31 Fascinating (and Sometimes Ridiculous) Newspaper Ads from the Previous Century

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John Summers • Contributor
Dec 10, 2024 9:00 PM EST

Old newspaper ads are like tiny time capsules, offering a peek into what life was like back in the day. Some are hilarious, some are shocking, and some make you scratch your head wondering, "How did anyone think this was okay?" Take a look at these gems, from historical treasures like the first-ever Wal-Mart grand opening ad in 1962 to downright bizarre ones, like Santa Claus nearly shooting himself because he didn't have enough Arrow shirts to go around.

There are ads that are impossibly outdated, like one boasting, "She can have a tummy and still look yummy!" and others that give us an incredible sense of nostalgia for a world that no longer exists. These aren't just old advertisements—they're snapshots of a time when marketing was unfiltered, unapologetic, and, let's be honest, often unintentionally hilarious.

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  • 01

    Based on a true story

    they all got vaccine except dad... This actually happened to the man in the iron lung...James Wood, 36, of Charlotte, Mich. He was the only member of his family not vaccinated against polio and the only one to come down with the disease. Wood and his wife both planned to be vaccinated. One night last April they were about to go out for their Salk shots when friends dropped in and the trip was postponed. Later, an extra-money night job kept Wood from going to a vaccine clinic with his wife. The c
    via u/Ebonystealth

    Apparently, he lived for 31 more years and became an oil painter using his mouth!. (Source: u/New-Anacansintta)

  • 02

    Where to even start with this ad?

    Tracy Harper may not care if fashionable chubby-sizes are hard to find- but her Mother does. And so does Sears Sees care tough task End Fluttering now l designed for bull This perky party drow Jow swinging pleats ands of ace on its stand collar and cuff Pink bat 5-165 I care for 30% Form Pol and 57% cotton. At most Son, Roebuck and Co. and the staky Our kids clothes are made for mothers. Sears
    via u/Ebonystealth
  • 03

    Oh dear, this one is even worse

    She can have a tummy ...and still look yummy! Dress washable Dan River Wrinkl-Sh $5.98 Is your daughter on the plump side? She can and should look as pretty as her slim friends. And she will... if you dress her in Chubbettes. Send her back to school in the slenderizing magic of a Chubbette wardrobe...dresses, skirts, blouses and slacks cleverly designed to minimize extra pounds. FREE! "POUNDS AND PERSONALITY"...a booklet of advice for parents of chubby girls (how to assure her happiness...what t
    via u/Ebonystealth
  • 04

    Still shot from a 1980s Burger King commercial- can you spot the 3 future stars in the ad?

    Cheezburger Image 10439154432
    via u/UrbanAchievers6371

    Elisabeth Shue, Lea Thompson, and the little one is Sarah Michelle Gellar!

  • 05

    Found under a crawl space under a 1918 home.

    GULF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS GULF REFINING COMPANY PITTSBURGH, PA. BOSTON NEW YORK PHILADELPHIA ATLANTA NEW ORLEANS HOUSTON LOUISVILLE. • JANUARY 1934 TOLEDO Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 7 8 123 456 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 JANUARY 1934 123 456 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Gulf Lube..the MARCH 1934 123 "High Mileage 5 6 7 8 9 10 Motor O 11 12 13 14 15
    via u/Maineguy58
  • 06

    Flyer invitation to the grand opening of the first Wal-Mart in 1962

    Boger Deily News Sanday, June 30 YOU ARE INVITED TO WAL-MART WEEK-LONG GRAND OPENING 22 DEPTS. 1 JEWELRY MONDAY JULY 2, THROUGH SAT. JULY 7th. INCLUDING JULY 4th WALMART WATCH FOR GRAND OPENING JULY 2 FREE DOOR PRIZE Customer 2 DRUGS 3 BOOKS 4 HOBBIES Satisfaction Guaranteed 5 HAIR CARE 6 TOYS 7 CURTAIN-ACCES 8 PAINT-ACES FEATURING 9 SEWING EEDS 10 SPORTING GOODS 11 AUTOMOTIVE 12 BOYS WEAR 13 GIRLS WEAR Name Brands IN ALL DEPTS, 14 LADIES WEAR 15 MENS WEAR 16 INFANT 17 PIECE GOODS 18 HOUSE WARE
    via u/cellboat
  • 07

