50 Fascinating ‘Vintage Advertisements’ That Might Not Go Down Well Today (New Pics)
Interview With ExpertThe world of advertising is utterly fascinating. Sure, being bombarded by ads every single moment throughout your day can be annoying. But if they’re genuinely creative and informative, then you might just stop and look. Even if you don’t plan on buying the product or service, you can allow yourself to be entertained.
The r/vintageads online community is a wonderful niche on the internet. There, you’ll find interesting examples of what advertisements used to look like decades and decades ago. Some of them seem goofy and even downright weird in the eyes of modern audiences. Though they seem simply baffling, they give us a glimpse into bygone eras and the values and behaviors of people living in the past. Scroll down to check out the best and strangest the vintage world has to offer.
Bored Panda was interested in finding out more about giving ads greater longevity, as well as what current trends in advertising look like, so we reached out to marketing psychology speaker Matt Johnson, Ph.D., the host of the human nature blog. You'll find his insights as you read on.
This post may include affiliate links.
Honestly The Graffiti Is Better
Dad, You've Got To Help Me! Responsible Drinking Message From Seagram Company Ltd, 1987
They All Got The Vaccine.. Except Dad, 1958
We asked Johnson about the things that could give an advertisement greater longevity, to make it relevant for longer. He explained that there's no guarantee that an ad will be relevant in the future. However, if you want to increase its longevity, one way is to see whether it would be relevant in the past.
"If you want an ad to resonate 20 years in the future, it should be designed in such a way that audiences 20 years in the past can relate to it. To this end, creating a timeless ad involves a delicate balance between innovation and universality," the marketing psychology speaker explained.
"While creativity is crucial, it's essential to tap into enduring human emotions and values that transcend temporal trends. A successful ad resonates not only with the current zeitgeist but also strikes a chord with timeless themes that withstand the test of cultural evolution."
Asbestos Ad, 1970s
Man Looking For A Wife In 1865
All this at eighteen? When i was eighteen, i could barely slap my own a**e with both hands.
Kikkoman Soy Sauce Promotional Matches (1950s?)
According to the marketing psychology speaker and host of the human nature blog, simplicity often proves to be a virtue. "A clear, memorable message can endure in the minds of viewers across generations. Ultimately, an ad's ability to endure lies in its capacity to evoke emotions, tell a compelling story, and embed itself in the collective consciousness, transcending the fleeting preferences of any given era."
Bored Panda inquired about current trends in advertising and how the industry might change in the near future, as well. Johnson was kind enough to shed some light on this. He noted the importance of authenticity, personalization, and influencer marketing.
Don't Smoke, Live Long And Prosper, 1989
Who made this list? Seems like a very mixed bag. Some of these are just great ideas. Why lump them in with the aged-badly ones?
Daihatsu Hijet Ad From 1996
Modern Home Floor Plan, Sears 1934 Catalog
"People have been saying 'advertising is dead' for decades now. And while the industry shows no signs of dying off completely, it continues to go through some substantial changes," he told us.
"For one, authenticity is paramount, with consumers increasingly valuing brands that embrace genuine storytelling and transparency. Personalization is another key aspect, as targeted and tailored content becomes more prevalent to cater to individual preferences. The rise of influencer marketing continues to be significant, with brands leveraging the reach and credibility of social media influencers."
The expert then shared what the near future might look like in the ad industry. "Looking ahead, as trust is increasingly hard to come by in the consumer world, influencer content stands to take additional market share away from traditional ad spend."
Remember Wendy’s Tables?
Mental Health Help Service In 1991 X-Men Comic
What's wrong with that? I'll admit I haven't checked if the service itself is legit, but I think any use of media to promote mental health and destigmatising the utilization of therapeutic options is a good one.
I've Robbed The Rainbow To Make You Gay. Jester Wools
"The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'." according to Wiki and the Oxfird Dictionary of difficult words. Somewhere mid 19hundreds the meaning changed. I have old books from the 1930s, from sci-fi to mysteries, in which "gay" is used frequently, and it always means "happy" or "joyful".
Created way back in early 2012, the r/vintageads subreddit is going to be celebrating its 12th birthday in just a few short months. At the time of writing, the online community had just over 167k members.
The sub is still very active to this very day, as people continue to stumble upon new vintage advertisements to share with everyone else. It’s not just a group for those working in marketing, advertising, or design, however. Anyone who has a fascination with history and nostalgia for the past is bound to enjoy themselves here.
