13 Ads That Seemed Normal Back Then but Are Wild Now
These vintage ads, once accepted without question, now seem shockingly bizarre through today's lens.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Over the years, advertising has changed significantly to reflect shifting awareness and societal conventions. What used to seem normal or witty before now looks ridiculous, rude, or just plain strange. Let’s travel back in time and find 13 old advertisements that astound contemporary viewers.
1. Doctors Recommending Cigarettes
cottonbro studio on Pexels
Back in the 1940s, it wasn’t unusual to see a smiling doctor endorsing a cigarette brand. Medical authority was used to sell tobacco as “soothing” for the throat.
2. Babies and Soda
Adam Jones on Wikimedia Commons
An ad once encouraged mothers to start their babies on soda to ensure they grew up liking it. Promising “happier childhoods,” it pushed sugar-laden drinks on infants.
3. “Blow in Her Face” Cigarette Ad
Marie Pankova on Pexels
A campaign once suggested that if a woman didn’t smoke, a man should blow smoke in her face to “teach her.” Today, this is shockingly sexist and aggressive.
4. Lysol as Feminine Hygiene
Dan Dennis on Unsplash
In the 1920s, women were told to use Lysol disinfectant internally for personal cleanliness. Advertised as a marriage aid, it caused countless injuries.
5. Ads Promoting Tapeworm Diets
Mogana Das Murtey on Wikimedia Commons
Weight loss companies once marketed tapeworms as a miracle slimming tool. Swallowing a parasite was pitched as fashionable and effortless.
6. Camel’s Endorsement of “Healthy Throats”
Museum Rotterdam on Wikimedia Commons
Camel cigarettes ran ads claiming their product soothed the throats of singers and athletes. They proudly flaunted supposed “scientific” studies.
7. Cocaine Toothache Drops for Kids
DMTrott on Wikimedia Commons
In the late 1800s, advertisements promoted cocaine as a fast-acting relief for teething pain. Parents were encouraged to buy it for their little ones.
8. Gender Roles in Kitchen Appliance Ads
Yaroslav Shuraev on Pexels
Ads from the ’50s practically screamed that a woman’s ultimate joy was a new oven or blender. They played into heavy stereotypes about a woman’s place being the home.
9. “More Doctors Smoke Camels” Campaign
Pittigrilli on Wikimedia Commons
Another gem from Camel cigarettes, this ad bragged that doctors smoked more Camels than any other brand. White coats lent an absurd credibility to harmful habits.
10. Airline Stewardess “Charm School” Ads
Lukas Souza on Unsplash
Airlines once advertised flight attendants like beauty queens, focusing on looks over skills. They even ran charm schools to teach “graceful movements.”
11. Jell-O for Dinner
Gennesee Pure Food Company on Wikimedia Commons
Jell-O ads showed savory dishes like shrimp suspended in gelatin molds as classy cuisine. It was marketed as the future of dining.
12. “You Mean a Woman Can Open It?” Beer Ad
Fábio Alves on Unsplash
A beer company celebrated a can so easy to open that even a woman could manage it. The sexism wasn’t even subtle; it was the whole punchline.
13. Radium Beauty Cream
Rama on Wikimedia Commons
Products containing radioactive materials were marketed as miracle skincare solutions. Women were encouraged to smear radium-laced creams on their faces for a “healthy glow.”