35 Vintage Ads That Will Make You Appreciate Living In The 21st Century

The following pictures are real, authentic advertisements that date back to the late 1800s and go all the way up to the early 1970s. Some are racist, some are sexist, and some are just plain weird. If you approach these vintage ads with an open mind and good sense of humor you can actually have fun with them. Best case scenario you laugh until you cry. Worst case scenario you realize how lucky we all are to live in a much more progressive, educated society. Either way you win. Join me on this bizarre trip down memory lane…

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Courtesy of Forgotten History Blog

1. Ronald Reagan Chesterfield Cigarette Ad, 1952

No unpleasant aftertaste Ron? I wish we could say the same about your presidency.

 

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Courtesy of Propaganda Posters

2. WWII Propaganda Poster, 1943

Good luck agreeing on which radio station to listen to, he can be SO unreasonable.

 

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Courtesy of Found In Mom’s Basement

3. Demure Ad, 1969

Replace “ing” with an “e” and you have yourself a synonym, am I right ladies?

 

They Call Him Ginger - Ale
Courtesy of AnanasAMiami.com

4. Canada Dry Ad, 1938

Well, they’re not wrong.

 

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Courtesy of Found In Mom’s Basement

5. DuPont Sun Lamp, 1960

“Simply lay your child down underneath the DuPont Sun Lamp. Then, all you have to do is set it…and forget it!” *crowd erupts in applause*

 

REO
Courtesy of Manifesto Q

6. Reo Cologne Ad, 1977

My question is, how does one determine whether a consumer meets the criteria for buying this cologne??Seems like they’re putting department store clerks in a pretty awkward position here.

 

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Courtesy of Resumes-Cover-Letters-Jobs

7. Mentha Dental Offices Ad, 1900

Alright I’m onto you guys, where’s the hidden cameras? I’m being Punk’d right? This deal is way too good to be true.

 

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Courtesy of Neatorama.com

8. Iver Johnson Revolvers Ad, 1904

If Iver Johnson AND Papa say it’s safe, you can take that to the bank. Well maybe not the bank…but you get the idea.

 

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Courtesy of Business Insider

9. Bayer Medicinal Heroin Ad, Around 1900

When that aspirin just ain’t cuttin’ it, Bayer knows what you really want.

 

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Courtesy of Flickr

10. Pears Soap Ad, Early 1900’s

Hey Pears Soap, what the hell am I looking at right now?

 

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Courtesy of Ava Launch Media

11. Pitney-Bowes Ad, 1953

We laugh but you know what the scary part is? Sh*t was so out of whack back then they probably thought this was a legitimate question.

 

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Courtesy of The Library of Congress

12. Official U.S. Navy Poster, 1942

I don’t endorse racism of any kind, but after Pearl Harbor I understand why the Navy might be a little mad. Let’s not pretend we don’t see cartoons like this of ISIS or Al-Qaeda. Just saying.

 

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Courtesy of?The World of Dr. Orloff

13. Radio Free Europe Cold War Ad, 1955

Duh, dude. Who invited this guy anyways? Doesn’t even know what truth dollars are.

 

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Courtesy of Duke University Libraries

14. Ladies Home Journal Yeast Ad, 1934

RIP to that woman’s toilet…never stood a chance.

 

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Courtesy of?All Posters

15. Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills Ad, 1890

Canada Dry kid from earlier would be PUMPED.

 

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Courtesy of Stagworld

16. Atlas Industries Vibra-Finger Ad, 1960

Kind of like the warning on cotton swab boxes telling you not to put them in your ear. You can tell me this is a gum-massager, but we all know what’s going on here.

 

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Courtesy of?Attic Paper

17. Monsanto Chemicals Ad, 1939

From the fine people over at Monsanto. Yes, that Monsanto.

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Courtesy of?The Society Pages

18. Drummond Sweaters Ad, 1959

Well, Drummond Sweaters, tell us how you really feel.

