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40 Of The Most Creative Vintage Ads That Show Just How Different The World Used To Be
Getting an old magazine or newspaper is a fantastic way to start exploring the past. See how people once used their language, what was included, and excluded. Memorizing events is all fine and dandy, but these don’t actually show how people would approach everyday life. Advertisements are a great way to approach what people liked and wanted.
Through the magic of the internet, we now are able to catalog and share all sorts of ads from the past online. So prepare to look into a different time as you scroll through, be sure to upvote our favorites and comment your thoughts on these truly vintage ads below.
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Advertisement For Bacardi Rum Warning Against The Dangers Of Drunk Driving (1986)
Man Looking For A Wife In 1865
They All Got The Vaccine.. Except Dad, 1958
Often, the 50s and 60s were referred to as a sort of golden age of advertising. It’s no accident that the hit show Mad Men was set during this time period when both the science of marketing and economic booms all came together. It was the first time brands started to really think about a solid image to create and maintain and companies started to spend a lot of money working out ways to entice buyers.
This “golden age” wasn’t just a one-way street of businesses realizing that marketing had its advantages, it coincided with a lot of economic prosperity in the United States, as more and more families had money to spend on luxury items. In general, spending was no longer taboo, as it may have been during the great depression and companies found that they really did have to compete with a whole host of competitors.
Honestly The Graffiti Is Better
Wait, I can fix it. If it were a married woman, it would get its bottom pinched by her respectful and adoring husband of over 20 years. There, I defanged it.
Ray Ban 1998 Ad
When I’m 64
Once you add in all the new possibilities for where and how to display ads, you get a melting pot of creativity. Radio had been around for a while, but soon marketing teams realized that TV was a great medium to promote something. At the same time, many Americans were purchasing cars and traveling, making billboards potentially more effective. The result is that creatives, from cinematographers to musicians and artists could all be employed to make eye or ear-catching ads.
Remember Digging Through The Entertainment Section Of The Newspaper To Find The Movie Listings?
I saw the "sneak preview" of Jaws - can you imagine?!!! For those unfamiliar, a "sneak preview" was when they released a movie at a handful of theaters with ZERO plot information or 2 minute preview ads. All you had to go on was the poster. Obviously Jaws was about a big scary shark, but nothing could have prepared 17 year old me for that movie...so great and one of my favorite memories.
Best Buy, 1999
Electricity Was New Once. These Signs Were Mostly In Hotel Rooms And Other Public Places
Despite the veritable buffet of possibilities, many vintage ads were quite classy and creative, perhaps a result of many of the best minds going into advertising. WV's classic “think small” ad for the beetle is a good example of modernizing a pre-war car with an eye-catching, minimalist poster. It was also a clever way to stand out by not being more loud, flashy, or bombastic than many of its competitors.
Remember When Brach’s Pick A Mix Was The Best Thing About Going To The Grocery Store? (1970s)
Jester Wools (1947, UK)
btw back then the word meant happy, not homosexual. And yes the rainbow and bright colors were associated with that. Later when the gay rights movement took the term gay for themselves to counter the slur terms, they also adopted the bright colors and rainbow associated with the word as well
1978 Star Wars Vaccination Ad
Curious readers can find a number of clever tricks used in the “think small” ad, including the way the car is angled to direct the reader toward the text. This text actually ends with a period, which was quite uncommon for the time, while the entire poster was black and white. This actually helped it stand out, as by 1959 most visual display ads would be in color.
Garfield Telephone By Tyco (1978)
Esprit (1980's)
With A Smile
It's easy to murder people when you have no fear whatsoever of the electric chair.
Other companies started to realize that they didn’t just have to sell a product, they could sell themselves, as a brand. These days, this has reached such a position that there are consumers who will buy something not because they like the product, but because they like the brand. Apple is a prime example of this. The origins of this idea can be traced back to a couple of different examples, including the Cadbury Flake Girl.
In 1962, Bette Davis Placed This Ad In Variety
Five weeks after this ad, "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" premiered, getting her another Oscar nomination.
Cottonelle Colored Toilet Paper (1982)
"Someday Roads Will Tell Cars Where To Go" Gm (1969)
This would allow a large corporation to suddenly morph into a more personified character that people might relate to and even like. Other companies would try to associate their brand with enduring, desirable qualities, like reliability and innovation. This also freed up advertisers to expand on what they could show and talk about, as the topic no longer had to just be a product or service.
