement claimed that their wine could treat not only depression but also the flu and hangovers. The hair of the dog may bring you some cheer, but it is in no way a cure.
A Cure In A Bottle
Healthy Eating
People in the 1950s and 1960s were so clueless, weren’t they? I could appreciate the original intent behind this bizarre advertisement, but guys… there is no way this advertisement could ever pass muster today. I wonder where these children are now and if they ever view this image with fear. Alternatively, they may have it enlarged and hung on canvas in the center of their living room.
Healthy Eating
Targeted Advertising
Advertisers maximize their return on investment by targeting specific demographics. Despite the fact that this has been shown to enhance sales, some marketing tactics have proven to be insensitive. Now, in the age of social media, insensitive advertisements are instantly called out, prompting corporations to take immediate changes to placate consumers. In contrast, this was not the case in the 1960s. Lane Bryant advertised a free fashion catalog for girls size 8.5 to 14.5 and teens size 10.5 to 16.5, although they used the term “chubbies” to describe them. Although they were attempting to be inclusive, their language was disrespectful and incorrect.
Targeted Advertising
Smoking (Hot)
Seriously? Okay, it’s possible that we don’t know what we’re talking about and that these advertisements were effective. Tiparillo designed advertisements for young and female smokers. Should a guy offer a lady a Tiparillo was their primary slogan. And they employed this slogan in nearly every profession where women are found. As you can see, the problem was that they depicted women as being attractive in every occupation.
Smoking (Hot)
Pyrex Offers Wedded Bliss
When a couple marries, they do so with the goal that their union would continue forever, and it appears that the renowned company Pyrex was aware of this. Pyrex is a respectable brand that has existed for eons, yet this old advertisement contains claims that the company may not be able to maintain. The slogan “Successful marriages begin in the kitchen” implies that a newlywed couple who utilizes their product will certainly remain together. It goes on to suggest that “Pyrex will make failure-free cooking simple,” implying that marriages are doomed if the wife’s cooking fails. Way to apply pressure, Pyrex.
Pyrex Offers Wedded Bliss
Hot Dogs!
Here is a typical advertisement for hotdogs that you would see at football games, baseball games, and other sporting events where large crowds would gather to purchase hotdogs. Due to the fact that the hot dog was the go-to snack for those who could not afford more than a hot dog, there were hundreds of advertisements touting the hot dog as a family favorite during the Great Depression.
Hot Dogs!
Pin-Up(ski)
This is the Russian version of posters featuring pinup beauties. The local party representative of the federal government issued these posters. In addition, they were sent to garages and other locations where Americans placed pinup ladies. Obviously, the distinction is that these are not photographs, but rather illustrations. And in Soviet Russia, always relate everything to the industrial workforce. Even pinup girls.
Pin Up(ski)
Postage Meter; 1947
A woman appears uninterested in what the salesman is attempting to sell. The advertisement implies that the woman was hesitant to purchase the device because she believed it would be difficult to operate. This diminishes women’s capabilities. The salesman eventually persuaded her to try it, and she loved the results. This appears to indicate that women do not know what is best for them until men instruct them. The advertisement is for a postage meter, but the headline wonders whether it is OK to murder a lady. This is a couple’s joke, however, it seems inappropriate and in poor taste when discussing postage meters.
Postage Meter; 1947
Save Your Sun-Starved Tot
When determining which demographic to target, advertising agencies favor children’s items. Why do you ask? Because parents are always looking for the next best way to ensure their children’s happiness and health. Although it is wonderful that the majority of parents are prepared to spend their hard-earned money on their children, some products may do more damage than good. This 1930s advertisement for sunlight recommends that infants should sleep under its rays. The phrasing even implies that parents are depriving their infants of an essential nutrient, despite the fact that the substance might be extremely detrimental to an infant’s skin. Wild, right?
Save Your Sun Starved Tot
The Wholesome DDT
Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, also known as DDT, was a widely lauded pesticide when it was initially introduced to the globe due to its effectiveness at eliminating mosquitoes. The odorless, tasteless, and colorless chemical was deemed amazing when it was discovered that fruits, vegetables, and cattle grew larger on farms that utilized it. In this vintage advertisement, the manufacturer pitched DDT as a safe and healthy cleaning solution, despite its widespread usage as an insecticide. 1972 was an unpleasant awakening for consumers when the EPA declared DDT a human carcinogen after realizing its terrible environmental impacts.
