These 50 Vintage Ads Are So Weird, It’s Hard To Believe They Were Ever Approved

It can be flabbergasting to fully realize just how different things were in the past. Take advertisements as an example. They are ubiquitous in this day and age, and the industry is huge. But aside from the odd scandal here and there, they more or less make sense in terms of the message and art direction.

However, when you look at ads from the past through a modern lens, you realize just how much cultural attitudes have shifted over the decades and centuries. Our team at Bored Panda has compiled this list of weird vintage ads to show you just how bizarre, unusual, and even socially tone-deaf promotions used to look. Keep scrolling for a mind-blowing visual history and marketing lesson.

This post may include affiliate links.

We All Got Vaccines, Except Dad

Vintage polio vaccine advertisement showing a family with a man in an iron lung promoting vaccination awareness.

Final score:

138points

50 Bizarre Vintage Ads That Are A History Lesson About Changing Cultural Norms

We All Got Vaccines, Except Dad

Between You, Your Husband And Your Senator, Planned Parenthood, 1982

Jester Wools (1947, UK)

1967 Advertisement For A Chemical Lobotomy

This Child Looks Like Pure Evil

For A Better Start In Life, Start Cola Earlier

1950s Ad

Eat Ironized Yeast (1930s)

Did Not Age Well

Do You Still Beat Your Wife? 1950s

Wonder Sauna Hot Pants, 1970s

Nobody Who Loves Bare-As-You-Dare Fashions Looks Dressed Without It! Body Paint, C1970

Dr. Miles Nervine, 1941

To Wake Up Gay In The Morning (1940s)

Keep Baby Safe

The Most Inappropriate Ad Of All Time. 1975

Cellophane (1954): Better Living Through Chemistry

Cook And Wash On Your Refrigerator! 1952

Black Racist Stereotypes Used In A Elliott's Paint And Varnish Company Advertisement, 1935

1800's Soap Ad

This Little Psychopath Is Really Enjoying His Van Camp’s Pork And Beans (1952)

1916 Kellogg's Toasted Corn Flakes Ad

Gillette Razors 1950’s

Grove's Chill Tonic (1890s)

Iver Johnson Revolvers, Before 1907

7up: Why We Have The Youngest Customers In The Business

Suits For Contortionists (Cricketeer Suits, 1972)

1916 Ad For Wire Mosquito Netting Mask

Please Let You Wife Come In The Living Room. Highpoint (1950s)

Diamond Dyes Ca 1880's

Rainier Beer: Beneficial To Young And Old

Shirley Simkins And Sally Hayes, Lifersavers, 1957

V-8 Vegetable Juice 1950’s

Old Spice. 1980

Mccleans Toothpaste 1971

Drummond Sweaters

Can't Get Tired Of The 50's

Milton Bradley Shrunken Head Sculpting Kit (1975)

Racist Advertisement Represents A Black Boy Becoming White Thanks To Pears Soap’s “Magic” Based On The Fable Washing The Blackamoor White, Published In The Graphic For Christmas, 1884

Seemed Like A Good Place To Post This. Whiskey Toothpaste. LOL

Wool Nose Warmer

Charles E. Hires Co. 1892

Creepy Clown Kool-Aid Ad (1956)

The Karo Kid, Karo Syrup Magazine Ad, 1948

Open Up An Oreo And Take A Lick (1950)

Facts

Drink Ovaltine To Wake Up Gay In The Morning! 1940s Ad

Eating Out Gives You A Lift! Swift Premium Ham, 1960

Husbands Beat Wives. 1949

Coca Cola Ad From 1951

1950's Wastebasket Ad (Brand Unknown)

Pizza Hut And Death, University Of S. Florida Newspaper, 1969

Appliances 1964

Gingervating (1938)

1966 Ivory Liquid Soap Advertisement

Pamphlet From The Home Economics Department Of The Fruit Dispatch Company, 1939

Hamlin's Wizard Oil Poster, 1890

Dream Date Portrait Pillow

Buster Brown Shoes, Circa 1905

Sugar: Your Weight Loss Ally. Mid-60s

It's A Soap Ad. (Pears Soap, Late 1800s - Early 1900s)

Instant Shoe Coloring By Lady Esquire 1964

Curves Of Youth. 1887

Rice Council Of America - "Life" Magazine Ad - 1967

Lysol 1930's

Sea Monkeys, Bouffants And Inflatable Bodyguards, 1963

An Ad For Drummond Sweaters From 1959

I'd Like Something Good, Welch's Cocoanut, 1956

The Flip'n Style Hair Dryer - "Even If You Can't Use It, It's Fun To Have"

The Game Is Broomsticks (Creepy Ad)

1965 Wham-O String A Tree

"Keep Her Where She Belongs..." - 1974 Weyenberg Massagic Shoes Ad

The World’s Smartest Shirts, Van Heusen, 1952

Chlorodent Toothpaste 1953

Leonetto Cappiello - Biscotines Union, C. 1906

Your Next Belt Buckle Will Be Bronzed Lips, 1972

American Poster By Alfred Parker For United States Office Of War Information/ Division Of Public Inquiries. United States Of America, 1943

Explore more of these tags

Fresh Humiliation For 'Cornell 7' Student As "Vile" Snapchat Message To Other Frat Brothers Is Revealed