I do know this can be a fairly daring assertion, however I’ve lately began to suspect that tobacco corporations haven’t at all times had our greatest pursuits at coronary heart. I’ve been binging The Jack Benny Program on YouTube, and never solely are there steady references to their sponsor Fortunate Strike, however plenty of the in-program commercials appear to be they’re particularly concentrating on kids.
I’ve posted a bunch of them beneath, together with different cigarette advertisements that appear to be they have been undoubtedly meant for teenagers.
‘Be Blissful — Go Fortunate!’
This advert from The Jack Benny Program includes a cartoon man getting his Fortunate Strike lit by an cute cartoon chook earlier than happening a bunch of enjoyable adventures like snowboarding and horseback driving.
‘Winston Tastes Good, Like a Cigarette Ought to’
The Flintstones may need been a prime-time present, nevertheless it was nonetheless meant to be watched by the complete household, so there’s little question this advert for Winston cigarettes starring Fred and Barney had the kiddies in thoughts.
‘As Cool and as Clear as a Breath of Contemporary Air’
This advert for Kool cigarettes starred an cute ice-skating penguin that appears quite a bit like Chilly Willy from Woody Woodpecker.
‘Luckies Style Higher!’
This cartoon man was named “Blissful Joe Fortunate,” and he was in various Fortunate Strike advertisements again within the day.
‘It’s a Matter of Style’
They didn’t simply use cartoons to market to youngsters. This German advert for Camel starred weird-looking camel puppets.
‘The King Who Has Every little thing’
This cartoon advert stars The Chesterfield King, “the king who has all the things” — together with a tumor in his proper lung.
‘True Tobacco Style’
For Tareyton cigarettes, there was a Disney-Princess-looking bandleader who sang a catchy tune about Tareyton’s filter ideas.
‘See How Gentle a Cigarette Can Be’
One other Camel advert. This one has water-skiing teenagers smoking cigarettes.
‘Gentle and Juicy’
For a slight change of tempo, listed here are some humorous speaking cows for Bull of the Woods Chewing Tobacco.
‘Take the Camel 30-Day Take a look at, and You’ll See’
This Camel advert, which includes a catchy tune performed by a cartoon pianist, additionally bragged about how Camel was sending free cigarettes to numerous hospitals for servicepeople and veterans.
‘Luckies Style Higher’
One other Fortunate Strike advert — this one with a singing cartoon horse — from The Jack Benny Program.
‘To a Smoker, It’s a Kent’
This Kent advert is mainly Disneyland’s It’s a Small World journey within the type of a cigarette industrial.
‘Smoke Kool Kool Kool’
Right here’s that penguin once more. Now, he’s constructing a snowman. Isn’t he cute as he peddles lung most cancers to kids?
‘You Must Smoke Winston’
One other one starring The Flintstones. If it weren’t kid-friendly sufficient already, they added an cute chook whose beak acts as a report needle.
‘They Look So Good-looking Underneath Christmas Timber’
Superstar endorsements are one factor, however having a singing Santa Claus puppet speaking about how Camels are the “nation’s favourite cigarettes” is kind of one other.