The Wholesome DDT
Spoil Your Wife
Throughout the 1900s, advertisers targeted both men and women with ads for home appliances. They acknowledged that although women will be the primary users of products such as vacuum cleaners and ovens, it was males who made the final purchasing choice. In this advertisement for a soil-free oven, the advertiser attracts the attention of males by referring to the product as a “wifesaver” and appeals to women by emphasizing how much simpler their lives would be if they owned one. In the past, a lady who received a new oven or vacuum was deemed spoiled, whereas a spouse today would have to provide an explanation.
Spoil Your Wife
Being Beautiful Causes Pain
Advertisers have been promising for almost a century that their products will make women appear younger, thinner, and more attractive. It’s an industry worth billions of dollars, for crying out loud. This is unlikely to ever change, but happily, the quality of the products has considerably increased. While this 1890 advertisement is touting a chin reduction and beautifier, the gadget resembles a medieval torture device. The tagline “Curves of Youth” promises aged women that they can once again appear as they did when they were younger. The same message is conveyed in advertisements for plastic surgery, despite the fact that it would not be effective in the modern marketplace.
Being Beautiful Causes Pain
An Antiquated Notion
This advertisement would likely knock the company out of business if it were released in the present day. During the 1940s and 1950s, this marketing tactic was wildly popular among executives, who we can safely presume were men. Many advertising efforts promoted the notion that women belonged in the kitchen, serving their guy, or examining advice on how to acquire and keep a man. Today, this message would elicit a backlash not only from women who are outraged but also from men who are irritated by the implication that they are incapable of taking care of themselves. We have come a very long way.
An Antiquated Notion
Picnic, Gil Style
This is one of the several illustrations created by Gil Elvgren. He was renowned not for his artistic masterpieces, but for his pin-up art. He could paint women in daily settings so that they appeared “inviting” Clearly, Elvgrens’ works would not have been acceptable today, as they were all created for men’s enjoyment. We do not know whether he ever regretted being recognized for this rather than his art, but what’s done is done.
Picnic, Gil Style
Wasted Charms
Since no one enjoys a foul odor, it is safe to assume that the majority of the population uses deodorant. And because deodorant is one of those goods for which consumers develop brand loyalty once they find one that works, these businesses depend on return customers. In recent decades, executives have realized this and discovered that they can reduce their advertising budget. Historically, deodorant was a competitive market, thus things were conducted differently. Due to the intense rivalry, deodorant firms’ advertising strategies targeted women and played on their anxieties. In this advertisement, it is emphasized that even if you were gorgeous and personable, you were eliminated from consideration if you smelled bad.
Wasted Charms
Cars Even A Woman Could Drive
Automobiles, like home appliances, are advertised to men and women in very different ways. Traditionally, males were in charge of purchasing a new vehicle for the family, but women had certain expectations to make their lives easier. Trunk space for groceries, roomy and secure for the children, and, of course, fuel economy to stick to the family’s budget for transportation. By the 1960s, women were becoming increasingly independent, and many homes opted to have two vehicles. Although this advertisement for the Mini automatic appears to be directed towards ladies, it is actually directed at their husbands. Men would be more concerned that their wives couldn’t operate a standard-sized car if they saw a lady who appears anxious and then heard that the vehicle is easy to operate.
Cars Even A Woman Could Drive
KFC – A Woman’s Best Friend
When Kentucky Fried Chicken first opened its doors, women were supposed to stay at home, care for the family, and have a home-cooked meal ready for their husbands when they returned from work. Due to the novelty of fast food as a concept, KFC’s advertising campaign targeted weary housewives. Although the advertisement plays into the assumption that women should prepare meals for their husbands, the language seems to sympathize with the burden of their domestic duties. Colonel Sanders’ declaration that he is “a woman’s best friend” and reference to “weary wives and working women” show that he understands their circumstances and desires to assist. It must have succeeded, as KFC has had tremendous success since its founding.
