16 Misleading Ads from the Past That Couldn’t Run Today
These old ads promised a lot, but most of them were not true.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
Old ads got away with claims that sound wild now. Some pushed cigarettes as healthy, while others sold candy as vitamins. This list shows 16 ads that fooled people back then, but would not pass the rules today.
1. “More Doctors Smoke Camels”
Internet Archive Book Images on Pexels
In the 1940s, Camel ran ads claiming that more doctors smoked their brand than any other. This misleading endorsement exploited public trust in medical professionals to promote a harmful product. Today, such tactics would be deemed unethical and are prohibited.
2. Smoking for Weight Loss
Redman Xp on Wikimedia Commons
Lucky Strike’s 1930s ads suggested that smoking could help women stay slim, promoting cigarettes as a weight-loss tool. This dangerous claim ignored the health risks of smoking and would be unacceptable in today’s advertising standards.
3. Vitamin Donuts
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wikimedia Commons
In the 1940s, a company marketed “Vitamin Donuts,” suggesting they were a health food. This misleading claim capitalized on the public’s desire for nutritious options, despite the product being high in sugar and fat.
4. Ovaltine’s Health Claims
Mike Quinn on Wikimedia Commons
Ovaltine was advertised as a health drink in the 1940s, claiming to provide essential vitamins and minerals. However, the product’s high sugar content contradicted its healthful image, making the advertising misleading.
5. Polaroid’s “Instant Memories”
Scott Akerman on Wikimedia Commons
Polaroid’s ads promised instant, lasting memories through their cameras. However, the photos often faded over time, and the high cost of film made the promise of “instant memories” somewhat misleading.
6. DDT Children’s Wallpaper
Alf van Beem on Wikimedia Commons
In the 1950s, wallpaper infused with DDT was marketed as a way to protect children from insects. The use of a toxic pesticide in children’s rooms is now recognized as hazardous and would not be permitted today.
7. Pepsi for a Slim Figure
verweis=PepsiCo on Wikimedia Commons
Pepsi’s 1950s ads implied that drinking their soda could help maintain a slim figure. This misleading health claim ignored the high sugar content of the beverage and would be unacceptable today.
8. Cigarettes as Diet Aids
Geierunited on Wikimedia Commons
Kenton Cigarettes advertised their product as a way to maintain a slender figure in the 1950s. This dangerous health claim ignored the severe risks associated with smoking and would be prohibited today.
9. Winchester Rifles and Masculinity
Winchester Repeating Arms Company, New Haver, CT on Wikimedia Commons
Early 1900s ads for Winchester Rifles equated gun ownership with masculinity and adventure. Such messaging would be scrutinized today for promoting gender stereotypes and glorifying violence.
10. Goodyear’s Gender Stereotypes
TaurusEmerald on Wikimedia Commons
Goodyear’s 1960s ads humorously suggested that women’s driving habits necessitated better tires. This perpetuation of gender stereotypes would be considered inappropriate in today’s advertising.
11. Listerine as a Cold Remedy
Zartiom on Wikimedia Commons
In the 1920s, Listerine was advertised as a cure for the common cold. This unfounded medical claim misled consumers and would not be allowed under current advertising regulations.
12. Tootsie Roll as a Health Snack
Tootsie Roll Industries on Wikimedia Commons
Tootsie Roll ads used to claim that the candy provided quick energy, like a snack that could keep you going. They made it sound like it was good for kids and something you could pack in a lunch. The ads made candy seem healthy when it really was just sugar.
13. Lysol Claimed to Cure Illness
Lysol on Wikimedia Commons
Lysol was once advertised as a product women could use for personal hygiene. The ads wrongly said it could prevent infections and even work as birth control. It was a cleaning product sold with unsafe and false claims.
14. Maybelline Promised Instant Beauty
Carlyle Blackwell Jr. on Wikimedia Commons
Old Maybelline ads claimed their eye makeup could completely transform a woman’s appearance in just seconds. They showed big before-and-after pictures to make it seem like magic. The ads made people think beauty came from using just one product.
15. Coppertone Ignored Skin Damage
Coppertone (sunscreen) on Wikimedia Commons
Coppertone ads used to show tanning as something fun and healthy, without warning about sun damage. They made it seem like getting a deep tan was the goal, especially in summer. The ads left out the dangers, like sunburn and skin cancer.
16. Chevrolet Marketed on Looks, Not Safety
Diego HC on Wikimedia Commons
Chevrolet ads from the 1950s focused mostly on how stylish and fancy their cars looked. They showed shiny, cool designs to attract buyers. Safety features were barely mentioned, even though they were important.