Vintage ads that could never be used today
For decades, advertising companies have known their target audiences and how to attract them.
That being said, there are many classic advertisements featuring content and images that would never be accepted today, and probably for a pretty good reason. Find out what advertisers used to get away with…
You’ve Had Enough Sir
In this ad, a woman is serving wine to two men.
Today, both the man trying to grab her and the man sleeping would be removed for being publicly intoxicated.
Doctors Have Changed
Besides the fact that no cigarette ads would fly in modern times, this vintage ad contains the additional layer of using doctors to recommend cigarettes.
It’s intriguing because the wording of the ad almost implies that they know cigarettes are inherently unhealthy – but Camels, evidently, are the least unhealthy.
Sorry Girls
There is no doubt Sumner, Washington, is an excellent place to raise children, but this advertisement purposely excluded girls.
This ad reeks of misogyny, implying girls cannot be raised there.
Men Are Nowhere in Sight
To a large extent, ads for home appliances are still tailored towards women – but in the old days, this was even more apparent.
It harkens back to a time when domestic supplies were seen as the exclusive domain of women.
No Need ‘Fur’ This Type Of Advertising Today
Why this advertisement would not get seen today is an endless list of reasons.
First, the cats (women) are enticingly teasing the dog (a man), and fur coats are taboo.
Even Heroes Smoked
For many baseball fans – and fans of equality in general – Jackie Robinson is a hero for breaking baseball’s era of racial segregation.
While Robinson is appropriately remembered for his heroism, this cigarette ad shows just how uncontroversial these endorsements were at the time.
I’ll Just Help Myself
While this appears to be for a non-alcoholic beverage, this cider advertisement’s imagery very closely resembles beer.
Companies and society would take issue with someone serving themselves from a keg.
What’s the Connection?
Nowadays, plenty of people drink Coca-Cola to perk themselves up, as the drink contains caffeine.
Back in the day, though, it contained a different kind of stimulant – one that’s banned today – and that puts a different spin on this old-school ad.
Beach Day
This ad image would not survive the presses today because it is illegal to drink alcohol on the beach.
The ad also implies the beers will somehow lighten the mood.
They’d Never Heard of Microplastics
As the scientific community continues to come to grips with the harms that microplastics are causing to our planet (and to our bodies), an ad extolling the virtues of plastics seems far-fetched.
While plastics are viewed a different way today, it’s easy to forget that there was a time in which they were viewed as a miracle.
Pretty Please With A Coke On Top
Submissiveness and sexuality are subtly suggested in this ad’s headline and imagery.
The advertisement shows a young woman appearing to beg for permission from her man for a soft drink.
A Tale as Old as Time
For decades, American companies had a love affair with using racially questionable stereotypes of Black people as mascots.
This shows the Cream of Wheat character known as Rastus, who was generally depicted as barely literate and servile.
Nothing Like Hot Chocolate After Badminton
There is low-key suggestiveness in this ad’s image. Women playing sports while wearing dresses is hard no today.
Ads today showcase the athletic prowess of women, which this does not.
This is Very Questionable
This television ad is trying to communicate that its TV sets show things in such a lifelike way that you’ll feel like they’re in your living room, and are riffing off of a classic scene from King Kong to do so.
While audiences in the 1950s may have barely batted an eye at this ad, it feels more problematic today.
‘H’ Is For Hemorrhoids
Advertising for medication that relieves Hemorrhoids itself is harmless and still exists today.
The imagery and wording of the advertisement would be more subtle and likely hidden from plain view.
Slimness at all Costs
For most of the 20th century, many commercial products preyed on – and exacerbated – women’s body issues by promoting a wholly unrealistic body image.
While there’s plenty to be said about how the current media landscape has perpetuated the problem, we don’t see ads like this anymore.
Probably Wouldn’t Cut The Cheese
Actress Joan Caulfield is apparently advertising a line of cheesecakes bearing her name in this advertisement.
The thing is, there is zero cheesecake, and its irrelevant suggestiveness would cancel this advertisement today before production started.
