18 Iconic Magazine Ads From The 1950s That Would Never Fly Today
Step into a time machine and journey back to the 1950s—a decade bursting with innovation, charm, and, well… some truly questionable advertising choices.
Back then, magazine ads weren’t just selling products; they were shaping cultural norms, often in ways that would leave today’s audiences baffled. Picture this: doctors happily endorsing cigarette brands, housewives beaming with joy over their new kitchen appliances (as if that’s all they ever wanted), and children sipping sugary sodas because, according to advertisers, it was somehow good for them!
These ads, once seen as completely normal, now serve as amusing, shocking, and sometimes downright cringe-worthy reminders of how far we’ve come. From wildly exaggerated product claims to eyebrow-raising gender roles, they capture a world where marketing knew no limits.
So, brace yourself for a hilarious and fascinating trip through 18 magazine ads from the 1950s that would never make it past today’s approval boards. You won’t believe what they used to sell—and how they sold it!
1. Doctors Recommend Smoking (Yes, Really!)
Imagine a time when lighting up a cigarette was as common as sipping a cup of coffee. Back in the 1950s, ads boldly proclaimed, “More Doctors Smoke Camels Than Any Other Cigarette!” Yes, the medical professionals we trust were seen puffing away with a smile. You could almost picture the stethoscope around their necks, giving a thumbs up to smoking.
Today, we see the irony, and a little humor, in a doctor endorsing something so harmful. Smoking was recommended as good for the throat—the very part doctors today strive to protect from cigarette harm. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come in understanding health.
This ad would never fly today, as it’s now common knowledge that smoking poses serious health risks. Medical professionals are more likely to advise against cigarettes, not suggest them. Times have changed, and thankfully, so has our understanding of health.
2. Beer for Babies
The idea of a baby taking a swig of beer is as unsettling as it sounds. Yet, an ad once asked, “How Soon Is Too Soon to Start Your Baby on Beer?” Rheingold Beer didn’t shy away from suggesting this unconventional parenting tip. Picture a mother happily sipping beer while breastfeeding, with the implication that a sip couldn’t hurt the baby.
Today, the thought of giving beer to babies is enough to make anyone cringe. The ad promoted not just beer, but a carefree attitude towards alcohol consumption. Imagine a parenting manual covering that advice!
This ad represents a time when ideas about child-rearing were vastly different. Alcohol and babies are not a match, and society’s views have shifted drastically since then. Beer is no longer a recommended supplement for infants, and thank goodness for that.
3. “Show Her It’s a Man’s World” (Van Heusen Shirts)
Welcome to the era where breakfast in bed had different connotations. Van Heusen Shirts proudly presented an ad titled “Show Her It’s a Man’s World,” featuring a smug husband receiving breakfast from his kneeling wife. The message was clear: women are here to serve.
The blatant sexism in this ad is as subtle as a marching band in a library. A time capsule of outdated gender roles, it makes one wonder how these ideas were celebrated. Thankfully, we’ve moved past the idea that women exist solely to cater to men.
Such ads remind us of progress made in gender equality. Women today are seen as equals, not servants. The only thing this ad serves is a stark reminder of outdated societal norms that have been rightly challenged and changed.
4. “You Mean a Woman Can Open It?” (Alcoa Aluminum)
Crack open a can of equality—or at least attempt to. Alcoa Aluminum’s ad triumphantly declared, “You Mean a Woman Can Open It?” Gone are the days when opening cans required a man’s touch, or so the ad implied.
The celebration of a can design accessible to women was as eye-opening as the can itself. The underlying assumption was that women lacked the strength or ability to perform such a simple task. One can almost hear the collective sigh of exasperation from women everywhere.
Today, the thought of needing help to open a can seems laughable. Women have always had the capability, and this ad serves as a relic of peculiar assumptions. It’s a humorous reminder of how far societal perceptions have evolved, and how women can, indeed, open their own cans.
5. Amphetamines for Weight Loss
Pop a pill, lose some pounds! In the 1950s, the slimming secret was amphetamines, marketed under names like Dexedrine. The promise? To keep you slim and energized all day!
Today, we know better than to equate speed with dieting. The idea of taking amphetamines for weight loss is as outdated as the belief in magical weight-loss potions. The side effects and dangers associated with such drugs are now well-documented.
This ad reflects a time when the pursuit of beauty sometimes overlooked health. Prescribing such substances is now illegal and unethical, highlighting a significant shift in medical practices. In the quest for fitness, pills like these are left in the dustbin of history.
6. No Seatbelts, No Problem! (Chevrolet)
Buckle up—or not! Chevrolet once boasted the safety of their cars by claiming they were built like tanks. Seatbelts? Who needs them?
The idea of relying on a car’s structure alone for safety seems almost reckless by today’s standards. The image of a family cruising along without seatbelts is a stark reminder of how far automotive safety has come.
Today, seatbelts are a non-negotiable safety feature, credited with saving countless lives. This ad reminds us of a simpler—but more dangerous—time when car safety was more about sturdiness than the use of essential safety devices. Thankfully, the wheels of progress have brought us safer rides.
7. Coca-Cola for Babies
Start them young, they said—perhaps too young. Once upon a time, an ad suggested starting babies off right with Coca-Cola! A caffeine and sugar cocktail for the little ones?
Today, the idea of giving soda to babies is unthinkable. The health effects of such a practice are enough to make any parent shudder. Imagine expecting a baby to handle the sugar rush!
This ad is a testament to how much our understanding of nutrition has evolved. Parents now strive to provide healthier options for their children, steering clear from sugary sodas. The bubbly past has fizzled out, making way for a healthier future.
8. Lobotomy as a “Cure” for Mental Health Issues
Imagine a time when a simple operation promised to stop mood swings forever. Lobotomies were once advertised as a cure for mental health issues, a practice as chilling as it sounds.