KFC A Woman’s Best Friend
Iver Johnson Revolvers Safe For Children; 1904
This may or may not be the last advertisement featuring children in a disagreeable manner, but it is the last that appeared prior to the 1920s. Iver Johnson asserts that his revolvers are safe to handle and simple to shoot and kill. The trigger featured a manual safety, and advertisers believed it would be a good idea to depict a little girl handling the firearm in their advertisement. Whether or whether the gun has a hammer, it is unsettling to see a young child handling one since accidents can occur.
Iver Johnson Revolvers Safe For Children; 1904
Superficial Suggestions
You may note that many vintage advertisements provide women with advice on how to become more attractive to men. Surprisingly, many of them provide unsolicited advice instead than focused on product promotion. This vintage advertisement depicts a gorgeous woman sitting at her vanity and glancing coyly over her bare shoulder at her presumed male audience. The accompanying text states, “Most men ask, ‘Is she beautiful?’ rather than ‘Is she intelligent?'”, implying that men are attracted to beauty rather than intelligence. So, please explain what they are advertising.
Superficial Suggestions
Continue Your Excellent Work
Anyone who has performed spring cleaning will tell you that you work up a good sweat! It’s a win-win situation, as you are simultaneously removing cobwebs and burning off some carbohydrates. Evidently, advertising executives learned of this and chose to leverage it in their marketing effort. While the slogan “Keep up with the house while you lose weight” implies that being busy is good for your health, it also implies that keeping the house clean and being slim are goals a wife should pursue.
Continue Your Excellent Work
Sex Sells
The promotional strategies employed for a product are unquestionably contingent on the intended audience. If the target market is men, nine times out of ten the advertisement will feature a sexy woman modelling with the product. This practice has persisted for more than a century because, as we all know, sex sells. The intriguing aspect of this strategy is that, in most situations, the attractive woman overshadows the goods. Consider this 1959 advertisement for a color projector slide. The emphasis is on Sabrina and her large bust, while the product itself is barely mentioned. We understand that a gorgeous lady would attract a man’s attention, yet it is surprising how obvious this strategy is.
Sex Sells
Candy Coated Advertising
Everyone enjoys sweets, but we all agree that it should be consumed in proportion. Parents are keenly aware of the negative side effects their children face when they encounter a sugar high. Sugar is a sweet treat, but when consumed by young children, it causes a massive energy rise followed by a quick drop. This advertisement demonstrates that the corporation was aware of the energy boost sweets offers. Instead of concealing it from consumers, they capitalized on it by convincing moms that they needed to feed their children sweets in order to increase their energy levels. They went so far as to say that a “smart mother” would purchase this item.
Candy Coated Advertising
At Your Service
With so many options available, it is tough for the airline sector to acquire loyal clients. While many firms centered their advertising slogans on their reasonable prices, destinations, or onboard comfort, this one went on an entirely another path that began a trend. While this antique advertisement is not even grammatically acceptable, it was part of a marketing strategy that targeted business travellers (remember sex sells). Instead of emphasizing their rates and comfortable seats, they emphasized their attractive flight attendants to sell more tickets.
At Your Service
Back To The Wifely Duties
In the 1950s and early 1960s, all financial choices were decided by the husband in the household. In the majority of households, the wife would need her husband’s permission before making a purchase. As a result, many advertisements that should have targeted women were instead aimed at men. This advertisement, in particular, shows my point brilliantly. In an effort to promote anti-nausea medication to pregnant women suffering from morning sickness, the advertising executives developed a campaign aimed at their husbands. The advertisement promises that if the expecting mother’s husband buys her this medication, she would once again be able to prepare him breakfast.
Back To The Wifely Duties
Fresh Breath Equals A Stable Marriage
In an effort to promote their wares, the advertising professionals targeted males with sexual imagery and women with warnings. Warnings that they may never marry, that they must have an orderly home in order to keep their husbands and that their husbands may cheat if they do not utilize the product they are marketing. This old advertisement for a breath freshener makes it abundantly obvious that a man will cheat if he is unhappy at home. The slogan “Men are funny that way” implies that adultery is not only unavoidable if the wife is imperfect, but that it is also understandable.