Daihatsu Hijet Ad From 1996
"Is Your Kid Living In A Dream World?" Ad Placed In Ebony Magazine Encouraging Minorities To Pursue Stem Careers. General Electric, 1979
Maybe they need an ad like this again, across all platforms. Not just minority girls either, but all girls. Encourage them that they don't have to dream of being an influencer or Instagram model. Be a scientist that discovers the next big breakthrough. Go to Mars. Go into cyber security. Anything that doesn't involve how many likes you get online.
1988 Penn Tennis Ball Ad Promoting The French Open
These days, companies can and do actively advertise to children. In the past, it made sense to target adults, as they were the ones with any real purchasing power, but marketers quickly learned that a persistent child could talk parents into quite a lot. Similarly, many young adults were already working, so they could be persuaded to spend some of their hard-earned cash on luxuries and entertainment.
Pan American Airlines (1956)
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.”
Sony Walkman 1980
I'm Pretty Sure Everyone Had One Of These
Vintage Soda Cans Dates Unknown
American Airlines, 1971
Looking out the window would probably convince you, I'd have thought. But that does look pretty awesome!
This TV Looks Like It's Going To Kill Her!
Apple Computers Late 90s
1950s Ad For Methedrine Brand Methamphetamine Hydrochloride (Aka Speed)
Pizza Hut Oven In Sears Catalog (1977) "Put Up The 'Official' Sign And You're In Business!"
Game Boy Ad 1990s
Ge Widescreen 1000 - General Electric Performance Television - 1978
How To Carry 20 Megabytes Of Data Around In 1985
1965 Ge Ad
Life Savers ~ Fancy Fruits (1965)
"Past Present Future?", Western Electric, 1959
Panasonic "Don't Listen To Squares" 1973
I had a red one when I was a teenager. Used to listen to it in bed with the earphone and would fall asleep with it on. Wish I still had it.
Ad From A Finnish Teen/Music Magazine Suosikki 1983
Mcdonald’s, 1987 Ad
Sugar Information Inc., 1964
I think Jenny should have had an apple or banana instead, they both have plenty of sugar for an energy boost but also fibre and plenty of nutrients.
1998 Milk Ad With Conan O'brien
Omg. This is so adorable. He looks like a teenager in that picture!
Only One Of Its Kind, The Coronation Imperial, Chrysler, 1953
Knox Gelatine (1938)
1976 - The Green Machine
Beauty Is More Then Skin Deep, Cordless Massager, Anthony Enterprises, 1971
So Much 80’s Packed Into One Ad. 1987
Nutone Intercom-Radio, 1962
Mitsubishi Movievision Projection TV (1979)
Really, Really Excited About Hot Dogs (1950s)
They look as if they belong in a Twilight Zone episode or something.
Modern Home Floor Plan, Sears 1934 Catalog
Adjusted for inflation that is $24,784 in 2023. Keep in mind this was a kit, not a house; you had to buy a piece of ground to build it on, then you had to build it. It also came without a lot of things that are standard today, like insulation and central heating. In the 1930s the median annual wage for a white male was around $1400 ($31,744 today). A minority male earned less than half of that. This was in the depths of the Great Depression, so there was a good chance you were not earning anything.
Toll Booth Quarter Gun (1962)
Dr. Nut Was An Almond Flavored Beverage – In New Orleans We Call Them “Cold Drinks,” But Never “Soda” Or “Pop” – With An Aroma Similar To Amaretto. [1930]
![Dr. Nut Was An Almond Flavored Beverage – In New Orleans We Call Them “Cold Drinks,” But Never “Soda” Or “Pop” – With An Aroma Similar To Amaretto. [1930]](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/64996360412f5_tt824w2p4vsa1-png__700.jpg "Dr. Nut Was An Almond Flavored Beverage – In New Orleans We Call Them “Cold Drinks,” But Never “Soda” Or “Pop” – With An Aroma Similar To Amaretto. [1930]")
No, K Mart, No
1956 "Modern Hair Styling"
A Century Of Juicy Fruit Gum
Mcdonalds Onion Nuggets
Those would be so fire! I was 2 when they were first introduced. (1975) Apparently, McD's made these before the chicken nuggets to please vegetarian customers but weren't liked due to the traditional Onion Rings being the popular fried onion choice. I would seriously devour these tidbits of joy!
