Advertisements from decades ago are extremely interesting to me. The colors, the use of words to tell the consumer why they should invest in the product, and even the products that used to frequent the pages of magazines on adverts are all so much different than what we see today in magazines or on TV. Sure, we obviously still see car ads, makeup ads, and soda ads. But how often do we see advertising for cigarettes anymore? Also, compared to 60+ years ago, we see more ads directed towards both genders instead of just females!
1930s
Advertising in the 1930s seemed to be heavy in cigarettes and Coca Cola. The United States was in the midst of the Great Depression, so ads for big ticket items such as automobiles or radios seemed to be few and far between, and advertising for luxury items such as makeup were also sparse. Even in the '30s, advertisers knew that the use of movie stars would help promote a product big time!
Actress Claudette Colbert (It Happened One Night, 1934) for
Lucky Strike cigarettes
Claudette Colbert tells how the throat-strain of emotional acting led her to Luckies.
Miss Colbert says: "After experimenting, I'm convinced that my throat is safest with Luckies."
Jean Harlow (Hell's Angels, 1930) for Coca Cola
This drink just naturally fits into a pause from work or play....Tastes good when
nothing else does....Leaves you cool and refreshed.
1937 Chevrolet
You get all the newest things of 1937 in Chevrolet
"The Complete Car - Completely New!"
Irresistible Talc
Easily, quickly, you can dust your body odor away with this dainty deodorant talc. Apply it generously all over your body. No matter how great your body warmth....the exquisite perfume of Irresistible Talc keeps its exotic delicacy....keeps you irresistible.
Westinghouse World Cruiser
Just taste the thrill of World Cruising with Westinghouse - of choosing your radio entertainment from the best the whole world affords.
1940s
With the Great Depression behind them, advertisers in the 1940s shifted focus to the glamour of Hollywood movie starlets and how to look like them. The war effort and how those at home could help were also prevalent in advertising. With the men fighting overseas, ads were still aimed at mostly women. After the war, more women could now afford the little things such as lipstick and other beauty items and families could spend money on a new car.
Rita Hayworth (Gilda, 1946) for Max Factor Tru-Color Lipstick
The color stays on through every lipstick test.
Martha O'Driscoll (Carnegie Hall, 1947) for Cashmere Bouquet Beau Cake
And, as beautiful Martha O'Driscoll says: "Such a time-saver! When I open my Beau Cake, the sponge is always ready for use."
General Electric appliances
Hers is the bloom of youth. She's taken advantage of the age she lives in - the age of modern electrical servants that lighten household tasks. No wonder she looks younger than women to whom home-making is a daily round of drudgery!
1949 Ford
We think you'll agree the '49 Ford has "the look of the year!"
Nestle chocolate
Delicious, nutritious and compact - chocolate is everybody's favorite, whether on the fighting front as an energy food, or on the home front as a quick pick-me-up.
1950s
The '50s brought about Marilyn Monroe and women everywhere were trying to attain that perfect figure. With the end of World War II came (mostly) the end of the working woman. More women were able to be housewives, and advertisers took note of that and household products to make running a family easier became a focus.
Marilyn Monroe (Niagara, 1953) for Westmore Hollywood Cosmetics
Even more important, it imparts a radiant natural glow that brings out your true beauty!
Perma-Lift Brassiere
"The Lift that never lets you down!"
7-Up
Crystal-clear, sparkling 7-Up is so pure, so good, so wholesome that folks of all ages can "fresh up" often!
DuPont Cellophane
Good things are twice as good in Cellophane.
Crisco
Crisco-fried foods are so digestible you can eat them 7 days a week!
Now, I'm no advertising expert and I certainly don't keep up with today's adverts, but I know we would never see babies in cellophane in an ad today! It's fun for me to see old ads. They all have so much wording, really trying to sell their product! I really love the ones featuring the most beautiful movie stars, but that brassiere one really speaks to me!
Until next time,
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