    1990 “First Lady” Pearl necklace

    Nanyonga, a witch doctor who a recent radio broadcast. "For $7 a month we won't send your wife a free credit card." You've Seen the Pearls that have taken the NATION BY STORM! NOW AVAILABLE! Our Original FIRST LADY™ PEARL NECKLACE FOR $19 ONLY If you are among the first 10,000 to respond within the next 11 days You'll love your FIRST LADY PEARL NECKLACE C as much as a Meta Peters, shown here. Three Classic Hand-knotted Strands with Designer-Style Clasp SIMILAR PEARLS SOLD BY OTHERS FROM $16000 $
    via u/babysoutonbail
  • 08

    1948 Life Savers Christmas book ad!

    FE SAVERS Sue Story SAVE R GIFT PACKAGE PEPOMINT LIFE SAVERS LIFESAVERS LIFE SAVERS WINT OCREEN LIFE SAVERS CLOVE LIFE SAVERS FIFESAVERS LIFE SAVERS LIFE SAVERS LIFESAVERS LIFE SAVERS LIFESAVERS LIFE SAVERS Give A Sweet Story" (to a sweet someone!) What a delightful book of dandy candy... Life Savers Twelve handy rolls! Every luscious Life Savers flavor! Kids and grownups will love to browse through this beautiful gift book at Christmas! At candy stands everywhere... sixty cents LIFE SAVERS
    via u/AxlCobainVedder
  • 09

    Recipe below :)

    No one can resist Cookies NR-G made with SEND A BOX TO YOUR BOY IN SERVICE CURTISS Baby Ruth ALLIRIOUS FAP4 IN DEXTROSE Candy RECIPE ON EVERY WRAPPER CURTISS CANDY COMPANY Producers of Fine Foods . CHICAGO 13. ILLINOIS
    via u/Ebonystealth

    Baby Ruth Cookie Recipe

    Ingredients:

    • 1/2 cup (115 g) butter or shortening, softened

    • 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar

    • 1 large egg

    • 1 1/3 cups (160 g) all purpose flour

    • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

    • 1/2 teaspoon salt

    • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

    • 2 1/2 regular size Baby Ruth candy bars (about 140 g) cut into small pieces

    Instructions:

    Cream the butter and sugar together until it's nice and smooth.

    Beat in the egg until combined.

    Add the flour, baking soda, salt, and vanilla and stir until the dough starts to come together.

    Add the Baby Ruth pieces and stir until they're evenly dispersed and the dough is completely mixed.

    Cover and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least a few hours or as long as a couple of days.

    Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.

    If you want to stick to how the original recipe was written, roll half-teaspoon pieces of dough (about 8 grams) into balls and set them an inch (3 cm) apart on the prepared baking sheet. For ones that are closer to the size of the cookies in drawings from the time, divide the dough into 18 equal portions and place on the cookie sheets 2 inches (5 cm) apart.

    Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes or until they're golden brown on top. Let them cool before serving them forth.

  • 10

    Sensational!

    Sensational! You will want this clever LEG LAMP It will get more at- tention than any- thing you've ever had...For gifts, bar, den, fraternity, playroom. Unbreak- able latex. 1912" high. Plastic shade skirt. (Pink or White) $12.00 postpaid Send check or money order to W. L. THOMAS MFG. CO 119 West 57th Street, New York 19
    via u/Ebonystealth
  • 11

    Perhaps changing the name would have been easier

    The most drink in the world. misunderstood Just because Cherry Heering has the word "cherry" in it, some people think it's a too-sweet liqueur. Which it isn't. Cherry Heering is different. It's sweet, but it's not sweet-ish. Cherry Heering is light and almost dry. In fact, it's one of the liqueurs that has a real"refreshing"taste. Which is why you might want CHERRY to try it before dinner. During dinner. After dinner. Chilled. Mixed. On-the-rocks. Anywhere. Any way. Meet misunderstanding *2 Offe
    via u/rrsafety
  • 12

    What a time to be alive!

