14 Magazine Ads That Would Be Banned Today
Some vintage magazine ads were so bold, offensive, or tone-deaf that they'd never make it to print in today's world.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Flipping through old magazines can be a real eye-opener. This is not just for the fashion, but for the jaw-dropping ads. From openly sexist campaigns to cigarette promotions aimed at kids, some of these vintage ads would spark outrage now. Here are 14 magazine ads that, by today’s standards, wouldn’t stand a chance.
1. Cigarettes Marketed to Doctors
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One infamous ad featured doctors endorsing cigarette brands as “soothing” and “less irritating.” Medical professionals in white coats smiled while puffing away on their cigarettes.
2. Babies Promoting Soda
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Some 1940s ads literally had toddlers holding cola bottles. The taglines praised sugar for energy and encouraged moms to give soda early.
3. Women as Kitchen Accessories
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One notorious ad declared, “Show her it’s a man’s world,” while showing a woman kneeling beside an oven. Ads like these reduced women to household props.
4. Weight Gain Products for “Too-Skinny” Women
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Instead of losing weight, some ads pushed women to gain curves to attract men. “Men don’t like bones,” one headline read. Pills and powders promised to “plump you up.”
5. Racial Stereotypes Used for Humor
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Vintage ads often used offensive caricatures of different ethnicities to grab attention. From exaggerated features to demeaning accents, nothing was off-limits.
6. Children Lighting Cigarettes
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Yes, it happened. One jaw-dropping ad showed a young child lighting a parent’s cigarette, smiling proudly. It was meant to be cute.
7. Ads for “Cure-All” Tonics with No Proof
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Snake oil-style ads promised miracle cures for everything from baldness to anxiety. Ingredients were barely listed, and claims were wildly exaggerated.
8. “You’re Not a Man Without This Product”
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Masculinity was weaponized to sell razors, cologne, and even cars. “Real men use this” was the constant message. Anything less? Weak and unworthy.
9. Using Fear to Sell Hygiene Products
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Ads told women they’d lose love or respect if they didn’t use certain soaps or deodorants. “Don’t offend,” one ad warned ominously.
10. Smoking While Pregnant
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Some mid-century ads reassured women that smoking “keeps baby weight off” or “calms the nerves.” They even used OB-GYN quotes as fake endorsements.
11. Offensive Mental Health Tropes
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Products were marketed using phrases like “crazy,” “insane deals,” or “loony savings,” often with insensitive imagery. Mental illness was mocked for a laugh or a sale.
12. Skin Lightening Creams with Racial Overtones
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These ads promised “fairer, better” skin, clearly targeting non-white readers. The message: lighter is superior. Rooted in racism, these ads are now studied in media ethics courses.
13. Animal Abuse Played for Laughs
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Believe it or not, a few vintage ads joked about kicking or mistreating animals. “Tame her like you’d tame a wild dog” was an actual tagline.
14. Products That Promoted Spying on Women
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Binoculars, cameras, and “listening devices” were sold with creepy taglines encouraging men to spy on women. “Catch her in the act,” one ad boasted. It was all played for laughs.