16 Magazine Ads That Seemed Normal at the Time
Flipping through old magazines can feel like stepping into another world, where the ads once seemed completely ordinary. However, with today’s lens, many of them now seem strange, amusing, or even shocking.
- Tricia Quitales
- 6 min read
Advertising has always reflected the culture and values of its time, often in ways that feel out of place today. Magazine ads that once seemed standard can now appear outdated or even controversial when viewed through a modern lens. From questionable health claims to odd fashion choices, these ads captured the norms of their era. Looking back, it’s a fascinating study of how society and marketing have evolved.
1. Cigarette Ads Featuring Doctors
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Back in the 1940s and 1950s, cigarette ads often showed doctors recommending specific brands. The message was that smoking was not only acceptable but potentially good for your throat. Many of these ads included white coats, stethoscopes, and reassuring smiles. At the time, it felt like a sign of trust and authority. Today, it seems almost unbelievable.
2. Baby Ads Suggesting Soda
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Some magazine ads from the 1950s encouraged parents to give soda to infants. They claimed it helped form social habits early and made children more popular. The visuals often included happy babies holding glass bottles. These ads now raise serious eyebrows over both health and logic. Still, they were once seen as completely harmless.
3. Weight Gain Ads for Women
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Before the fitness craze, many ads targeted women who were considered “too skinny.” Products promised to help them gain curves and become more attractive. They often showed before-and-after images to highlight the supposed benefits. What seems backwards now was once a beauty ideal. It’s a strong reminder of how body standards shift over time.
4. Soap Ads With Extreme Gender Roles
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Old soap ads regularly portrayed women as obsessed with cleanliness to keep their husbands happy. The tone often suggested that a spotless home and perfect appearance were the only ways to keep a man interested. These ads reinforced narrow gender expectations. At the time, they were considered inspiring and motivational. Today, they read more like satire.
5. Airline Ads Promoting Stewardess Appeal
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In the 1960s and 1970s, some airlines ran ads focusing on the attractiveness of their stewardesses. The messaging promised passengers glamour and flirtation as part of the flight experience. It wasn’t about safety or comfort but charm and short skirts. These ads were seen as playful and modern. Now, they feel uncomfortable and inappropriate.
6. Cola Ads Promising Weight Loss
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Some vintage cola ads suggested drinking soda could help you stay slim. They framed it as a hunger suppressant or a substitute for food. Paired with slogans about beauty and self-control, the messaging was wildly misleading. These ads made soda seem like a health drink. Now we know better.
7. Ads Using Shame as a Strategy
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Many products, from deodorant to breath mints, used public shame to sell solutions. The idea was that no one would tell you your odor was bad, but everyone would notice. These ads often featured lonely, rejected people who transformed after using the product. Fear of embarrassment became a major selling point. While subtle now, back then the tone was blunt and harsh.
8. Car Ads With Dangerous Stunts
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Vintage car ads sometimes showed vehicles speeding along cliffs or crashing through fences for fun. The idea was to highlight power, freedom, and adventure. Safety was barely mentioned or completely ignored. The thrill factor took center stage over practicality. It felt exciting then, but today, it would raise safety concerns instantly.
9. Candy Ads Using Cartoon Violence
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Some candy ads used slapstick or cartoon violence to sell treats, showing kids getting hit, tripped, or thrown for not sharing. It was framed as humorous and lighthearted. These ads played into a certain kind of chaos that seemed entertaining at the time. Now, the message can come off as aggressive or inappropriate. The change in tone reflects shifting values in children’s marketing.
10. Beauty Ads Promising to Fix Flaws
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Beauty products often promised to “fix” things like freckles, pale skin, or curly hair. They treated these traits as flaws needing correction. The ads pushed idealized versions of beauty that excluded many natural appearances. They were seen as aspirational at the time. Today, they are more often criticized for promoting insecurity.
11. Alcohol Ads with No Warning Labels
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In earlier decades, alcohol ads often showed families or even cartoon characters drinking, with no health disclaimers. The tone was fun, carefree, and lighthearted. There was little mention of responsibility or moderation. These ads helped normalize casual drinking without context. That would never pass regulations today.
12. Ads Featuring Spanking for Laughs
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Some ads used spanking or physical punishment as a comedic element, especially in parenting or relationship scenarios. These were meant to be humorous and exaggerated. At the time, they were seen as cheeky or bold. Now, they feel jarring and completely out of place. Cultural sensitivity has evolved significantly since then.
13. Typewriter Ads Geared Only to Women
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Office equipment like typewriters were often marketed to women as tools to “look busy” or “help the boss.” The underlying tone was that women’s place was secretarial and supportive. These ads combined workplace sexism with fashion cues. They made outdated roles seem modern and stylish. It reflects how career aspirations were once narrowly defined.
14. Ads Linking Products to War Heroes
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During and after major wars, some ads used soldiers or veterans to endorse unrelated products. They framed it as patriotic to use certain brands. Everything from soap to tires claimed support for the troops through purchase. The emotional appeal was powerful at the time. Now, it feels disconnected and overly opportunistic.
15. Shaving Ads with Aggressive Messaging
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Old shaving ads told men that being clean-shaven was essential to being successful or desirable. The tone was often aggressive, urging men to “man up” by using certain razors. These ads painted masculinity in strict, narrow ways. While normal then, such intensity now feels outdated. Grooming today comes with a wider range of choices.
16. Ads Encouraging Children to Imitate Adults
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Some vintage ads encouraged kids to dress, act, or work like adults, complete with fake cigarettes or mini briefcases. The goal was to sell toys or clothes that made kids seem more grown-up. The messaging was meant to be playful and aspirational. Today, it would raise concerns about age-appropriate behavior. The innocence of childhood is marketed much differently now.