Category Archives: ads

A Collection of 11 Classic Car Ads From 1980

The rollout of General Motors’ broad lineup of “X-Car” compact cars for 1980–which consisted of four separate vehicle lines spread across four brands–was a big event in the American automotive industry. Not surprisingly, GM backed up its ambitious new product initiative with a massive presence in TV and magazine advertising. The rollout of General Motors’Continue reading “A Collection of 11 Classic Car Ads From 1980”

Clarence Hailey Long, the Original Marlboro Man

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then Leonard McCombe’s image that inspired the Marlboro Man campaign is worth over $15 billion. The photograph above shows Clarence Hailey Young, a foreman at the JA Ranch in Texas. McCombe had set out on assignment by Life magazine to document the real way of life ofContinue reading “Clarence Hailey Long, the Original Marlboro Man”

30 Funny Vintage Tobacco Ads by Benson & Hedges From Between the Late 1960s and 1970s

Benson & Hedges was founded in London in 1873 by Richard Benson and William Hedges as Benson and Hedges Ltd. Alfred Paget Hedges succeeded his father in the business in 1885, the same year which Richard Benson left the business. The 1900s saw branches of Benson & Hedges Ltd. opening in the United States andContinue reading “30 Funny Vintage Tobacco Ads by Benson & Hedges From Between the Late 1960s and 1970s”

“Blow in Her Face and She’ll Follow You Anywhere” – Tipalet Ad, 1969

This advertisement in particular was for cigarettes which was first issued in 1969 by Tipalet Cigarette Company. It pictures two attractive and young models, one male and one female. The woman meets the Western beauty standard, she has glowing tan skin, long lashes, doe eyes, long black eyelashes, full lips, white teeth, and has onContinue reading ““Blow in Her Face and She’ll Follow You Anywhere” – Tipalet Ad, 1969”

Needlework & Crafts: Do-It-Yourself Fashion From 1971 and 1972

Fashion trends come and go every year, however, nowadays consumers are challenging the fashion industry to take on more ethically sustainable practices, as fast fashion has already been a major issue in the world. One not-so-difficult way to solve this problem is “do-it-yourself” fashion, which not only paves the way for creativity to flourish butContinue reading “Needlework & Crafts: Do-It-Yourself Fashion From 1971 and 1972”

M. Trilety’s Nose Shaper Model 25, a Wacky Beauty Treatment Used for Shaping and Correcting the Nose From the 1920s

The 20th century has seen a huge upsurge in the importance placed by Western society on physical beauty, particularly for women. The fashion, cosmetics and plastic surgery industries have thrived on 20th century preoccupation with physical appearance. It is a preoccupation that affects women in every sphere, whether they choose to pander to it orContinue reading “M. Trilety’s Nose Shaper Model 25, a Wacky Beauty Treatment Used for Shaping and Correcting the Nose From the 1920s”

26 Retro Motorcycle Ads From the 1970s

The seventies was a decade of cool motorcycles, but wacky, corny and overtly sexist advertisements, as they were, like in the sixties, made to target the male consumers. On the cover there was usually a pair of a typical 70’s style macho dude, dressed in an open leather jacket, a collared blue shirt, bell-bottom trousersContinue reading “26 Retro Motorcycle Ads From the 1970s”

“The Vertue of the COFFEE Drink”: The Earliest Known Advertisement for Making and Selling Coffee, circa 1652

Apparently, around 1652, an English merchant, Daniel Edwards, brought Pasqua (as he was probably known) from Smyrna (now Izmir) in Turkey to London as a servant to prepare the coffee to which Edwards had become accustomed on his travels abroad. Edwards himself is noted in The Little London Directory of 1677, a compilation of well-knownContinue reading ““The Vertue of the COFFEE Drink”: The Earliest Known Advertisement for Making and Selling Coffee, circa 1652”

Yesterday’s Buffet: A Look at the Mid-Century Smörgåsbord

The buffet’s time had truly arrived in post-WWII America. Enjoying an unprecedented economic boom, the “table of plenty” fit perfectly within this period. Gone were the Depression-era days of meager portions, and gone were the WWII days of rationing. In Cold War America, tables bent beneath the weight of the mighty buffet. Aside from ScandinavianContinue reading “Yesterday’s Buffet: A Look at the Mid-Century Smörgåsbord”