They say that you need to explore the past to understand the present. Like flipping through historic photos that change our perspective or discovering time-honored places and the stories behind them. Visuals help us get a sneak peek into moments that we have long forgotten or weren't even aware of. But there are some illustrations, like old-fashioned ads, that offer heaps of wisdom into how our attitudes were shaped and often get overlooked.

So get ready for a blast from the past because one corner on Reddit called 'Vintage Advertisements' is sharing plenty of hilarious and plain outrageous ads that didn’t age that gracefully. Members of this online community let us poke fun at past behaviors and remind us of all humanity has achieved in the last decades, and their efforts do not go unnoticed.

From "Get into Grunge!" to "Should you drink if you’re pregnant?", these ads prove that hindsight really is 20/20. We at Bored Panda have gathered some of their best examples and wrapped them up in one list, all for your entertainment. So continue scrolling and hit upvote on your favorite ones! And if you’ve ever stumbled upon ads that are simply begging to be ridiculed, we’d love to hear all about them in the comments below.

#1

Superman Against Racism/Discrimination Ad Circa 1950

Vintage ad featuring a superhero talking to kids about diversity and inclusion, highlighting outdated cultural values.

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    #2

    LEGO (1981)

    Child holding a LEGO creation, vintage ad, showcasing Universal Building Sets aimed at young builders with text praising creativity.

    superdankm8 Report

    #3

    Bacardi Rum Ad, 1983

    Vintage ad featuring bottle caps from various sodas and a steering wheel with text about Bacardi rum mixing with everything.

    Unable-Airport-9121 Report

    #4

    Homosexuals Are Different, Mattachine Society Of New York, 1960

    Funny vintage ad with cartoon animals, promoting civil rights for homosexuals by Mattachine Society of New York.

    Slow-moving-sloth Report

    #5

    They All Got Vaccine Except Dad - Workbench Magazine - 1958

    Vintage ad showing a family gathered around a man in an iron lung, highlighting the importance of polio vaccination.

    sir_rossington Report

    #6

    An Unusually Progressive Seagrams Ad, Circa 1970s

    Pregnant woman in vintage ad with text questioning alcohol consumption during pregnancy, showcasing a failed test of time.

    ofthrees Report

    #7

    Philips (Netherlands, 1951)

    Vintage ad featuring a black cat intrigued by a large fish on an old Philips television screen.

    ConsciousRhubarb Report

    #8

    Best Buy, 1999

    Vintage Best Buy ad reminding to turn off computers before midnight on 12/31/99 for Y2K compliance.

    TommyAdagio Report

    #9

    1978 Star Wars Vaccination Ad

    Funny vintage ad with robots urging parents to immunize children, blending sci-fi with healthcare message.

    Paul-Belgium Report

    #10

    Electricity Was New Once. These Signs Were Mostly In Hotel Rooms And Other Public Places

    Vintage ad for Edison Electric Light, advising against using matches and highlighting safety and convenience.

    Gwendolyn7777 Report

    #11

    Jester Wools (1947, UK)

    A vintage ad featuring a jester and a woman with a rainbow, promoting knitting with colorful texts.

    MetaHelvetica Report

    #12

    1934 Ad By The ‘Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals’

    Vintage ad showing a woman on a bench with a dog, promoting kindness to animals, illustrating a humorous failure of time.

    onepersononeidea Report

    #13

    Beauty Is More Then Skin Deep, Cordless Massager, Anthony Enterprises, 1971

    Vintage ad showcasing a smiling woman holding a cordless massager, highlighting its benefits humorously.

    Slow-moving-sloth Report

    #14

    Volkswagen Beetle, 1965

    Vintage ad showing a multicolored VW Beetle with interchangeable parts from various years.

    Slow-moving-sloth Report

    #15

    "The Closest Some Of Us Will Ever Get To Heaven" -- World Trade Center (1980)

    Vintage ad with the World Trade Center and humorous text about reaching heaven.

    UltimateLazer Report

    #16

    1979 Ad For London Transit Showing How The City Would Look If Built By American Planners

    Vintage ad shows a congested road around Big Ben, highlighting British Rail as an alternative to commuting.

    morganmonroe81 Report

    #17

    Drunk Driving Ad, London... I'm Going To Say 1930's? Sorry For The Light Reflection!

    Vintage ad with a man and a glass, reads "One for the road, may be one for the grave," highlighting outdated humor.

    Terminian Report

    #18

    How To Carry 20 Megabytes Of Data Around In 1985

    Vintage ad for Maynard's Transport portable hard drive showing a man with a briefcase.

    reddit.com Report

    #19

    "The Day My Kid Went Punk... What Do You Do When Your Bright, Loveable, Talented Kid Turns Into A Punker Overnight?" - Abc Afterschool Special, Oct. 23, 1987

    Vintage ad featuring a boy with a punk hairstyle sitting at a table with a concerned man, showcasing cultural shifts.

    DiosMioMan63 Report

    #20

    Pan American Airlines (1956)

    Vintage ad showing a pilot with a sleeping mother and child on a plane, captioned "Europe is only a dream away."