As we’ve covered on Bored Panda recently, people working in marketing need to put in the proper time and effort to get to know their target audience well. The devil is in the details. And the details really do matter.
When you know what your audience wants and needs, and how it thinks, you can shape your advertising campaign around that. You can anticipate the possible reactions.
Meanwhile, In Florida Public School History Books
If You Lived In The 70s Or 80s You Either Had One Of These Patterns Or Knew Someone Who Did
Bottom row, third from left is still going strong at my Aunt's house
In The 1970s, This Was A Clothing Store's Idea Of A "Chubby Girl."
So, nothing has changed? Still unhealthy body expectations in the fashion industry where most ( yet not all) designers want their models to be thinner than is healthy? And healthy people like this kid are considered plus size?
One huge mistake that you can make is only ever doing things how you want to do them, ignoring everyone else. At the end of the day, it’s your audience that buys your products and services, not you.
So there needs to be a balance between what the business aims to accomplish, the creative aspect of the ad, as well as the desires of the audience.
“A poor marketer hasn’t read the data and gotten to know their audience. These people will build collateral that would appeal to themselves or their peer group rather than that of the target audience,” Jansen Mann, who runs the digital marketing agency ‘Simon’ and the 'Ridiculous Marketing Nonsense' online project told Bored Panda during an earlier interview.
1960 Flintstones Advertising Sponsored By Winston
I’m pretty sure that the Flintstones cartoon originally had depictions of smoking in it and promoted a cigarette brand, so this doesn’t surprise me
When I’m 64
Re-Groove Your Tyres
Fundamentally, telling a good advertisement from a bad one isn’t as easy as you might think. On the one hand, you could call an ad successful if it goes viral, generates buzz, and sparks discussions with its creative approach. On the other hand, you could also measure success by whether or not the ad fulfilled the company’s goals.
The business might have gone viral with its ads, but if they’re not converted into sales, then the result is a bit of a mixed bag. However, if the company’s goal had been to raise brand awareness, then congratulations—you’ve done exactly what you set out to do.
What really useful here is for the people creating the ad to have very clear goals in mind before they even set out to sketch anything. When you’re focused on a specific idea and goal, you’re more likely to create something of value.
In 1967 Philco Introduced A 4 Inch Vinyl Disc They Called 'Hip Pocket Records.' They Had A 'Hit' Song On Each Side And Sold For 69 Cents
God forbid you forgot them in your pocket and they went in the wash.
Sugar Information Inc., 1964
When we were young we thought that the Beatles all wore wigs instead of that being their real hair. Mostly because there were many ads for "Beatle wigs" in comics and magazines.
The Shirt Suit Supreme
Another aspect of success lies in the longevity of an ad campaign. Companies evolve. New products are developed all the time. Society and its values shift and change. If you’re able to communicate the essence of your company and product in such a way that it remains relevant years, decades, and even centuries later, then you’ve got something truly magical on your hands. But this requires getting to the core of what makes human beings, well, human.
Mcdonalds Onion Nuggets
Sears Men's Fashion 1960's
Wheel Ants?
Ideally, businesses will try to connect not just with their current audience but also with people in the future who might have very different values and sensibilities. However, things like attention to quality, reliability, or whatever else a brand values the most, can remain relevant even as time speeds by. Something else that remains static is human nature.
Every ad, then, isn’t just a separate campaign or a bunch of info in a spreadsheet: it’s part of a larger legacy. If you can keep the messaging consistent over time, the company itself can remain on people’s radars across generations.
1998 Milk Ad With Conan O'brien
In The 1950s, Antidepressants Were Marketed Primarily Towards Housewives And Their Husbands To Ensure Household Tasks Weren't Neglected
I'm Pretty Sure Everyone Had One Of These
That doesn’t mean that you should be afraid of change. Flexibility is a huge part of success in life in general, not just in the advertising industry. While you can keep the core message and values the same, the way you format everything can be different.
Forbes notes that advertisers shouldn’t be scared of using new platforms, like TikTok or Instagram, to spread their message. That means testing out different approaches… and seeing what sticks.
Unpleasant Odour Is Caused By Underarm Hair (1930s)
McDonald's Mcdonaldland Glasses, 1975
The Love Rug. 1973
Which of these vintage advertisements did you personally find the most interesting, dear Pandas? Which ones did you think were the most bizarre? Do you think any of these ads could work in the modern world? Why (not)? If you’re feeling up to it, scroll down to the comment section to share your thoughts with all the other readers.
