Lucky Strike - What Everyone Wants to Find Under the Tree

That's right people, what wholesome well adjusted family doesn't want to get a pack of Luckies under the tree? Apparently in the good old days, it was completely acceptable to give and receive cases of cigarettes for Christmas.  If you've ever done a search of vintage Christmas advertising about 65% of the results are for major cigarette companies (major back in the day that is).  They've got Santa smoking Chesterfields, Bing Crosby in a Santa hat proclaiming the thrill he gets from Marlboros, and as in the case of the advertisement to left beautiful Hollywood star in their holiday finery with some cigarette paraphernalia.  Well if Joan Crawford's cigarettes don't kill the kids she can always beat them with some wire hangers. 

Below is a vintage Lucky Strike commercial, featuring a wholesome, bubbly woman proclaiming the joys of giving Lucky Strikes as a Christmas present.  Imagine ten packs of cigarettes in a box specially designed by Raymond Loewy- you don't even need to wrap it.  It can go straight from the gas station convenience store to under the tree.  She's even got a happy little ditty- doesn't it just make you want to take up smoking.

Those of you who are into Mad Men (Lucky Strike is a huge advertising account on the show) this is kind of stuff that ad agencies were actually coming up with in those days.   

Retro Commercial #2: Respond Hairspray

Here we have it ladies, a window into the mind of a man on a blind date.   Apparently, all men can think about is the texture of our hair - and sticky hair is out.  This commercial leads us to believe that  this was the cause of all single women's woes in the early sixties.  However, the people of Respond have finally found a way to harness the power of protein to make sure that these women have perfect flips.  Enjoy!