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| L&M Cigarettes |
Let go-o-o-o...with an L&M.
A strange start to a commercial, this one is silent until about eight seconds into the ad. What do you make of a bunch of corporate types sitting around a table, looking clueless?
Once again, a catchy jingle fuses images of young and old people, smoking. And while nicotine is a stimulent, most of the images are of people relaxing.
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time 1:00 size 1.86 mb aired 196?
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| Bellaire Cigarettes (195?) |
Smoke twice as refreshed, because the filter's recessed...
We're not sure of the date on this one, too, and on second thought, it is probably from the early 1960s rather than the 1950s.
Exceptionally corny nautical theme, with the usual array of trendy young adults puffing their way into disease.
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time 1:02 size 1.52 mb aired 195?
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| Pall Mall Cigarettes, 1967 |
Outstanding...and they are mild.
We have to say it again: The cigarette corporations always associated "luxury" with smoking. In this ad, it's yachts/boating...again.
Imagine being bombarded with this drivel relentlessly, day after day. It reminds us of today's drivel from the health-insurance corporations, constantly telling us how much they love and care about us. Fool us once, shame on them. Fool us twice...the point is, you can't get fooled again. Heh, heh.
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time 0:32 size 1.0 mb ad aired in 1967
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| Muriel Cigars, Edie Adams & The Hi-Los (1965) |
Why don't you pick one up and smoke it sometime.
This one gets top honors for being one of the classiest ads ever to appear on this site.
Edie Adams (d. October 2008) was the long-time pitchwoman for Muriel Cigars, as well as sidekick for genius comedian, Ernie Kovacs. Here she performs a song and dance with The Hi-Los, another phenomenal singing group of the '50s and '60s (remember the Hertz jingle?).
NOTE: ClassicTVAds is strongly opposed to smoking all tobacco products. Don't smoke: It may kill you.
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time 1:04 size 1.6 mb aired 1965
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| Winstons with the Flintstones |
You know I never smoke nothing else.
There is something about seeing Fred and Wilma lighting up that just doesn't set right.
When it came to shamelessness, the cigarette companies knew no bounds. Sort of like oil companies today.
Here's a commercial that ran during the show, along with a "sponsored by" snippet at the end
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time 1:17 size 1.41 mb aired 1960
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| Kick the (Cigarette) Habit, 1968 |
Join the unhooked generation.
It's been many years since we've seen this ad, here at CTV. It's got that faded, scratchy-sounding, fresh from the drive-in theater flavor.
But what may seem jarring is the strong sexual innuendo portrayed by the actors. Back in the 1960s, cigarette smoking was considered enticing and seductive. So we are treated to actors fondling their cigarettes, gently caressing and stroking them...even the music--at times--suggests old stag film.
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time 1:00 size 1.8 mb aired 1968
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| 101 Chesterfield |
Is that a baloney sandwich?
One of the most insipid cigarette ads ever broadcast, with a cast of team corporate types muttering nonsense.
And they threw in the 1960s angry white woman who, as if in an alternate-universe movie, sneers, "Why don't you step on the other foot, while you're at it."
The point of this commercial is so clever and trendy, it's a mystery.
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time 1:03 size 1.9 mb aired 196?
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| His 'n Hers Raleighs...and BelAir, 1969 |
Raleighs are...Tast'n [sic] milder...
"Tast'n milder"?
These are two of the goofiest cigarette commercials we've ever seen (and we like old cigarette commercials), especially the "His" one...but the "Hers" one is just as comical. What is with the chickenish/clownish strutting?
Did we really want to be like these people in 1969? Is that what it was all about?
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time 1:05 size 1.56 mb aired 1956
His:
Hers:
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| Lucky Strike (1956) |
Light up a Lucky, it's light-up time...
L.S./M.F.T...Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco. This was such an important selling point; it was used in practically every Lucky ad.
And when you think of it, it meant absolutely nothing.
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time 1:05 size 1.56 mb aired 1956
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| Camels with Vaughn Monroe |
How mild, how mild, how mild can a cigarette be?
Crooner, Vaughn Monroe and the Moonmaids made several commericals for Camel cigarettes. Monroe was a popular baritone vocalist from the World War II big-band days.
If you would like to read up on this group, there is a website dedicated to them at the Vaughn Monroe Appreciation Society.
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time 1:04 size 1.54 mb aired 1948
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