    FOR XMAS Give this to a Nice Guy who smokes while driving Sensational Pres-a-lite hands you lighted Ready-to-smoke cigarettes while AVOIDS AUTO ACCIDENTS No more fumbling for cigarettes or matches... no more blinding lame or sparks in your face... no more one-arm driving while reaching for dash board lighter. Now...keep yes on the road. keep control of the wheel-while PRES-A-LITE Actually bands you lighted cigarettes ready to smoke! Acclaimed by safety authorities because- last year 1,200,000 pe
    via u/Suggest_a_User_Name
  • 13

    Asking the real questions

    Should a bride-to-be work as a Hertz girl before marriage? Yes. It gets her used to being taken for granted. And if that's not perfect training for marriage, we'd like to know what is. But that's the hallmark of success in the rent-a-car busi- ness. When your customers take you and your cars for granted. Which means, of course, that we take nothing for granted. We do everything humanly possible to keep our new Fords and other fine cars as close to perfect as we know how. Just so you can continue
    via u/babysoutonbail
  • 14

    Not gonna lie, It looks pretty good

    CHUN KING INTRODUCES A NEW MEAL YOU'LL REMEMBER! NEW! CHUN KING Shrimp Chow Meio and Pepper Oriental Dinner CHINATOWN STYLE DINNER WITH TWO ENTREES CHUN KING Shrimp Chow Mein Pepper Oriental Dinner CONTAINS SHRIMP CHO MEN VECTARES SADC) WIFE New Chinatown Style Frozen Dinners With Two Entrees. You'll be delighted by the complementary tastes of two entrees, new Shrimp Chow Mein & Pepper Oriental Dinner (8 full ounces of entree in all). Delicious and distinctively different Shrimp Chow Mein with s
    via u/Hooverpaul

    But it actually tasted terrible, according to people who tried

  • 15

    Yay! Lead Party!

    THE DUTCH BOY'S LEAD PARTY LEAD FAMILY A Paint Book- for Girls and Boys With which is bound COLOR HARMONY IN THE HOME A Booklet for the Grown-ups
    via u/Ebonystealth
  • 16

    The complete works of Beethoven

    You'd never guess there's a magnificent pull-out phonograph and FM/AM solid state radio hidden behind those doors. Or a six-speaker omnidimensional sound system concealed behind the grillwork (projecting sound in all directions). Or enough space inside to store 20 record albums. But there is. It's sort of a hide-a-stereo. Magnavox makes it. So it goes without saying. the styling, craftsmanship and sound are superb. In a choice of Mediterranean (above), Early American, or Contemporary models. For
    via u/babysoutonbail
  • 17

    Garfield tent, 1988

    17 Garfield $23.99 17 Garfield will make you smile every time you look at him! This play tent has an inflatable head and tail. Durable vinyl cover is supported by a PVC vinyl frame. 42x26x34 in. high. Matching slumber bag sold on p. 485. 6 N 77558-Wt. 6 lbs...$23.99
    via u/CelebManips
  • 18

    For that fresh drunk smell

    3 BOURBON SCOTCH SPIKED TOOTHPASTE-SCOTCH OR BOURBON FLAVORED... Put some "spirit" in your brush- ing! Real, honest to goodness whiskey in tooth- paste in your favorite flavors. He'll be brushing his teeth 3, 4, even 5 times daily. Nosey guests will wonder, if it's the medicine chest or liquor cabinet. Cleans teeth, too! Scotch Toothpaste (N-51656) Bourbon Toothpaste (N-51664) $1 $1
    via u/Ebonystealth
  • 19

    Santa, NO!

