Advertisement is all about finding the language and imagery that resonates with people, and in the past, that used to mean something completely different. It was a different time when people had different values, different priorities, and different beliefs and conceptions. One glaring example of these values and misconceptions is through vintage ads: They show what people cared about and what kind of messages resonated with them. Of course, today, these messages seem deeply shocking and wrong. If you want to see what we mean, here’s a collection of ads from past decades that, thankfully, would never fly today.
#1: Safety Comes First
#2: The Dog Ate My Jeans
#3: The Harder Your Work…
#4: What Men Care About
#5: An Inappropriate Question
#6: It’s a Man’s World
#7: That’s What Wives Are For
#8: The Youngest Customers in the Business
#9: What Really Matters
#10: Men Are Better Than Women, Simple as That
#11: Doctor’s Orders
#12: Santa’s First Choice
#13: What You’re Looking for in a Car
#14: Rob the Rainbow
#15: Don’t Be Like Jenny
#16: The Miracle of Marlboro
#17: How to Un-Punk Your Kid
#18: Wild About You
#19: That Seems Safe
#20: Star Cola Earlier
#21: Lead-Based Paint Is the Real Deal
#22: Sugar Can Be the Willpower You Need
#23: Successful Marriages Start in the Kitchen
#24: When Plastic Was an Important Part of a Healthy Diet
#25: Lose Those Pounds and Inches
