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Brands need good marketing so that customers buy their products. But good marketing back in the 1950s meant something entirely different from what it does now. Whereas now we're more sensitive to different cultures, minorities, and generally things that could offend people, it seems like marketing gurus of the past didn't bother thinking about that much.

Or was it just a different time with different values and definitions of what's inappropriate? We'll let you be the judge of that as you scroll through these vintage advertisements that Bored Panda has collected from various places online. A dash of sexism, bad medical advice, and just hilariously bad ideas are what these old-timey ads have in common.

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#1

Black and white Planned Parenthood ad about abortion rights decision involving politicians

unknown Report

13points
POST
yaegerl007 avatar
Linda Lee
Linda Lee
Community Member
2 hours ago

Ha! And look where we are today. Women are losing their rights in the US.

10
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    #2

    Vintage superhero poster promoting school diversity and unity against prejudice in retro advertisement

    unknown Report

    12points
    POST
    cali-tabby-katz avatar
    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium     1 hour ago

    Superman is, after all, an illegal immigrant.

    6
    6points
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    #3

    Mattachine Society ad advocating rights for homosexuals with cartoon spotted animal

    unknown Report

    12points
    POST
    multanocte avatar
    Multa Nocte (she/her 8647)
    Multa Nocte (she/her 8647)
    Community Member
    Premium     1 hour ago

    Cool!!!!!! VERY ahead of their time.

    5
    5points
    reply
    #4

    McDonald's ad celebrating African-American history with two children reading a history book

    unknown Report

    12points
    POST
    multanocte avatar
    Multa Nocte (she/her 8647)
    Multa Nocte (she/her 8647)
    Community Member
    Premium     1 hour ago

    Tell that to the MAGAts.

    5
    5points
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    #5

    Vintage syphilis awareness poster with soldiers and warning for women

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    11points
    POST
    alex_g_elliott87 avatar
    StPaul9
    StPaul9
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    WOmen: Don't have a bit of fun to get out the stress of the War. Men: Do it with a person who doesn't speak English.

    2
    2points
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    #6

    Retro Christmas record ad titled Dear Santa, Have You Had The Measles

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    11points
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    billswallow_1 avatar
    Bill Swallow
    Bill Swallow
    Community Member
    6 minutes ago

    "Hey, who's the feller conducting the orchestra?" "Yes." "Now, let's don't start THAT again, Abbott!"

    1
    1point
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    #7

    Vintage child auto strap safety harness ad for front-seat tots

    unknown Report

    10points
    POST
    elladinedesisles avatar
    Elladine DesIsles
    Elladine DesIsles
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    "For 1 to 10-year-olds"???

    2
    2points
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    #8

    Black and white soda ad encouraging early cola drinking with baby and mother

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    10points
    POST
    zatetic avatar
    Zatetic
    Zatetic
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Never to early to start if you want to be one of the cool babies. Really wild stuff if you can read the small print.

    3
    3points
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    #9

    Vintage ad for Panasonic Flip N Style hair dryer with woman holding device

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    10points
    POST
    billswallow_1 avatar
    Bill Swallow
    Bill Swallow
    Community Member
    4 minutes ago

    "Look, we don't give a rat's @$$ if this is any use to you or not! Just buy our junk, OK?"

    1
    1point
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    #10

    Retro butter ad highlighting nutrition tip for arteries and veins

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    10points
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    yaegerl007 avatar
    Linda Lee
    Linda Lee
    Community Member
    2 hours ago

    I'm sorry, to WHAT?!

    6
    6points
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    #11

    Milk ad featuring a young man with a milk mustache sitting in a classroom

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    10points
    POST
    kimwimgoddess avatar
    Otto Katz
    Otto Katz
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Is that Conan O'brien? Sure looks like him

    2
    2points
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    #12

    Vintage Stayfree maxi-pads ad with woman hiking outdoors

    unknown Report

    9points
    POST
    suecorvette_1 avatar
    Sue Corvette
    Sue Corvette
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Girls today have no idea what pins and belts mean in this ad. Thank god!!!

    2
    2points
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    #13

    Retro polio vaccine ad showing family around man in iron lung machine

    unknown Report

    9points
    POST
    toikagao avatar
    Toika Gao
    Toika Gao
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Anti vaccine parents should be made to pay for their children's avoidable illnesses, and if their children díe, they should pay like any múrderer.

