Vintage advertising can be fascinating to look back on, but some of it feels downright disturbing by today’s standards. Whether it is the messaging, imagery, or cultural tone, a few old ads raise more eyebrows now than they ever did back then.
Teen magazines of the past offered more than quizzes and celebrity gossip — they came packed with ads that targeted teens in over-the-top ways. Looking back now, some of those ads are more uncomfortable than cool.
Long before streaming and autoplay, TV idents filled the gaps between shows with their own strange kind of magic. These brief clips were sometimes more memorable than the shows they introduced.
Long before indoor play centers became sleek and safety-certified, fast food playgrounds were wild, imaginative, and questionably constructed. Kids loved them, parents tolerated them, and everyone came out with a few bruises and unforgettable stories.
Many of us grew up playing with toys that, in hindsight, probably should have come with big warning labels. Tiny parts, loose pieces, and questionable designs made some of them more dangerous than fun.
Dinner in the 1980s didn’t require fancy ingredients or trendy food apps. It was all about hearty, inexpensive meals that kept kids full and parents stress-free.