Mother’s Little Helper
Although hundreds of actresses and dozens of women athletes and society women appeared in cigarette advertisements in the the 1930s and 1940s—as well as women serving in all branches of the military and in factories on the home front during World War I—the post-war depiction of women in cigarette advertising was often as a romantic companion to her man, as a newlywed, or even, in one Philip Morris ad, as a young mother caressing her baby.
The Cigarette of Elegant Women
In the 30 years before the Marlboro man became the rugged frontier embodiment of American manhood in the 1950s, the brand was promoted to women as the “Cigarette of Distinction” and “America’s Luxury Cigarette.”
“Unrivalled– Unerring choice…Marlboros! Made of tobaccos that cheaper cigarettes simply cannot afford.”
Magazine advertisement by Philip Morris & Co.
Circa 1942
“TO YOUR ‘CHOOSY’ FRIENDS…GIVE Marlboro, The Cigarette of Distinction
For Him or Her {PLAIN ENDS IVORY TIPS
Strictly for Her {BEAUTY TIPS (reds)”
Advertisement by Philip Morris & Co.
The Saturday Evening Post
December 16, 1944.
“Marlboro, America’s Luxury Cigarette”
Advertisement by Philip Morris & Co.
LIFE Magazine
1943.
“NEW FAVORITE…the little leopard jacket. Old favorite…distinguished Marlboro Cigarettes”
Magazine advertisement by Philip Morris & Co.
1943
“WHERE IS HE NOW? He would applaud my Stage Door Canteen work. He would admire my bright lamé gown. He would approve my MARLBORO Cigarettes, a choice I learned long ago from him. Luxury for pennies!“
Magazine advertisement by Philip Morris & Co.
1943
“Everything for the boys”
Magazine advertisement by Philip Morris & Co.
October 8, 1945
“Everything for the boys”
Magazine advertisement by Philip Morris & Co.
Circa 1945
“Everything for the boys”
Magazine advertisement by Philip Morris & Co.
Circa 1945
“THE RIGHT NOTE. With a surfe hand she picks the perfect gown…direct yet dramatic. And complements it wityh tghe one cigarette in harmony.”
Magazine advertisement by Philip Morris & Co. for Marlboro cigarettes
Circa 1942
“An entire day’s extra pleasure–for mere pennies more!”
Advertisement by Philip Morris & Co. for Marlboro cigarettes
LIFE Magazine
April 17, 1950
“‘Just hatched… and a Pippin!'”
Magazine advertisement by P. Lorillard Tobacco Company for Old Gold cigarettes
1940
“…a Young Man’s Fancy turns”
Magazine advertisement by P. Lorillard Tobacco Company for Old Gold cigarettes
1938
“Something NEW has been added!”
Magazine advertisement by P. Lorillard Tobacco Company for Old Gold cigarettes
1942
“OLD GOLD treats you right”
Magazine advertisement by P. Lorillard Tobacco Company
1953
“No medical blarney”
Magazine advertisement by P. Lorillard Tobacco Company for Old Gold cigarettes
1952
“Straight from the shoulder”
Magazine advertisement by P. Lorillard Tobacco Company for Old Gold cigarettes
1951
“‘Old Gold’s throat-ease makes it a better Cigarette’ SAYS Carole Lombard
Magazine advertisement by P. Lorillard Tobacco Company
1935
“You’ll like my Brand and I ‘dude’ mean You”
Magazine advertisement by P. Lorillard Tobacco Company for Old Gold cigarettes
1939
“Why be irritated? Light an Old Gold”
Magazine advertisement by P. Lorillard Tobacco Company
Circa 1940s
A Picture Perfect Life
Mid-20th century Philip Morris cigarette advertisements reflected post-war optimism and domestic bliss..
“Pardon us while we change our dress”
Magazine advertisement By Philip Morris Inc.
1955
“Born gentle…PROUD mothers, please forgive us if we too feel something of the pride of a new parent. For new Philip Morris, today’s Philip Morris, is delighting smokers everywhere. Enjoy the gentle pleasure, the fresh unfiltered flavor, of this new cigarette, born gentle, then refined to special gentleness in the making…”
Magazine advertisement by Philip Morris Inc.
1956
“Gentleness makes friends”
Magazine advertisement by Philip Morris, Inc.
1956
“Gentleness means so much”
Magazine advertisement by Philip Morris, Inc.
1956
“Loved for gentleness”
Magazine advertisement by Philip Morris, Inc.
1956
“More vintage tobacco makes PHILIP MORRIS naturally gentler and milder”
Magazine advertisement by Philip Morris, Inc.
Circa 1950
“More vintage tobacco makes PHILIP MORRIS naturally gentle and mild”
Magazine advertisement by Philip Morris, Inc.
Circa 1950
“More vintage tobacco makes PHILIP MORRIS naturally richer and milder”
Magazine advertisement by Philip Morris, Inc.
Circa 1950
“New Philip Morris ‘Snap-Open’ Pack”
Magazine advertisement by Philip Morris, Inc.
1954
“New Philip Morris ‘Snap-Open’ Pack”
Magazine advertisement by Philip Morris, Inc.