Jc Penney Ad, 1972
Is it just me or do they look like they are going to dance the boogie? 😅
Buying A Concrete House Buys You Maximum Protection From Atomic Blasts
Long as that house was the top of a bunker..... you'd still be crushed in a direct hit zone. Nice try, Portland.
Cottonelle Colored Toilet Paper (1982)
My mom bought Christmas toilet paper with drawings of Santa. What she didn't notice was that his pants were down.
Glad This Is Laughable Today - Advertisement For Radio Drama Show Asking If Women Over 35 Can Be Loved
Gentlemen Prefer Hanes (1975)
Backyard Star Wars Playset
Shag Rug Rake
How Many Of You Jokers Had This Budweiser Poster In The Late 80s?
Marlboro Cigarettes "You're Darn Tootin My Dad Smokes Marlboro", 1950
In The 1950s, Antidepressants Were Marketed Primarily Towards Housewives And Their Husbands To Ensure Household Tasks Weren't Neglected
French Ad For The Amc Pacer, 1975
A Terrifying Way To Start Your Day: Post's Sugar Krinkles
A Walking Turn On. 1970s
Cricketeer Suit Ad From 1972
Gain Weight With Ironized Yeast (1958)
Universal Food Chopper (1899)
Van Heusen Sport Shirts, 1951
Oh, he's enjoying this role-play now, but he doesn't know what they plan to do with that paddle.
1974 Ford Thunderbird Burgundy Edition
On My First Kiss By Brooke Shields For Love's Baby Soft Fragrance, 1980
1897 De Dion-Bouton Motor Trike
Fancy Toilet Paper ~ 1950s
Remember: the really cool people dress to match their bathrooms.
Margaret Hamilton From The Wizard Of Oz As "Cora", The Maxwell House Coffee Lady - 1977
"Don't Be Fooled By Look-Alikes!" Hydrox - 1954
Remember Digging Through The Entertainment Section Of The Newspaper To Find The Movie Listings?
Wall-To-Wall Carpet For The Bath
Esprit (1980's)
We really had no idea at all of what we were doing in the 1980s, did we?
1976 - The Green Machine
Showbiz Pizza, 1986
Lucky Strike Ad - 1930s
Nintendo Lightboy Ad, 1990s
Dream Date Portrait Pillow
In 1962, Bette Davis Placed This Ad In Variety
Just goes to remind us that there's no such thing as job security!
Plushy Mushroom Stools, Montgomery Ward's Fall/Winter 1972 Catalog
Game Boy Ad 1990s
Glow-Worm Electric Fires (1968)
1956 "Modern Hair Styling"
Perhaps there's really only 4 types: 'severe', 'more severe', 'most severe, and 'nope'.
1988 Penn Tennis Ball Ad Promoting The French Open
Call Home And Have A Chat With Your Vcr, 1989
If I couldn't programme it with the owner's manual and tears of frustration streaming down my face, then it's highly unlikely I could do it over the phone.
Mad T-Shirts, 1958
“The Choice Of Anew Generation”: Pepsi Ad, 1980s
Kissing Potion - Seventeen February 1983
I remember these...if you kissed whist wearing the stuff you'd stick together. It was very gooey!
Salem Cigarettes (1974)
1978 Ad For Clark's Star Wars Sneakers
Personal Ads, 1957
New Crazy Vanilla Ice Cream By Sealtest, 1965
Ad For Hydrox (1986)
Drink Ovaltine To Wake Up Gay In The Morning! 1940s Ad
"Someday Roads Will Tell Cars Where To Go" Gm (1960)
The Gunvertor (~1994)
Sears, 1975
Nutone Intercom-Radio, 1962
$759 In 1912 Would Be $23,409 In Todays Dollars. Wouldn’t That Be Nice… This Is From January 1912, Popular Mechanics
Frito-Lay Inc., Life Magazine Issue June 14, 1968
Why Wear Pantyhose Instead Of Pants? Hanes 1974
He may be many things, but i would hesitate to include 'gentleman' in the list.
Bobbie Brooks Stockings. Seventeen Magazine, November 1965
Might Tiny 1960s
Apple Computers Late 90s
Mcdonald’s, 1975 Ad
Pizza Hut Oven In Sears Catalog (1977) "Put Up The 'Official' Sign And You're In Business!"
Personals, 1971
The Establishment Wig
McDonald's Extra Value Menu 1993
1980s Volvo 240 Turbo Ad
I was stuck driving my husband's Vette during a Chicago winter. Very nice to have a snow plow practically pushing you down the street because you can't get out of its way.