Sears, 1975
Personal Ads, 1957
1980s Sony Cassettes Ad
A Terrifying Way To Start Your Day: Post's Sugar Krinkles
The Establishment Wig, 1968
These were used more than the people reading this page think, I bet. You would see this kind of thing semi-regularly in public and can still see it unintentionally in pics from the time. Go watch the movie Earthquake and see how these were used. And yeah, the guy using it was a psychopath lol
Mcdonald’s, 1975 Ad
You No Longer Have To Sacrifice Power For Portability. Game Keeper Ad, 1991
My mom spent all the money my dad sent her for baby items on this and a new Gameboy with games
Personals, 1971
1979 Ad For London Transit Showing How The City Would Look If Built By American Planners
The Original Burger King Whopper In 1963
Matchbook Ad For Camp Wandawega In Elkhorn, Wi
Universal Food Chopper (1899)
I still have my mom's. Used it many times to grind up the leftover ham to make ham salad
Plushy Mushroom Stools, Montgomery Ward's Fall/Winter 1972 Catalog
why was everything in the 1970s a variant on some version of vomit-coloured?
“It’s Almost Like Having Another Lover There With The Two Of You.”
These must have been in Playboy and other similar magazines. They sure weren't in Good Housekeeping. 😆
Wold Wad Wi Wfound Wfor Wrangler Win Wmy Wbasement
Citroën 2cv, 80’s
Lucky Strike Ad - 1930s
“Studies show that guys prefer skinny girls with cancer over healthy girls with bulging thighs.” ~ (Gilda Radner in character, SNL)
Call Home And Have A Chat With Your Vcr, 1989
Palestine Tourism Posters, 1930s
BTW the Visit Palestine Campaign was from the Tourist Association of Palestine, which was a division of the Jewish Agency, and was done by Zionist artist Franz Krausz for the Palestine booth at the World Fair, which was "to promote Zionism" according to the recors at the time. Back then most of the Arabs rejected the name Palestine (The Arab Higher Committee, which was the Arab equivalent of the Jewish Agency called Palestine "A zionist term" and said the area was Southern Syria). Back then the term Palestine was associated with Jews and Zionism (post 1948 the Palestine National Football team because the Israel team. Palestine Post became Jerusalem post, Palestine Philharmonic became the Tel Aviv Philharmonic, etc). This was a Zionist ad when Palestine and the Palestinian Cause meant Zionism and Jews. Here are other ads from the campaign. visitpal5.jpg 
Bell Telephone Long Distance Ad (1982)
Campbell's Soup On The Rocks (1960)
Cellophane (1954): Better Living Through Chemistry
Yes, These Are Telephones. Created By The Ericsson Company Of Sweden In The 1940s, Marketed In The 1950s
"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
“Paul Masson Will Sell No Wine Before It’s Time” 1980
Note that Mr. Welles is offering the opinions of others, not his own.
"Sugar's Got What It Takes" Sugar Information, Inc 1960's
Personal Ads, 1951
Eat Ironized Yeast (1930s)
Life Savers, 1958
"Some Day All Beer Cans Will Open This Easy!", Schlitz, 1962
Cleaning through a junk drawer the other day and found two of these openers. I remember them well.
Tmnt Pies, Hostess, 1991
Mcdonalds 1969
Just popping in to point out that, factually speaking, anyone can indeed contract COVID. Please, don't fall for that pseudoscientific antivaxx nonsense. Oh, and the mRNA did curb polio quite a bit. Science suggests vaccines do work.
I agree with your intention. You should however be careful about spreading misinformation yourself. The polio vaccine has "nothing" to do with mRNA. In fact the covid vaccine is the first mRNA vaccine. (*of course the immune response triggered in the end and the effect of training the immune system are very similar. So far vaccines contained inactivated viruses or proteins to react to. The mRNA vaccines trick the body to produce such proteins itself)
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Just popping in to point out that, factually speaking, anyone can indeed contract COVID. Please, don't fall for that pseudoscientific antivaxx nonsense. Oh, and the mRNA did curb polio quite a bit. Science suggests vaccines do work.
I agree with your intention. You should however be careful about spreading misinformation yourself. The polio vaccine has "nothing" to do with mRNA. In fact the covid vaccine is the first mRNA vaccine. (*of course the immune response triggered in the end and the effect of training the immune system are very similar. So far vaccines contained inactivated viruses or proteins to react to. The mRNA vaccines trick the body to produce such proteins itself)
Load More Replies... 