Fresh Breath Equals A Stable Marriage
Always A Bridesmaid
The message in this antique advertisement may have inspired the idiom “Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.” As previously stated, advertising businesses revolved around the idea that every woman’s dream was to be a devoted wife who meets all of her husband’s wants. The 1928 advertisement implies that a woman with terrible breath could never be a bride, as though this were the ultimate aspiration of all women. While halitosis is something that should be addressed, implying that a woman may be denied her happily-ever-after is extremely tacky in today’s society.
Always A Bridesmaid
Catch You A Man
Thankfully, in today’s society, women do not have to capture a man in order to be deemed successful, but this was not always the case. Numerous antique advertisements targeted ladies with “helpful tips” to avoid spinsterhood. Where do we even begin with this old advertisement? It is so outdated that one is practically compelled to chuckle. The first thing you see is a bride chasing a guy with the statement “It’s leap year girls,” implying that this is the year to get married because you have an extra day. Because the majority of women believe that the path to a man’s heart is through his stomach, the doughnuts are certain to work! And last, the chain and ball behind her back, implying that marriage is essentially a jail.
Catch You A Man
The Perfect Gift
During the 1950s and 1960s, testimonials were a popular marketing strategy. Consumers were receptive to messages from “happy customers,” despite the likelihood that the wording for the advertisements was prepared by the advertising agency. This antique advertisement genuinely induces sympathy for pregnant Jean. In it, her husband gushes about how happy, beautiful, and expectant his wife is with her brand-new washer and dryer. As if a woman experiencing the difficulties of pregnancy would welcome the addition of additional responsibilities to her list. A gift that would be greatly appreciated would be if her husband did the washing himself.
The Perfect Gift
Who Wears The Pants In The Family?
You may be familiar with the outdated notion that men should “wear the pants” in the home. In the past, this was an unspoken norm between a wife and her husband; however, this is no longer the case. This advertisement from the 1940s laid out the “rule” for everyone to see. Granted, in those days wives sometimes shopped for their husbands’ clothing, and blue-collar workers frequently wore denim to work. However, one Lee advertisement went one step further by using the statement “I don’t wear the pants, but I buy them,” implying that this specific lady is quite content to let her husband make all the decisions.
Who Wears The Pants In The Family
Pointing Out Imperfections
As previously said, advertisements directed at women were full of caution, but they also represented what would be perceived as the ideal wife while highlighting her flaws. This strategy encompassed all women, regardless of their appearance, as potential targets. This advertisement depicts a woman who appears to be the ideal wife, organizing and executing a nice picnic for her husband in the park, while being joyful, healthy, and willing to please. Instead of appreciating the moment, the husband appears distressed by the minor holes in her dress. In essence, the advertisement is telling women that their husbands would look down on them if they do not purchase the advertised fasteners.
Pointing Out Imperfections
Idle Threats
Now we must also discuss the firms whose advertising campaigns went for the metaphorical throat. Playing on women’s insecurities appeared to be a trend in the breath freshener industry, as the majority of advertisements in this field feared the dreaded “other woman.” With the phrase “There’s another woman waiting for every man, and she’s too smart for morning breath,” this advertisement laid it all on the table. This ruthless strategy not only employs fear tactics to sell its product but also sows distrust in the homes of its consumers.
Idle Threats
How The French Do It
While the United States has produced some cringe-worthy advertisements, they simply cannot compete with the French. Despite the fact that the French seem to be more progressive when it comes to gender norms, this advertisement demonstrates that they lack respect for animals. The objective of this graphic advertisement is to promote fresh sausage by depicting a pig slaughtering himself while smiling. Not only is the advertisement extremely unappealing, but it also begs the question of whether the French treat their animals responsibly. With organizations like PETA, this marketing plan would generate a great deal of opposition in the present day.
How The French Do It
Physician Approved
Thankfully, as gender roles have evolved, companies have had to modify their advertisements to be more courteous to women. Certain products have lost their brilliance, requiring them to make additional adjustments. Due to the now-recognized health risks of smoking, cigarettes are no longer as “cool” as they previously were. In the past, smoking was widespread among all socioeconomic classes, ages, and demographics. Because cigarettes were so popular, tobacco companies frequently promoted to persuade smokers to change brands. Particularly, this advertisement claimed that Camels were the cigarette of choice among physicians, meaning that they were the healthier option.