Sugar Information Inc., 1965
Let's both shame your weight AND shade your parenting skills - in the same ad!
At&t, Parents Magazine, 1967
Swanson Frozen Foods, 1965 Ad
Wtf? Playboy 1977
Panasonic "Don't Listen To Squares" 1973
In The 1950s, Antidepressants Were Marketed Primarily Towards Housewives And Their Husbands To Ensure Household Tasks Weren't Neglected
Don't diss the happy pills too hard. There's a lot of people who wouldn't be hacking it without them.
Mitsubishi Movievision Projection TV (1979)
Big was worse. Projection televisions were weak, blurry bullcrap.
Only Miracle Whip Can Make Pears Taste So Good! (1950s)
Teen Spirit (1992)
Fisher Price A-Frame Toy House Print Ad. Who Had One Of These, Or The Classic Colonial House? Me, Me! Early 1970s
flashback...I loved Little People! Had the house, the barn and numerous other sets. My baby sister had the castle, which I still played with even though I was too old to at the time
Ricardo Montalban And The 1984 Chrysler Fifth Avenue
Vintage Indian Ads
Addicted To Video Games (1980s)
Fruit-O-Matic Vending Machine
A Sad Ad. A Bull Morns His Brother Who Became Bovril Concentrated Beef Extract (1930s)
Gameboy (1992)
Aluminum Company Of America, 1959 Ad
Tmnt Pies, Hostess, 1991
I bet these sold about as well as fire extinguishers full of kerosene.
Personal Ads, 1951
Nokia Ads
Computers coming along. Back then, we thought we'd already arrived.
Green Giant Niblets, 1963
"Keep'em Home For Breakfast With Hostess." (1984)
Gay Plastics By Pierwood Plastics, Australia, 1959
1958 Ad For Smirnoff Vodka Featuring Buster Keaton
Buster Keaton, one of the greats! Unfortunately, he suffered from alcoholism.
Circa [1980], The Atari Computer Demonstration Center
I Remember Seeing This Ad As A Child. I Always Wondered If It Worked
Chef Boyardee Pizza 60s
My best friend in high school and I used to make these pizza's all the time. Funny enough, I remember loving the taste of these!
You No Longer Have To Sacrifice Power For Portability. Game Keeper Ad, 1991
Hunt's Catsup, 1960
Jc Penney, 1967
Jello R-A-C-Ist 1920's
The Original Burger King Whopper In 1963
Late 60s/Early 70s KFC Menu
H.i.s. "Over Thirty" And "They Would Never Understand" Ad Campaigns (1970)
'They' ('we') didn't understand then, and the passage of time has not changed that one bit.
Bring Back 1955! Please!
Can you imagine people debating whether they could afford the extra $2 a month?
McDonald's (1987)
Cheez Whiz, Kraft, 1968
Who Wants To Party With These Guys?
Vintage Indian Ads
Chef Boy-Ar-Dee Pizza In A Box Kit
Best Present I’ve Gotten
A Nabisco Saltine Billboard With A Happy, Smiling Man, Eating Saltines From A Red Premium Box, 1950s, Los Angeles, California
Vintage Indian Ads
Nokia Ads
Nokia Ads
1980 Shamrock Shakes Ad
Shouldn’t we be getting cups with purple shamrocks on for the Grimace’s Birthday Shake?
Ghostbusters Vhs $59.88
THAT is why we waited 'til it was on TV to tape it then, or rented. And I know now that in the UK, our TV and VHS were a higher fidelity than in America. Thems were the days.
Monster Cereals, 1971
Doritos Wow! 1998
Pepsi, 1980 Ad
Vintage Indian Ads
DAMMIT THERE WERE 90 MORE EARLIER!! knew I should have fought that nap
Just click on the link at the bottom of the article to see them.
Load More Replies...The next time they do one of these they should include page 602 of the 1975 Sears catalog.
" Vintage" ads. I remember all of these... guess that makes me vintage too.
Most of these ads are American - and it's obvious that the person who wrote this article is not American and is using their countries values and slapping it on us - which is ironically - a really american thing to do.
DAMMIT THERE WERE 90 MORE EARLIER!! knew I should have fought that nap
Just click on the link at the bottom of the article to see them.
Load More Replies...The next time they do one of these they should include page 602 of the 1975 Sears catalog.
" Vintage" ads. I remember all of these... guess that makes me vintage too.
Most of these ads are American - and it's obvious that the person who wrote this article is not American and is using their countries values and slapping it on us - which is ironically - a really american thing to do.