Following an interesting and fascinating article by Hermione Hoby in the Observer newspaper in August 2010 where she looked at advertising in the “olden days”. Will and Guy decided to search the internet to provide a barrel load of laughs for our readers and viewers.
Hilarious, Yet Amazing Adverts From a Bygone Era
The following adverts need little or no explanation to encourage you to smile or perhaps even guffaw out loud. We categorise these bygone times adverts as dangerous, sexist, ageist and generally totally out of touch with the values in the 21st Century.
Guy thinks that Stephen Leacock’s view on adverting is a sound and amusing one: ‘Advertising may be described as the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it.’
Will, on the other hand, prefers Jef Richards take: ‘Creative without strategy is called “art.” Creative with strategy is called “advertising.”‘
Terrible Cigarette Adverts – Classic Yesteryear Propaganda
In 1965, President L.B. Johnson enacted a law in the USA requiring cigarette manufacturers to put health warnings on their packets.
Here are examples of why he took this strong action.
Rampant Sexism in Long Forgotten Adverts
Because advertising has to be so direct, it makes the sexism all the more obvious. These examples of outrageous stereotyping make Will angry, and Guy cry with laughter.
It is our job to make women unhappy with what they have. B. Earl Puckett
Wives
Look this ad over carefully. (See right) Circle the items that you want for Christmas. Show it to your husband. If he does not go to the store immediately, cry a little. Not a lot, just a little. He’ll go. He’ll go
A Funny Advert From Bygone Times
Even The Aged Are Not Spared
Guy says ‘what is this drug to control senility?’ Will says, ‘just give him another whisky instead.’
Cocaine ‘Toothache Drops’ Advert
Cocaine was sold to cure toothache, sore throat, neuralgia, nervousness, headache, colds and sleeplessness in the 1880s
20th Century Bayer Advert for Heroin Cough Medicine
Could we see history repeat itself? Could it be that cocaine and heroin will be legalized once more? After all eventually the authorities realized alcohol prohibition would only create gangsters, whereas if they taxed booze they could simultaneouly rid of bootleggers and fill the public exchequer.
