We've Come A Long Way, Baby

A few weeks ago one of my bridge friends sent me an e-mail showing a dozen or so vintage print ads, most from the 1940's and 1950's. I couldn't believe what I saw. Cigarette ads promoted by doctors, dentists, and even Ronald Reagan. Soda promoted to infants. The portrayal of women, as sex objects, here to serve men, would cause a revolution today. We definitely have come a long way. (Virginia Slims commercial). I couldn't get some other great ads printed, but there was one of Santa Claus smoking, a seductive looking woman waiting for her hubby to return from work and serving him a TV dinner, ads for cruises, telling the consumer they will have a "gay" time. The use of the word "gay" was used over and over again in print ads, which just goes to show how word usage changes. Enjoy these few ads and check out the internet if you want to see more vintage ads, most of which would never be published today. We've come a long way, but still have far to go.