    3
    3points
    reply
    #14

    Retro woman amazed by easily opened Del Monte ketchup bottle in vintage advertisement

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    9points
    POST
    suecorvette_1 avatar
    Sue Corvette
    Sue Corvette
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Ouch!

    1
    1point
    reply
    #15

    Vintage jeans ad showing three men wearing western-style jeans and shirts

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    9points
    POST
    tbarth avatar
    T Barth
    T Barth
    Community Member
    Premium     1 hour ago

    At least their pants are up around their waists and not around their knees with their aśś hanging out.

    4
    4points
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    #16

    Vintage McDonald's Big Mac advertisement featuring sandwich image

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    9points
    POST
    yaegerl007 avatar
    Linda Lee
    Linda Lee
    Community Member
    2 hours ago

    Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun.

    8
    8points
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    #17

    Post's Sugar Krinkles cereal box with clown holding a spoonful of sugar-coated rice

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    9points
    POST
    zatetic avatar
    Zatetic
    Zatetic
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Pennywise's first job as newly graduated interdimensional demon

    7
    7points
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    #18

    Vintage easy-to-use washing machine ad with father and children

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    9points
    POST
    alex_g_elliott87 avatar
    StPaul9
    StPaul9
    Community Member
    41 minutes ago

    Look, I've gone mad! All society has crumbled!

    0
    0points
    reply
    #19

    Old hair rental service ad promoting affordable hairpieces

    unknown Report

    9points
    POST
    billswallow_1 avatar
    Bill Swallow
    Bill Swallow
    Community Member
    1 minute ago

    The date had been going *really* well before Jeff's hair was repossessed for non-payment.

    1
    1point
    reply
    #20

    Old Gillette Safety Razor ad featuring baby shaving with razor

    Report

    8points
    POST
    billswallow_1 avatar
    Bill Swallow
    Bill Swallow
    Community Member
    1 minute ago

    Baby Face Finster got out on parole and found work, I see...

    1
    1point
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    #21

    Old Maynard Electronics portable hard drive advertisement with man carrying device

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    8points
    POST
    suecorvette_1 avatar
    Sue Corvette
    Sue Corvette
    Community Member
    59 minutes ago

    20 mbs and only weighs 15 pounds

    1
    1point
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    #22

    Vintage Life Savers candy ad with fruit shapes and taps dripping candy flavors.

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    8points
    POST
    hogeterprose avatar
    Breadcrumb.
    Breadcrumb.
    Community Member
    2 hours ago

    I want it! 5cents?!

    3
    3points
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    #23

    Retro advertisement showing a wife and husband promoting Kellogg's Pep vitamins for pep

    Report

    7points
    POST
    zatetic avatar
    Zatetic
    Zatetic
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Vitamins and the burning rage that builds within me whenever you complain how tough your job is

    5
    5points
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    #24

    Retro advertisement for Hamlin's Wizard Oil to cure rheumatism with elderly couple

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    7points
    POST
    zatetic avatar
    Zatetic
    Zatetic
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Made from real wizards.

    5
    5points
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    #25

    Palmolive vintage ad questioning men's focus on looks over cleverness

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    7points
    POST
    hogeterprose avatar
    Breadcrumb.
    Breadcrumb.
    Community Member
    2 hours ago

    So give up caring what men think, you'll live happier.

    5
    5points
    reply
    #26

    80s Game Boy Game Keeper carrying case retro ad with excited boy

    Report

    7points
    POST
    zatetic avatar
    Zatetic
    Zatetic
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    I have all of that except for the carrying case.

    0
    0points
    reply
    #27

    Vintage 7up ad featuring a baby drinking from a 7up bottle highlighting youngest customers

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    6points
    POST
    conocuinn avatar
    Con O Cuinn
    Con O Cuinn
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Flat 7up was almost considered medicine when I was a kid.

    2
    2points
    reply
    #28

    Old Coca-Cola ad promoting as ideal brain tonic for headaches

    Report

    6points
    POST
    suecorvette_1 avatar
    Sue Corvette
    Sue Corvette
    Community Member
    53 minutes ago

    Back when coca-cola contained c*****e

    1
    1point
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    #29

    Vintage Wrangler ad with drawings of women in retro sportswear

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    6points
    POST
    toikagao avatar
    Toika Gao
    Toika Gao
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Then you read "sports-ear"? 🤔

    2
    2points
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    #30

    Retro McDonald's Big Mac ad showing man eating burger with packaging on table

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    6points
    POST
    multanocte avatar
    Multa Nocte (she/her 8647)
    Multa Nocte (she/her 8647)
    Community Member
    Premium     1 hour ago

    Didn't Barry Manilow write this jingle?