The barbaric procedure was overprescribed and misunderstood, leaving many with lasting damage. Today, we see it more as a horror story than a medical solution.
This ad highlights the dark side of medical history, revealing how far mental health treatment has come. The focus is now on understanding and compassion, not invasive procedures. Lobotomies are a chilling reminder of a past best left behind.
9. “Meat for Strong Husbands and Happy Wives” (Swift’s Meats)
A steak a day keeps the masculinity at bay—or so Swift’s Meats would have you believe. The ad promised that feeding your husband lots of meat would make him more of a man.
Today, we chuckle at the idea that gender roles dictate diet. Meat doesn’t equal masculinity, and happiness isn’t found in a steak dinner served with a side of gender stereotypes.
This ad serves up a plateful of outdated notions with a side of humor. Modern views emphasize balanced diets and equality, moving away from such simplistic and gendered ideas. The meat-based myth has been thoroughly debunked.
10. “She’ll Be Happier With a Hoover!” (Vacuum Cleaner Ads)
Because nothing says ‘I love you’ like a vacuum cleaner under the Christmas tree! Hoover’s ad suggested the ultimate gift for a woman’s happiness was a vacuum cleaner.
The idea that domestic appliances were the key to a woman’s joy seems as dated as a black-and-white TV. Women have been asking for more than just cleaning tools for gifts for a long time.
Today, the thought of gifting such an item as a romantic gesture might earn more than a few eye rolls. The vacuum cleaner ad reminds us that a woman’s happiness is not dependent on her ability to clean. Times—and gift-giving expectations—have changed for the better.
11. “Tan Without the Sun—With Radioactive Skin Cream!”
Who needs the sun when you’ve got radium? This ad promised a glow like never before with radioactive skin cream.
The thought of applying radiation to one’s face as skincare is as alarming as it gets. Today, we understand the deadly risks associated with radiation, making this ad a shocking piece of history.
The quest for beauty has thankfully steered away from such dangerous paths. Modern skincare focuses on safety and efficacy, and radioactive creams are nothing more than a glowing relic of an uninformed past.
12. “Mothers Deserve a Stiff Drink—Daily!” (Gin & Whiskey Ads)
Motherhood can be stressful, so why not unwind with a daily martini? That was the suggestion from gin and whiskey ads that encouraged moms to relax with a drink.
Today, the idea of promoting alcohol as a daily coping mechanism is concerning. It highlights a lack of understanding about the complexities of stress and healthy ways to manage it.
This ad reflects a time when alcohol was glamorized without considering its potential harm. Now, we encourage healthier stress-relief practices, recognizing that a stiff drink isn’t the answer to life’s challenges.
13. “Keep Her in the Kitchen Where She Belongs” (Dacron Fabrics)
Nothing screams durability like cooking in high heels! Dacron Fabrics once praised their product by showing women happily confined to the kitchen.
The idea that women belong in just one place feels as outdated as rotary phones. Thankfully, society has moved toward recognizing women’s diverse roles and capabilities.
This ad serves as a stark reminder of the gender stereotypes that were once rampant. The kitchen is no longer a woman’s domain, and shoes are just shoes—no high heels required.
14. Cigarettes for Weight Loss (Lucky Strike)
When hunger strikes, light up a Lucky Strike! Cigarettes once claimed to keep you slim, suggesting smoking as a replacement for snacking.
The notion of using nicotine as a diet plan seems absurd today, given the known health risks. This ad is a glimpse into a time when the dangers of smoking were not fully acknowledged.
Lucky Strike’s campaign is a reminder of the misleading health claims of the past. Smoking isn’t a diet strategy; it’s a health hazard, and society has thankfully moved beyond such dangerous advice.
15. Cigarettes for Stress Relief—Even for Pregnant Women!
Need to calm your nerves during pregnancy? Once upon a time, doctors recommended smoking to pregnant women for stress relief.
Today, the thought of such advice is enough to make anyone gasp. The harmful effects of smoking, especially during pregnancy, are well-known, and such recommendations seem dangerously misguided.
This ad is a chilling reminder of how medical advice has evolved. Pregnant women now receive support for healthier stress management, far removed from the outdated notion of smoking as a solution.
16. “Vibrating Exercise Belts for Fast Weight Loss”
Shake, rattle, and lose weight? The vibrating exercise belt promised fast weight loss with no effort required. Just stand there, and let the machine do the work!
Today, we know that simply shaking won’t shed those pounds. The ad reflects a time when exercise gimmicks were sold with little evidence of effectiveness.
Thankfully, fitness has moved beyond such fads, focusing on genuine health and wellness. The vibrating belt is a quirky reminder of the past’s pursuit of effortless weight loss.
17. “Help Your Daughter Catch a Husband—With the Right Perfume”
A spritz of perfume to catch a husband? This ad suggested a woman’s purpose was smelling great and finding a man.
The idea that a fragrance could determine one’s romantic success seems as flimsy as the scent itself. Women’s lives and aspirations extend far beyond such simplistic notions.
This ad is a fragrant reminder of gender stereotypes that have thankfully been challenged. Perfume may add allure, but it’s personality and equality that truly shine today.
18. Soap Ads Promising “Lighter, Whiter Skin”
Erase dark spots for a more beautiful you! Such ads promised lighter, whiter skin, perpetuating harmful colorism and racism.
Today, beauty is celebrated in all shades, and the notion that lighter skin is more beautiful is rightly criticized. These ads are relics of a time when such views were distressingly common.
Modern beauty standards embrace diversity and inclusivity, moving away from the outdated ideals these ads represent. Soap may cleanse, but it’s society that needed the real washing of outdated beliefs.