10 Commercials That Wouldn’t Fly Today
Cigarette commercials were lethal, but imaginative.
While I write, I often listen to or watch YouTube. Occasionally something really gets my attention. I saw some old TV commercials that wouldn’t see the light of day in today’s world. In large part, many of them were cigarette commercials, but others had different issues. Things like racial stereotypes and sexism were definitely in vogue back in the 50s and 60s.
In short, it looks like some work that Don Draper and his crew would have produced. Here is a quick stroll down memory, courtesy of old school ad agencies.
1: ‘I am the Frito Bandito.”
Back in the day, the Frito Bandito was an appealing cartoon character who sang a catchy jingle. He also sold a lot of corn chips. Today he spends his time in exile with his cousin, Speedy Gonzalez.
2: The Marlboro man wasn’t the only thing that sold Marlboros.
Packaging also helped. Some Marlboro commercials featured Marlboros in a flip top box. They were sort of reminiscent of a coffin. Maybe that was a harbinger of truth in advertising.
