This Facebook Page Shares Funny, Interesting And Weird Vintage Ads And Commercials, And Most Of Them Hilariously Fail The Test Of Time
Interview With Author
It's no secret that the world has come a long way. In the past couple of decades, things have taken a completely different turn and have managed to progress to an unthinkable point.
Every time we take a stroll down to our nearest thrift shop, we get overwhelmed by all the things that have been orphaned by their previous owners. All these clothing items and pieces that were once accessorizing someone's home – hunting for vintage stuff is very inviting – plus, you get to give your new purchase a second chance at life.
Many of us, at least once in our lifetime, have wondered about vintage artworks, specifically those that were used for commercial purposes. Well, this Facebook group is dedicated to precisely that. The online community has 135K members and was made for people who "enjoy vintage retro ads, commercials & artwork," and Bored Panda has decided to gather a couple of its best posts.
More info: Facebook | Instagram
This post may include affiliate links.
Bored Panda contacted the creator of the "Vintage Ads, Commercials & Artwork" Facebook community and asked him to tell us a little bit about it: "I want to thank you for the interest in the group. Basically, I started it because I felt like I was being restricted in other groups that didn't accept both printed and video ads; that pretty much made me take the decision to start my own one and run it the way I think it should, by having quality content regarding interesting vintage ads, commercials, and artwork."
The man then added: "I always enjoyed the ads I used to see as a kid in what were National Geographic Magazines from the 40s to 60s. I'm only 38 by the way, but honestly, I always had an interest in old things. I have always found them really interesting."
We've also wondered about the people behind the group: "I’ve got to say it was me doing it by myself for a while until the group grew and it was too much for me to handle by myself. I met people within the group who accepted to help me run it. At the moment it's only myself and a fellow group member but I must give credit to Sarah Conley for helping out so much at the beginning, until some personal issues forced her to step out as a moderator."
"I started the main page after the group, which has gained more followers so far. Getting real close to 185,000 last time I checked. Compared to the 135K members the group has. But obviously the group is where our members can share content. I found out that I wasn't the only one who enjoyed looking back at the past."
"The reason people are fascinated by the vintage stuff, I believe, is due to the fact that they want to relive some of their childhood memories and also just enjoy the history of these vintage products, services, etc. I have had so many people comment ‘I used to have that toy as a kid’ or ‘Dad used to have that car,’ also saying things like ‘I always wanted one of those.’ People have said so many nice things on the review area of my main page, like how it brings back so many wonderful memories,” said Edgar when BP asked him about the fascination around vintage things.
Lastly, the creator added: "It's important to remember the past and try to keep it alive by having an archive where maybe the younger generation can learn some history regarding advertising and what type of products were used in the past. Companies have come and gone but some are still going strong. Advertising also gives you a glimpse into society from the past and also what type of techniques of advertising worked back then. They can also analyze how advertising has evolved over time."
Taking a trip down memory lane to rekindle the past is a pretty exciting activity; whether you're snooping around your grandparents' stuff in the hopes of finding something fun or you're simply yearning to escape and experience a different kind of life – it seems that old-fashioned things will always hold a certain impression on us.
I was actually convinced these would work and nagged my Mother to get me a pair, needless to say she finally gave in. The first time I wore them I felt so scared as I thought I would see people as live skeletons ... it never happened .. and yes she refused to buy me Sea Monkeys which were next on my list :)
Maybe it's the fascination with advancement and the visible progression of things, or perhaps the unexplainable old-time charm that the items are holding. Whatever the reasoning might be, Bored Panda hopes that you've enjoyed this vintage collection provided by the "Vintage Ads, Commercials & Artwork" group.
The Maidenform Dream adverts were one of the longest running campaigns of all time. I just made a Reddit post a couple of weeks ago with a collection of the ads. Check it out! https://www.reddit.com/r/vintageads/comments/v484mq/i_dreamed_i_was_amaidenform_bra_ad_collection//maidenform_bra_ads_collection/
They are still sold in 2022. Just not the fad du jour after the 70s.
Load More Replies...
She is window cleaning on the outside of a skyscraper without a top on, just a bra. I would like to the know the story of how this happened.
Like she said, she was dreaming. Doesn’t every woman dream about doing outdoor manual labor in her bra? I know that’s been a dream of mine.
Load More Replies...