    0
    0points
    reply
    #31

    Classic Christmas stockings ad by Mojud featuring festive woman

    Report

    6points
    POST
    zatetic avatar
    Zatetic
    Zatetic
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    But what or who is holding her skirt out?

    1
    1point
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    #32

    Black and white ad for Lorillard's Climax Plug chewing tobacco

    unknown Report

    5points
    POST
    zatetic avatar
    Zatetic
    Zatetic
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Oh, my.

    2
    2points
    reply
    #33

    Vintage Van Heusen ad showing woman serving man breakfast in bed

    Report

    5points
    POST
    conocuinn avatar
    Con O Cuinn
    Con O Cuinn
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    What is this even advertising?

    1
    1point
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    #34

    Christmas Hoover vacuum ad with woman and festive theme

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    5points
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    conocuinn avatar
    Con O Cuinn
    Con O Cuinn
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    My da made that mistake one year...

    3
    3points
    reply
    #35

    Vintage Life Savers candy retro advertisement with apple and fruit flavors

    Report

    5points
    POST
    #36

    Vintage ad for NuTone intercom-radio with woman demonstrating wall-mounted device

    Report

    5points
    POST
    #37

    Game Boy Play It Loud series ad showing colorful Game Boys on heads

    Report

    5points
    POST
    toujincthlu avatar
    Toujin C'Thlu
    Toujin C'Thlu
    Community Member
    46 minutes ago (edited)

    I got a Gameboy Color as a high school graduation gift, along with Pokemon Blue

    0
    0points
    reply
    #38

    Classic McDonald's salad advertisement with fresh salad and smiling women on phone.

    Report

    5points
    POST
    #39

    Old Pizza Hut mini pizza oven toy ad with dough, pans, and pizza sauce.

    Report

    5points
    POST
    suecorvette_1 avatar
    Sue Corvette
    Sue Corvette
    Community Member
    41 minutes ago

    Nothing beats pizza cooked with a light bulb

    0
    0points
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    #40

    Retro Schlitz beer advertisement showing a man comforting a woman in the kitchen

    Report

    4points
    POST
    #41

    Du Pont Cellophane vintage ad showing twins wrapped to prove freshness

    Report

    4points
    POST
    zatetic avatar
    Zatetic
    Zatetic
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    But they can't talk because they have used up all their oxygen.

    1
    1point
    reply
    #42

    Vintage Max Factor grooming essentials ad for men at Christmas

    Report

    3points
    POST
    #43

    Retro dishwasher ad urging men to make holiday meals easier for wives

    Report

    3points
    POST
    #44

    Vintage retro advertisement for women gaining weight with ironized yeast

    unknown Report

    3points
    POST
    conocuinn avatar
    Con O Cuinn
    Con O Cuinn
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Weirdly a better message than all these ozempic zombies walking around.

    3
    3points
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    #45

    Mr. Leggs pants ad with man standing on tiger rug and slogan

    Report

    2points
    POST
    zatetic avatar
    Zatetic
    Zatetic
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Uff da

    3
    3points
    reply
    #46

    Retro air freshener disguised as a cigarette lighter inside a car dashboard at night

    Report

    2points
    POST
    #47

    Retro soft drink dispenser ad showing Diet Pepsi, Pepsi, and Mountain Dew cups.

    Report

    2points
    POST
    #48

    The Addis Wedding Set advertisement for bride's home cleaning outfit

    Report

    2points
    POST
    hogeterprose avatar
    Breadcrumb.
    Breadcrumb.
    Community Member
    2 hours ago

    It's insane how much this was and is pushed in our cultures.

    4
    4points
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    #49

    Vintage retro advertisement for shiny vinyl no-wax floor by Congoleum with women kneeling.

    Report

    0points
    POST
    #50

    Pyrex cookware ad linking successful marriages to kitchen tasks

    Report

    0points
    POST
    cali-tabby-katz avatar
    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium     1 hour ago

    I too aspire to cook while in a wedding dress.

    3
    3points
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    #51

    Vintage Toastmaster kitchen appliances ad with tagline Better than mistletoe

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    0points
    POST
    zatetic avatar
    Zatetic
    Zatetic
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Hitting your head on mistletoe hanging over a door is a lot less painful

    1
    1point
    reply
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