    MetaHelvetica Report

    #21

    New York Pizza Burger (1980s)

    Vintage Burger King Pizza Burger ad showing slices of a pizza-shaped burger in packaging, alongside fries and sauces.

    Epstiendidntkillself Report

    #22

    One Oregon Newspaper Clip Reads: “We Appeal To Your Civil Patriotism To Co-Operate With Us In Our Effort To Stamp Out The Spanish Influenza Or “Flu” Plague In Portland By Wearing A Mask”

    Vintage ad urging mask-wearing to combat Spanish influenza, showcasing outdated health measures.

    Paul-Belgium Report

    #23

    Eat Ironized Yeast (1930s)

    Vintage ad showing a woman's weight gain journey using ironized yeast, emphasizing societal beauty standards.

    reddit.com Report

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    #24

    Save Wild Life. 1975

    Vintage ad with animals forming letters to spell "Save Wildlife," created by Air-India for World Wildlife Fund.

    Dhorlin Report

    #25

    Ray Ban 1998 Ad

    Vintage Ray-Ban ad featuring a couple laughing in sunglasses against a clear sky, promoting glare protection.

    Paul-Belgium Report

    #26

    1/2 Page Converse Ad Scanned In From A 1984 Playboy Magazine, I Just Read It For The Ads

    Vintage ad showing bird feet compared to a Converse sneaker, humorously portraying the Golden Crested, Green Footed Larry Bird.

    mikeyRamone Report

    #27

    Mcdonald’s, 1987 Ad

    Vintage ad featuring women discussing McDonald's salad over the phone, showcasing humorous and weird marketing.

    Paul-Belgium Report

    #28

    Really, Really Excited About Hot Dogs (1950s)

    Vintage ad depicting a smiling family humorously holding hot dogs.

    MetaHelvetica Report

    #29

    Remember When Brach’s Pick A Mix Was The Best Thing About Going To The Grocery Store? (1970s)

    Vintage ad showing a woman and child at a Brach's Pick-A-Mix candy display.

    DiosMioMan2 Report

    #30

    The Establishment Wig, 1968

    Vintage ad for the "Establishment Wig" showing men with various hairstyles, highlighting funny and weird fashion trends.

    reddit.com Report

    #31

    1977 Sears Catalog

    Vintage Pizza Hut toy oven with dough mix packs, retro advertisement.

    morganmonroe81 Report

    #32

    "When In Quarantine; People Who Are In Quarantine Are Not Isolated If They Have A Bell Telephone" - Bell Telephone Ad, November 17, 1910

    Vintage ad depicting a Bell Telephone, with a woman talking on the phone and a man in the background.

    FNaXQ Report

    #33

    Schlitz "Don't Worry Darling, You Didn't Burn The Beer!" 1950's

    Vintage ad showing a couple in a kitchen, with the text "Don't worry darling, you didn't burn the beer!" featuring Schlitz.

    susierabbit Report

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    #34

    Simpsons Newspaper Ad (1991)

    Vintage ad of "The Simpsons" featuring Homer's long-lost brother with guest voice Danny DeVito, humorous promotional piece.

    GrapeJelly_ Report

    #35

    Citroën 2cv, 80’s

    Vintage ad comparing Citroën 2CV with Ferrari, Rolls Royce, and Porsche, humorously highlighting its features.

    Superbuddhapunk Report

    #36

    American Airlines, 1971

    Funny vintage ad for American Airlines, showcasing a luxurious airplane lounge with red sofas and a flight attendant.

    Paul-Belgium Report

    #37

    Toll Booth Quarter Gun (1962)

    Vintage ad showing a toy gun shooting quarters into toll baskets, showcasing outdated and funny innovation.

    GymbagDarrel Report

    #38

    70’s Ad For Asbestos

    Vintage ad for asbestos featuring the World Trade Center, highlighting its fireproofing properties in bold text.

    morganmonroe81 Report

    #39

    Matchbook Ad For Camp Wandawega In Elkhorn, Wi

    Vintage matchbook ad promoting outdoor activities like fishing and baseball, labeled "It's patriotic to be healthy."

    50thStreetInc Report

    #40

    Gay Boy Tobacco 1890

    Vintage ad featuring a well-dressed man with a bowler hat, holding a cigar and cane, labeled "Gay Boy."

    70sTimewarp58 Report

    #41

    Garfield Telephone By Tyco (1978)

    Vintage ad featuring a Garfield phone with a young woman holding the receiver, showcasing retro product design.

    TaimSolas Report

    #42

    Yes, These Are Telephones. Created By The Ericsson Company Of Sweden In The 1940s, Marketed In The 1950s

    Vintage ad featuring colorful Ericofon telephones with various names, highlighting a retro design and North Electric Company.

    50thStreetInc Report

    #43

    Kickin Jeans

    Vintage jeans ad featuring models performing high kicks, promoting flexibility and comfort with the tagline "Don't Bind Your Legs."

    MrZombified Report

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    #44

    Lose Weight With Pure Sugar! (1950s)

    Vintage ad of a man and woman promoting Domino Sugar as a healthy choice for energy and weight control.

    50thStreetInc Report