Physician Approved
Doctor Recommended
Camel took its marketing strategy one step further by praising the depicted physician, indicating that the preceding advertisement had positive consumer feedback. It was quite evident that this scientist, diplomat, and affable, empathetic individual was a proud camel smoker. It would seem absurd today for a physician to be a spokeswoman for cigarettes, but at the time, little was understood about the consequences of smoking. The bulk of the people engaged in smoking cigarettes as a social activity. Since the awareness that smoking is addicting and causes cancer, we rarely see advertisements.
Doctor Recommended
Advertising Advice
Although it may seem odd to take counsel from a marketing effort, there was no shortage of advertisements that did so. This advertisement provided dating tips while simultaneously promoting smoking and misogynistic attitudes. A true return on investment, so to speak. Despite the slogan’s assurance that “if you blow in her face, she will follow you anywhere,” this is plainly not sensible advise. While the advertisement implies that ladies adore having smoke blown in their faces and find it really appealing, rest assured that they will likely think it to be an extremely disrespectful gesture.
Advertising Advice
Santa Himself Recommends
Oftentimes, competing businesses may imitate the advertising tactics of their competitors for their own benefit. Although this is not the most ethical approach, if it promotes their business, anything goes. Consider this advertisement from Lucky Strike. Because the Camel brand smokes’ doctor ad was so successful, they planned to surpass it with a testimonial from Santa Claus. Santa Claus was a huge fan of Lucky Strike cigarettes, even urging they be given as Christmas gifts. Obviously, this would not fly in today’s society, but it demonstrates that nothing is off-limits when it comes to advertising.
Santa Himself Recommends
Begin When They Are Young
When it comes to soft drinks, it’s reasonable to say that this beverage is one of the most popular in the world; however, it doesn’t mean that it’s the healthiest option. Because of the high sugar and caffeine content, nutritionists believe that Coke and other sodas should not be consumed on a daily basis. In this vintage advertisement, it appears that the corporation is attempting to persuade parents to provide their product to their children during their “early formative years” in order to ensure they have a better start in life. That is, in order for your child to be their best, they must drink Coca-Cola.
Begin When They Are Young
Morning Mouth Masquerade
We can all agree that when a person first wakes up, their breath does not smell the best. Regardless of your dental hygiene routine, brushing your teeth before kissing your lover may be a nice idea on some mornings. Morning mouth is normal and cannot be prevented. According to this old ad from 1953, if a lady has morning breath, she will lose her guy. That’s right, they appear to have discovered a treatment for early morning halitosis, and if you buy their product, you’ll have a happy marriage. While it may seem absurd today, because of advertisements like these, women were afraid that if they didn’t buy these things, they would end up living the life of a spinster.
Morning Mouth Masquerade
Schlitz Beer; 1950
This ad was undoubtedly meant to be hilarious, and in the 1950s, it might have been. The lady in the photo is a homemaker who is cooking. As black smoke rises from the pan in her fingers, she appears to have spoiled the supper. She is clearly unhappy, but her husband wraps his arm around her and assures her that, while the dinner is ruined, they still have the beer. This film plays on 1950s preconceptions of the ideal female being a pious housewife while the man was the breadwinner. The man was also in charge of everything, so it appears condescending that instead of getting angry, he applauds that the beer is not spoiled.
Schlitz Beer; 1950
Wheaties; 1940s
This one is set during World War II. This cartoon is about some white American troops who discover a box of Wheaties while hiking through the woods. Because all of the soldiers are white, this advertisement has racial overtones. This advertisement branded the cereal as the breakfast of champions, which is difficult to resist. This was designed to capitalize on the patriotic fervor of the time, but it was a poor advertisement.
Scare Techniques
Scare Techniques
Believe it or not, here’s another classic ad about the problems of morning breath, but in this case, the message (or threat) effectively suggests that if a wife’s breath doesn’t smell like mint, another woman will steal her spouse away. It appears that men in the 1940s and 1950s struggled with this particular difficulty. To be honest, you don’t even need to read the language to understand what the ad is saying; the image is worth a thousand words. This attractive fella clearly has a wandering eye, and his wife is concerned that she will be replaced. Talk about inciting dread in their readers; thankfully, scare tactics like this are no longer used.
Scare Tactics