If You Say So…
Once more, we have a vintage cigarette ad. That’s nothing new, but this one comes with a side order of sexism.
There’s some weird wordplay going on here, and the punchline seems to be that it’s worth walking a woman home if she’ll give you a cigarette.
Tide Laundry Detergent And Bodywash
Women worldwide single-handedly manage work while raising children every day.
Objections would probably be to her outfit, the children’s safety, and the validity of this soap for washing clothes and people.
This Would Not Fly
Here’s an ad that’s so problematic that it should have been cancelled immediately. It has the hallmarks of racism – exaggerated red lips and exaggerated dark skin.
It doubles down on this by implying, not so subtly, that dark-skinned people are the ones who need cleanliness more than anybody else.
Judge, Jury, And…
Our televisions and social media apps are littered with ads endorsing multidimensional tools these days.
This ad over-simplifies how to purchase a dangerous product that could be weaponized. And it is for children!
These Suits Are Breathtaking
On its own, this advertisement is not particularly misogynistic or objectionable.
Today’s medical standards, however, probably would not support advertising these special suits due to the potential for bodily harm.
Dear Santa, I Really Want A Carpet Sweeper For Christmas
Bissell still produces carpet sweepers today, but without the use of an obviously misogynistic advertisement like this one.
Society today would not accept advertising cleaning products as presents for women.
Plastic Made A Home, A Clean Home
Almost every American household during the period of this advertisement had plastic covering for everything inside the house.
This image is misogynistic and implies a house’s cleanliness is the responsibility of women.
This Better Not Clash With My Outfit
Anyone viewing this ad would be distracted from realizing that it’s endorsing electronics.
No demonstration of how the product works. Not to mention, the women’s low-cut sweater has nothing to do with the product.
Time For Some Accounting And A Smoke
A few images in this advertisement would instantly prevent it from being seen today.
Flowers and the photo suggest a female smoker calculating something while she waits for her husband.
1, 2, 3, Pull
Pictured here are half-naked children using a spool of cotton strong enough to capture an elephant.
Child labor laws and the children’s semi-nudity would not go over well today at all.
Just Wait For Me To Get My Second Wind
On the surface, ads for relief of almost any stomach ailment are nothing new or offensive.
What eliminates this ad from acceptability today is that the man’s issue is alcohol-induced.
Perfect Place For A Bachelor Party
What is lost in this advertisement is that it endorses a health spa, which is perfectly legitimate.
Images of the devilish figure and the woman curiously gazing imply inappropriate behavior.
Loser Does 10 Push-ups
Misogyny is the main issue with the images in this advertisement.
A group of women who are playing pool in dresses while the portrait is of men supposedly doing real work.
Drink Pepsi. All Of The Attractive Women Do
Vintage soft drink advertisements with attractive women, in suggestive positions was commonplace.
This ad and caption imply that refreshing involves drinking Pepsi and having the company of an attractive woman.
Probably Can’t Bring The Wife And Kids Here
Nudist resorts usually offer these services that are otherwise inappropriate.
What the ad more than directly points out is that these places are private and come with exclusive arrangement possibilities.
Animal Rights Groups, Line Up Here
Nobody is doubting the claim made by the caption that the fur sold at this store is beautiful.
Animal rights groups and animal lovers, however, would take issue with the fur-collection process.
They Couldn’t Think Of Anything Better To Wear?
We get that branding is an important part of advertising, but this stunt definitely went too far. Was it really necessary for these women to wear actual fertilizer bags? Maybe next time, they can just go with logo shirts.
This Party Needs A Little Mood Music
This ad’s image and caption infer that the”fun” being referred to is not appropriate around children.
Barely recognizable is the self-playing piano that is hidden behind the ad’s naughty overtures.
Put On Your Helmet Sweetie, Mommy’s Taking You For A Stroll
False and dangerous advertising would begin the list of objections to this advertisement.
The ad’s “common sense” that it refers to is contradicted and outweighed by the stroller’s safety concerns.