 

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Courtesy of Digital Poster Collection

19. Johnnie Walker Whiskey Ad, 1930’s

So the greatest generation liked to drink their breakfast once in awhile, what’s it to you?

 

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Courtesy of All Classic Ads

20. Prophylaxis Ad, Date Unknown

Al Capone must have missed this one. Better luck next time big guy.

 

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Courtesy of Mom Grind

21. Coca-Cola Ad, 1950’s

Good question Coca-Cola, is it ever really too soon to give an infant more sugar than multiple adults should consume?

 

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Courtesy of Duke University Libraries

22. Palmolive Soap Ad, 1924

“Honey, it’s really unattractive when you think for yourself.” – Men in 1924.

 

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Courtesy of Etsy

23. Tipalet Cigarettes Ad, 1969

Pretty generous of them to put that in the ad, you should have to pay for advice that good.

 

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Courtesy of Ad Age

24. 7-Up Soda Ad, 1950’s

Alright, enough. What’s the statute of limitations on child abuse? The people at Coke and 7-Up need to be held accountable for this madness.

 

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Courtesy of New York Daily News

25. Schlitz Beer Ad, 1952

I wasn’t aware something that’s like 99.9% water could burn. Scientific breakthroughs and great beer, that’s just what Schlitz does.

 

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Courtesy of Retroist

26. Sega Megadrive Ad, Date Unknown

I have nothing to add. A+ Sega, A+.

 

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Courtesy of the Library of Congress

27. U.S. Navy Poster, 1918

Serious question: we all know women are allowed to enlist now, but did the Navy come up with a different term for female sailors? Referring to women as “seamen” sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen, regardless of spelling.

 

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Courtesy of Duke University Libraries

28. Barbasol Deodorant Ad, 1947

Barbasol won’t mind if I start using their slogan right? “Dude, you’ve got a serious case of athletic aroma.” Love it.

 

thorazine
Courtesy of Experience Project

29. Thorazine Ad, 1957

120 pounds of elderly rage coming right at you. As Dan Patrick once said, “You can’t stop him, you can only hope to contain him.”

 

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Courtesy of Trinkets and Trash

30. Virginia Slims Ad, 1971

If I didn’t know better I’d think Virginia Slims brought Shakespeare back from the dead to write ads for them. No but seriously this is next-level offensive, it’s like they tried to pack as much sexist rhetoric as they could into one ad.

 

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Courtesy of Flickr

31. Lucky Strike Ad, 1936

Listen, if you had to travel the entire planet in one night giving free sh*t to ungrateful brats, you’d need a cigarette too.

 

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Courtesy of The Quack Doctor

32. Chlorine Kilacold Bomb Ad, 1920’s

And you thought it was just an extremely toxic chemical for when your little cousin pees in the pool…HA!

 

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Courtesy of All Classic Ads

33. Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix Ad, 1940’s

True story. They had an “Aunt Jemima” back in the day that would travel around doing public speaking events and demonstrations. They made her stay in character the whole time. Not even kidding. Look it up.

 

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Courtesy of Modern Mechanix

34. Popular Science Article, 1932

Go ahead, try to find one flaw in filling your car with exhaust fumes. You can’t.

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Courtesy of Flamingo Toes

35. Tape Worm Diet Ad, 1900’s

Let me get this straight: these parasitic worms will live inside me eating all the bad crap coming down the chute, AND they’re easy to swallow? Sign me up.

 

Well folks, that’s our show. Don’t spend all those truth dollars in one place, you’ll want some for a rainy day.

 

Ben Dunham-Kapaldo is a 22-year old senior attending college in Upstate New York. Originally from a small town in Maine, he began his secondary education as a football player in college first and a student in college second. After realizing that wasn't a recipe for success, Ben straightened out his priorities and was recently named to the school's Fall 2014 Dean's List. For the past two years, Ben has contributed articles for the school newspaper and was promoted to an editorial position for the 2014-2015 academic year. After graduation he hopes to work in the research division of an advertising firm or become a full-time journalist.