20 “Serious” Ads from the Past That Are Hilarious Now

Once taken seriously, these 20-old ads now look more like comedy sketches than actual marketing.

Sophia Zapanta
April 10, 2025
5 min read

20 “Serious” Ads from the Past That Are Hilarious Now — Jorge Cisne on Wikimedia Commons

Back in the day, advertisers really thought they were making sense. These vintage ads tried hard to sell everything from soap to cigarettes with straight faces, but they’ve aged like unrefrigerated milk. Now, they’re hilarious snapshots of a time when logic took a lunch break.

1. “More Doctors Smoke Camels Than Any Other Cigarette”

Authors: Wyeth, N. C. on Wikimedia Commons

This 1940s ad showed a doctor happily smoking a Camel cigarette. It claimed that most doctors preferred this brand. The ad even included fake statistics to make it seem trustworthy. Today, it would be used as proof of dangerous and misleading advertising.

2. “Start Cola Early… Like This Baby!” – 7-Up Baby Ad

Paebi on Wikimedia Commons

A 1950s ad featured a smiling baby drinking 7-Up while the mother looked proud. The ad encouraged parents to mix soda with milk for infants and claimed it would help babies develop good taste. Pediatricians today would be horrified.

3. “Blow in Her Face and She’ll Follow You Anywhere” – Tipalet Cigarettes

US National Archives bot on Wikimedia Commons

This ad showed a man blowing cigarette smoke into a woman’s face as if it were romantic. It suggested that smoke made men more attractive. The ad pushed both sexism and smoking. It would never pass today’s standards.

4. Lysol as a Feminine Hygiene Product

Nard the Bard on Wikimedia Commons

Lysol was once advertised for personal hygiene use by women. The ads claimed it helped preserve marriages and keep women “fresh.” These claims were medically false and dangerous. Still, it was marketed as a serious solution.

5. “Does Your Husband Look Younger Than You?” – Hair Dye Ads

Bill Ingalls on Wikimedia Commons

This 1960s ad warned women not to let their husbands outshine them and suggested using beauty products to keep up. The message turned aging into a beauty contest, making women feel like they were always falling behind.

6. “Wives Should Be Prettier” – Kitchen Appliance Ad

Russell Lee on Wikimedia Commons

A fridge ad once claimed that a new appliance would make women prettier. The idea was that happier wives looked better, so appliances were marketed as beauty boosters. It was a wild stretch of logic.

7. “How to Get a Teenage Boy’s Attention” – Pepsi Ad

Maksym Kozlenko on Wikimedia Commons

This ad featured a girl with teased hair holding a Pepsi bottle. It claimed that soda could help her get a date. The message ignored personality and confidence, focusing only on appearance and a sugary drink.

8. “Men Are Better Cooks — They Use Gas” – Kitchen Range Ad

BogTar201213 on Wikimedia Commons

This ad showed a man cooking confidently with a gas stove. It implied that men were better chefs because of their appliances. The message was that women were doing it wrong. Gas wasn’t just fuel; it was a status symbol.

9. “You’re Not a Woman Until You Wear This Lipstick”

Joe Haupt on Wikimedia Commons

A makeup ad claimed womanhood began with a tube of lipstick. It linked beauty to identity and confidence. The message was bold and unrealistic. It reduced maturity to a shopping trip.

10. “Give Her a Hoover for Christmas”

J3TTF on Wikimedia Commons

This 1955 ad showed a woman smiling beside a vacuum under the tree. It was promoted as the perfect gift for her. The ad treated chores like a luxury. Nothing says love like a new way to clean the house.

11. “Eat T-Bone Steaks and Stay Slim!”

CCFoodTravel.com on Wikimedia Commons

A 1960s ad claimed eating steak would help women stay thin. It told women to skip carbs and just eat meat. The slogan was “The Steaks Are High.” It turned diet advice into a meat industry promotion.

12. “If Your Hair Isn’t Becoming to You…”

Coastal Elite on Wikimedia Commons

A 1970s salon ad used a pun to grab attention. It ended with “…you should be coming to us.” The message blamed women for not looking good and pushed beauty through guilt and wordplay.

13. “Milk Makes You Popular!”

Platonk on Wikimedia Commons

This ad showed a girl surrounded by boys, holding a glass of milk. It claimed milk could make you more attractive. The message tied social success to a drink. Popularity was sold by the carton.

14. “Worry About B.O. Before He Does” – Deodorant Ad

Steve Shook on Wikimedia Commons

A deodorant ad warned women that body odor could ruin their love life. It suggested applying the product to keep a man interested. The pressure to smell perfect was intense. The ad played on fear, not facts.

15. “Gain Weight to Get a Husband” – Wate-On Ads

Petr Kratochvil on Wikimedia Commons

In the 1950s, thin women were told to gain weight to be more attractive. Wate-On promised to add curves and confidence. It promoted the idea that size determined desirability. The message was the opposite of today’s trends.

16. “She’ll Love You More If You Smell Like Leather” – Cologne Ad

Tounoki on Wikimedia Commons

A cologne ad claimed women would fall for men who smelled like leather. The scent was marketed as a love potion. It was bold, direct, and over the top. The message reduced attraction to a single smell.

17. “Are You Letting Your Husband Down?” – Coffee Ad

Julius Schorzman on Wikimedia Commons

A coffee ad blamed women for weak coffee and unhappy marriages. The man looked deeply disappointed. The solution was to make better coffee. The ad used shame to sell a morning drink.

18. “Your Teeth Are Killing Your Love Life”

Steve Parsons on Wikimedia Commons

This ad showed a woman crying after being rejected. It claimed her bad teeth were the reason. Toothpaste was sold as the fix for heartbreak, turning hygiene into humiliation.

19. “You Drive the Right Car — You Get the Right Girl”

Riley on Wikimedia Commons

A 1960s car ad showed a man winning over a woman with his sports car. The car was portrayed as a dating tool. The message was simple: drive well, date better. The attraction was linked to the engine, not the person.

20. “Never Let Them See You Without Your Girdle”

Fæ on Wikimedia Commons

This ad told women to wear a girdle at all times. Even in private, appearance was never to be relaxed. Comfort was not part of the conversation. The focus was all on constant shape control.