1954
“New Philip Morris ‘Snap-Open’ Pack”
Magazine advertisement by Philip Morris, Inc.
1954
“YOU’D NEVER GUESS THEY COST YOU LESS”
Store poster advertisement by Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company for Avalon cigarettes
Circa 1950
“YOU’D NEVER GUESS THEY COST YOU LESS”
Store poster advertisement by Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company for Avalon cigarettes
Circa 1950
“can YOUR cigarette match CHELSEA?”
Magazine advertisement by Larus and Brother Company
Circa 1940
“FROM NOW ON–“
Magazine advertisement by Larus and Brother Company
Circa 1940
“Perfect Taste…”
Magazine advertisement by Larus and Brother Company
Circa 1940
“Pall Mall’s natural mildness is so good to your taste!”
Magazine advertisement by the American Tobacco Company
1963
“Let your throat enjoy smooth smoking”
Magazine advertisement by the American Tobacco Company for Pall Mall cigarettes
1954
“‘You better believe it!!'”
Magazine advertisement by the American Tobacco Company for Pall Mall Gold 100’s cigarettes
Circa 1960
“…and it’s ABC for keeps–ALWAYS BUY CHESTERFIELD”
Advertisement by Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company
TIME Magazine
June 17, 1946.
“DO YOU KNOW YOUR ABC’s – Always Buy Chesterfield”
Magazine advertisement by Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company
1945
“‘Of course I smoke Chesterfields because they’re milder’- – Susan Hayward”
Magazine advertisement by Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company
1948
“Good Taste in the Bag…”
Magazine advertisement by Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company for Chesterfield cigarettes
1945
“PUT A SMILE IN YOUR SMOKING! Chesterfield. Made the Modern Way… with Accu-Ray“
Magazine advertisement by Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company
Circa 1950
“I switched to FATIMA because they are Extra-Mild !”
Advertisement by Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company
1952
“I design quality gowns for those who can afford them…I smoke the quality cigarette that anyone can afford, FATIMA…”
Magazine advertisement by Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company
1952
“Taste extra coolness as you smoke”
Magazine advertisement by Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company for Kool cigarettes
1966
Philip Morris and other tobacco companies were among the earliest employers to hire African Americans in large numbers and for equal pay. Cigarette makers also were major advertisers in newspapers and magazines with a predominantly African-American readership. Although it is not known why mentholated cigarettes were preferred by African Americans, most cigarette ads aimed at this market have been for menthol brands, most notably Brown & Williamson’s KOOL, RJ Reynolds’ Salem, and Lorillard’s Newport. All three of these brands are now made by Reynolds American, a subsidiary of British American Tobacco.
Janet Sackman
Janet Sackman (1931-2007) began her career as a model after being spotted on a beach by a talent scout. Among her first jobs was posing for Chesterfield and Lucky Strike cigarette ads in 1947. As she recounted, “A tobacco executive drew me aside. ‘It would be good if you learned to smoke,’ he said earnestly, ‘so you’ll know how to hold a cigarette and puff on it.’ He didn’t pressure me, but at 17 I was eager to be a grown woman.”
In 1983 Sackman was diagnosed with throat cancer and underwent surgery to remove her larynx. Sackman became an ardent anti-smoking advocate and speaker, stunning audiences with her raspy voice, the result of the surgery. She joined with Smokefree Educational Services to protest the Virginia Slims Tennis Tournament at New York City’s Madison Square Garden to call attention to the manipulation of young women by Philip Morris and other cigarette makers.
Also view the exhibition, “Cigarette Ad Role Models: Stories of Tragedy and Regret”
“Smoke a LUCKY to feel your LEVEL best!”
Magazine advertisement by the American Tobacco Company
April 1949
“Smoke a LUCKY to feel your LEVEL best!”
Magazine advertisement by the American Tobacco Company
1949
“Smoke a LUCKY to feel your LEVEL best!”
Magazine advertisement by the American Tobacco Company
1949
“Smoke a LUCKY to feel your LEVEL best!”
Magazine advertisement by the American Tobacco Company
March 1949
“”THIS IS IT! L & M’s ARE JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED’–Barbara Stanwyck”
Magazine advertisement by Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company
Circa 1954
“Rosalind Russell says, ‘L & M Filters are Just What the Doctor Ordered!'”
Magazine advertisement by Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company
1954
“Newport smokes fresher!”
Magazine advertisement by P. Lorillard Tobacco Company Newport
1963
“Plain Or Cork tipped”
Store poster advertisement by Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company for Raleigh cigarettes
Circa 1935
“UNION MADE SAVE B & W COUPONS”
Store poster advertisement by Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company for Raleigh cigarettes
Circa 1935
“Buy the pack WITH THE COUPON ON THE BACK!”
Store poster advertisement by Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company for Raleigh cigarettes
Circa 1935
“The TAREYTON Twosome”
Magazine advertisement by the American Tobacco Company
1956
“Hungry for flavor?”
Magazine advertisement by the American Tobacco Company for Tareyton cigarettes
1963
“Hungry for flavor?”
Magazine advertisement by the American Tobacco Company for Tareyton cigarettes
1963
“‘Us Tareyton smokers would rather fight than switch!'”
Magazine advertisement by the American Tobacco Company
1965