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Article created by: Eglė Bliabaitė

Companies and brands spend millions every year on advertising. The global spending on advertising in 2020 was 674 billion U.S. dollars. In fact, statistics show that in America, a dollar is spent on advertising per person each day. Sometimes, we might be so used to seeing ads we don't even realize we're being sold something.

Nowadays, there are a lot of rules about what's appropriate in an ad and what's not. Back in the day, almost everything was fair game. That's why there were loads of sexist, racist, tobacco, asbestos, and lead-praising ads. We've compiled the most absurd vintage ads for you here. Enjoy and wonder: "How could this have been a thing?"

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#1

An Eerily Accurate Ad From 1996 I Found In An Advertising Book

Black and white vintage ad showing a woman with text about future costs, illustrating inappropriate ads from the past.

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    #2

    This Has Aged Like Milk Because Google Is A Search Engine With Weather, News Feeds, Links To Sponsors, Ads, And Distractions

    Vintage Google ad showing search engine features with no ads or distractions, highlighting inappropriate ads from the past.

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    #3

    An Ad From The 1950s Gives Tips On How To Dispose Of Batteries

    Hand dropping a battery into a fireplace with flames, illustrating a vintage inappropriate ad from the past.

    The ad advises getting rid of batteries by tossing them in the fireplace, but we know now that doing that is extremely dangerous.

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    #4

    Mad Magazine From 2002. Covid Flashbacks

    Cartoon of a person in a hazmat suit at a presidential podium, illustrating inappropriate ads from the past.

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    #5

    Union Carbide Advertisement From 1962 "Science Helps Us Build A New India"

    Vintage ad showing a giant hand pouring chemicals over fields with oxen, related to inappropriate ads from the past.

    The 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. It is considered one of the world's worst industrial disasters. The parent company had to sell its entire stake in UCIL and leave India.

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    #6

    1950s Cigarette Ad Claiming No Throat Irritation Comes From Camel Cigarettes. Now It's Proven That It Causes Throat And Lung Cancer

    Vintage cigarette ad falsely claims no throat irritation from smoking Camel, an example of inappropriate ads from the past.

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    #7

    An Ad From An American Magazine, 1939. Lead Was Banned In Most European Countries By The 1940s, But Not Until 1978 In The US Because Of Lobbying

    Black and white vintage ad promoting white lead paint with miner and mule underground, an example of inappropriate ads from the past.

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    #8

    Promoting Sugar As A Healthy Thing In 1971

    Vintage black and white ad promoting sugar as a willpower aid, part of inappropriate ads from the past that failed over time.

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    #9

    Well, She Was Very Wrong

    Vintage black and white newspaper clipping discussing inappropriate ads from the past and the popularity of video games.

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    #10

    Twin Towers World Trade Center Brochure Circa 1975

    Aerial view of the World Trade Center in New York, featuring an inappropriate ad highlighting outdated advertising failures.

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    #11

    "I Suffered From Menstrual Cramps." - When Men "Suffered" As Much As Women (1968, Femicin Ad)

    Vintage ad featuring a man describing menstrual cramps relief for his wife, highlighting inappropriate ads from the past.

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    #12

    USHA Sewing Machine Ad From The 1970s: "Train Her To Be An Ideal Housewife. Buy Her An USHA Sewing Machine"

    Vintage USHA sewing machine ad showing two women with text promoting outdated ideal housewife role in inappropriate ads.

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    #13

    Lead Was Used Extensively Before Being Banned In The US. This Ad Captures How Lead Was Extremely Frequent In Everyday Life

    Vintage ad showing a child and cartoon lead paint characters, an example of inappropriate ads from the past.

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    #14

    This Ad From Time Magazine In 1997 Promotes Plastic. Meanwhile, People Are Trying To Replace Plastic Because It’s Harmful To The Environment

    Vintage ad promoting plastic packaging for food preservation, an example of inappropriate ads from the past that aged poorly.

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    #15

    Secret Anti-Perspirant Ad In 1965. It Implies That Women’s Body Odor Is A Result Of Emotions

    Vintage inappropriate ad showing a bride and attendants promoting Secret deodorant, highlighting outdated marketing ideas.

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    #16

    The Message Is Perfectly Simple: Just Stop Being Fat

    Vintage weight loss ad showing two women promoting Slim-Mint, an inappropriate ad from the past on losing pounds and appetite control.

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    #17

    "Are You Making Your Children Pay For Your Weight Problem?" - Sugar Information, Inc. Ad (1966)

    Vintage inappropriate ad showing a child drinking soda, illustrating outdated advertising from the past that failed over time.

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    #18

    This 1968 Frigidaire Ad Is Special

    Vintage sexist Frigidaire ad showing a woman cleaning and a man praising her, an example of inappropriate ads from the past.




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