15 TV Commercials From the 1970s That Would Never Air Now

Television commercials in the 1970s often reflected social norms that would now be unacceptable. From cigarette ads glamorizing addiction to sexist and racially insensitive campaigns, many of these commercials reveal the cultural blind spots of their era. They serve as historical reminders of how media once shaped behavior and how public awareness has thankfully moved forward.

1. Virginia Slims “You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby”

This cigarette ad targeted women with a message of empowerment while promoting smoking as a symbol of liberation. The campaign glamorized cigarettes as part of women’s independence during the feminist movement. Today, cigarette ads are banned on television due to strict tobacco regulations. The irony of using feminism to sell harmful products would make this campaign completely unacceptable now.

2. Ajax “White Knight” Commercial

Ajax once featured a “White Knight” magically cleaning a woman’s house for her, reinforcing gender stereotypes. The ad implied that cleanliness was solely a woman’s duty and that she needed a “manly” hero to rescue her from housework. Its mix of sexism and condescension feels out of place in a world more aware of gender roles. This portrayal of domestic work would never pass modern advertising standards.

3. Frito Bandito by Fritos

Frito-Lay’s cartoon mascot, the Frito Bandito, used a heavy Mexican accent and exaggerated stereotypes. The character wore a sombrero, carried guns, and sang in a mock Mexican accent while stealing corn chips. It sparked outrage from Latino communities and was eventually pulled from the air. Today, such racial caricatures would be instantly condemned for cultural insensitivity.

4. Calgon “Ancient Chinese Secret”

This laundry detergent ad showed a Chinese laundry owner hiding the “secret” to his spotless clothes, which was Calgon. The exaggerated accents and stereotypical portrayal of Asian characters made it racially offensive. At the time, it was meant to be humorous, but it perpetuated harmful stereotypes. In today’s cultural climate, this ad would never survive a single broadcast.

5. Noxzema “Take It Off” Shaving Cream

Noxzema’s risqué ad featured Swedish model Gunilla Knutson sensually telling men to “take it off, take it all off” while a man shaved his face. The commercial used sexual imagery to sell shaving cream, a tactic that blurred the line between humor and objectification. Its overtly suggestive tone would spark outrage today. Modern audiences would call it sexist and inappropriate for general TV audiences.

6. Benson & Hedges 100s “Disadvantages” Campaign

This cigarette ad humorously depicted people struggling with the long length of their cigarettes. It portrayed smoking as a sophisticated habit, complete with glamor and style. At the time, it was funny and fashionable, but now it would violate all tobacco advertising laws. Any attempt to make cigarettes look trendy would be quickly banned.

7. Shake ’n Bake “And I Helped!”

While not offensive on the surface, this ad showed a mother and daughter bonding over cooking, with the mother saying she did the work and the daughter chirping, “And I helped!” It reinforced traditional gender roles, tying women and girls to kitchen duties. Modern commercials strive for more inclusivity and gender balance. Its old-fashioned domestic ideals feel outdated and patronizing now.

8. Flintstones Winston Cigarette Ad

Yes, the Flintstones once smoked on TV. Fred and Barney puffed on Winstons and praised the flavor in a cross-promotion between the cartoon and the cigarette brand. Seeing beloved children’s characters endorse smoking feels shocking by today’s standards. Any tobacco advertisement aimed at family audiences would be completely illegal now.

9. Folgers Coffee “Peter Comes Home for Christmas”

This sentimental ad featured a young man surprising his family on Christmas morning with Folgers coffee brewing. The original version included subtle undertones that modern viewers interpret as oddly flirtatious between Peter and his sister. While unintentional, the awkward dynamic has turned it into a source of internet jokes. Modern advertisers would be far more careful with family portrayals today.

10. Playtex Living Bra “Men Approve”

This lingerie ad suggested that a woman’s worth and attractiveness depended on male approval. It featured men commenting on how much they “liked” the new bra, completely ignoring women’s comfort or choice. Today’s audiences would find this sexist and tone-deaf. Modern ads focus on empowerment and body positivity, not external validation.

11. Cigarette Ads Featuring Doctors

During the early 1970s, tobacco companies ran ads with doctors claiming certain cigarette brands were less harmful. These ads used fake medical authority to reassure consumers. With what we know now about smoking’s dangers, these commercials feel ethically horrifying. They would never be allowed under modern truth-in-advertising laws.

12. Pepsi “Come Alive! You’re in the Pepsi Generation”

This upbeat Pepsi ad featured the slogan “Come alive! You’re in the Pepsi generation,” which became controversial when mistranslated overseas as “Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the dead.” While it was mostly a translation blunder, it revealed the carelessness of global advertising. Today, cultural sensitivity in marketing is far more important. Such a misstep would trigger an international PR disaster.

13. Jell-O “You Can’t Be a Kid Without It”

This ad depicted children as wild, mischievous, and always demanding Jell-O, with mothers portrayed as their servants. It reflected a time when parenting roles were rigidly defined. Today’s ads tend to show shared family responsibility and respect for individuality. The ad’s portrayal of both kids and parents would feel outdated and condescending now.

14. Diet Pepsi “Girlwatchers” Commercial

This ad featured men ogling women while drinking Diet Pepsi, celebrating the act of “girlwatching.” It objectified women for comic effect, with the tagline implying the drink made men more attractive. The overt sexism and casual harassment would never fly today. Modern audiences would immediately reject it for promoting inappropriate behavior.

15. Tipalet Cigarettes “Blow in Her Face”

Perhaps the most infamous, Tipalet’s ad instructed men to “blow in her face and she’ll follow you anywhere.” It literally encouraged men to blow cigarette smoke at women as a flirtation tactic. Today, that line would be considered sexual harassment, not humor. This ad stands as one of the most shocking examples of 1970s sexism in marketing.

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• TV commercials
• 70s commercials
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