It goes back to the 1940s US. The bullet bra was developed in 1941. Extreme variants are rockets or torpedoes. Rockets were big news in the 50s so the rocket bra became very popular. Atom bombs were a big hit and the hot new two piece swimsuit design was marketed as the Bikini (Island H Bomb test site) swimsuit to capitalize on the atomic marketing of the late 40s, early 50s.
Load More Replies...
It ain't over. They just don't push them as hard nowadays.
Load More Replies...
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce the bullet bra, one of the most confusing trends of the 1950s….
My favorite was the woman racer... "I dreamed I was way out front in my Maidenform".
Actually I think that one was a parody ad in MAD Magazine.
Load More Replies...
I love the matching combo of safety belt gloves and squeegee in designer fashion ,that's exactly what I wear with my pointy bra!
Eight spokes? What kind of bloody contraption is that? Bad enough having one for each. What about when they break.
I remember my mother ironing hers. If you didn’t they got all puckered after drying.
Load More Replies...
Iconic ads. They were a precursor to the ‘independent woman’ type ads
Ladies, aren't you glad that the bra has evolved into the form hugging, uplifting and supporting undergarment it is today? Imagine having to wear that pointy monstrosity.
I can't figure out what she is wearing around her waist and wrists. And 8 spokes? Goodness! I once bought one of these bras about 2 decades ago, and my Mom died laughing, because they were SO pointy! And that was UNDER my t-shirt. She said I looked like Madonna, hahah!
I wonder why they didn't know how to make them round in the '60s and early '70s. Even my mom's bathing suits were pointy. No one knew how to make round cups?
The designers put them out, the customers decide what to buy. The stylish ones that got the point across sold better than the shy ones that didn't stand out🐶. Round cup bras predate bullet bras. When they were introduced in 1941 the bullet bra and the more extreme rocket or torpedo bras outsold the plain round ones. Being modest AND sexy was very important up until the 70s when attitudes about a woman's role changed. You can see this in period advertising. Women were taught to be sexually appealing, but chaste. At least in public, in private things haven't changed much over the centuries with every new generation being the first to discover the joy of necking & more.
Load More Replies...
Yeah, Maidenform ads were really silly. If she really WERE a window washer I sincerely doubt she would have little daisies decorating her squeegee! They all were like that!
I'm surprised that she's not wearing a leotard under her bra like they had to for the television ads for bras. I guess a woman simply walking along in an office was "too racy" and needed to be covered up.
We know that these days this add would never happen. Who do you market it towards? Them? They?
I don't know what this is for but I'm pretty sure you need drugs to experience it to it's fullest.
Pretty sure my cousins/aunt (who flew frequently to Hawaii and Tonga) had this poster in their house when I was little.
Well, jeez, Edith, what do you suggest? That the 8 year olds watch 60 Minutes instead? I treasure my H.R. Pufnstuf years - The 70s had the best Saturday morning TV programming for kids in American history.
Note: this post originally had 46 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
The lowest of the low was the tuna "pizza" and after that nothing was as shocking.
For this being about ads that didn't stand the test of time I sure saw a lot of ads that were similar to the current ads for the same product
Agreed - the primary ones that could be cast as questionable were for smokes.
Load More Replies...
Both! I actually love tuna & pineapple pizza. Add some hot sauce and it's the perfect dinner 😅.
Load More Replies...
Notice how everyone in these ads is so white they glow in the dark? Everyone else was ignored . . .
It isn't as though, not that we could, we can go back and rearrange history to make it a more appropriate time for the future. This was life then. It was accepted in society as more people were more ignorant about diversity. We learned and behave less (not nearly enough, but still less) like this now. It's ridiculous to choose to spend your worthy time being upset about situations you cannot change from the past.
Load More Replies... The lowest of the low was the tuna "pizza" and after that nothing was as shocking.
For this being about ads that didn't stand the test of time I sure saw a lot of ads that were similar to the current ads for the same product
Agreed - the primary ones that could be cast as questionable were for smokes.
Load More Replies... Both! I actually love tuna & pineapple pizza. Add some hot sauce and it's the perfect dinner 😅.
Load More Replies... Notice how everyone in these ads is so white they glow in the dark? Everyone else was ignored . . .
It isn't as though, not that we could, we can go back and rearrange history to make it a more appropriate time for the future. This was life then. It was accepted in society as more people were more ignorant about diversity. We learned and behave less (not nearly enough, but still less) like this now. It's ridiculous to choose to spend your worthy time being upset about situations you cannot change from the past.
Load More Replies...