    "Don't do it, Santa_ we've got GOOD NEWS!" Look for the Arrow Trade-mark A etc 用 That tower of "A" cards by Santa is from men who want Arrow Shirts for Christmas! And good Claus had despaired of filling or- ders when we rushed in-bearing more Arrow Shirts than we've had in years! So: If you want any particular Arrow Shirt or Shirts for Christmas-with any particular Collar styles -drop a hint to the family! $3.25 up. Yes, more Arrow Shirts are becoming avail- able daily. Ditto ARROW Ties, Handker
    via u/nina_ballerina
  • 20

    The ladies love smart gay colors!

    LADIES' DEPT. What she looks for- ✓ COMFORT AND ROOMINESS ✓ SMART SMART GAY COLOURS ✓REALLY LARGE LUGGAGE TRUNK ✓EASILY ADJUSTABLE SEAT ✓ SENSIBLE DOORS-safe for children EASY GEAR CHANGE MAINLY FOR MEN What he insists on- MORE MILES PER GALLON up to 36 m.p.g.* GOOD ACCELERATION 0-70 m.p.h. in 45 secs.* SAFE BRAKING no doubt about that! VISIBILITY-Excellent. Good demister too EFFICIENT SPRINGING superb! HANDLING-what a joy! The Autocar 25.10.57 Together BMC) you'll choose a "QUALITY Remember, to
    via u/Ebonystealth
  • 21

    Thanks uncle Jesse!

    "Every girl should be a Neet girl." -John Stamos Want the smoothest, silkiest legs you've ever had? This summer. use Neet instead of razors. You see, razors only remove hair at skin level, Neet removes hair below the surface, so your legs stay smoother, longer. Even 5 days later, there's still no trace of embarrassing stubble-just the best looking Actual Leg Photograph 5 Days Later Razor Neet Tests show the difference between razor stubble and Neel smooth. legs on the beach. Special Swimsuit Off
    via u/jenn_knits_again
  • 22

    Feed him raisins

    Your husband could dance with you for 11 minutes on the energy he'd get from 49 raisins (Think what would happen if he never stopped eating them) And he probably won't want to stop since Raisins are so full of sweet natural energy. Keep a package of Raisins in your kitchen cupboard and give him a handful next time you feel like dancing. If you would like some free, taste-surprising recipes-write the California Raisin Advisory Board, 2240 N. Angus, Fresno, California 93703. CALIFORNIA RAISIN ADVI
    via u/rkgk13
  • 23

    So thoughtful

    ©A.T.CO. LUCKY STRIKE LUCKY STRIKE LUCKY STRIKE LUCKY STRIKE LUCKY STRIKE LUCKY STRIKE LUCKY STRIKE LUCKY STRICE LUCKY STRIKE Remember all your friends who remember how great cigarettes used to taste. This Christmas give cartons of Luckies Product of The American Tobacco Company-"Tobacco is our middle name"
    via u/bil_sabab
  • 24

    Meet Skimpy Wiring (1956)

    MEET SKIMPY WIRING The Electrical Delinquent found in 35,000,000 homes! Look at that tangle of plugs and sockets! Note the frayed, weak-looking wiring! That's him, all right-Skimpy Wiring- the villain responsible for the electrical woes of homeowners all over the nation. Have you a toaster that heats slowly? Does your TV set twitch when other appliances go on? Do your fuses blow or circuit breakers trip too often? If so, beware... you are a victim of Skimpy Wiring! Weak, worn-out home wiring can
    via u/Ebonystealth
  • 25

    Oh those poor parents!

    Plays like a flute.. sounds like a real bagpipe $214 It's Kenner's Scottie Bagpipe .. Play favorite Highland melodies like "Annie Laurie", "Campbells Are Coming", "Coming Thru the Rye" simple playing guides in- cluded. Inflate bag by blowing (valve won't let air escape). Then continue to blow gently and finger pipes to get exciting bagpipe effects. Plays automatically for 2 minutes after inflating. Can also be played as a woodwind without inflating. Red tartan plaid bag is made of sturdy vinyl,
    via u/Ebonystealth
  • 26

    The phone of the future! (1969)

    The next phone. CODE AREA 311 555-2368 GHI JKL 4 DEF 3 5 MNO ABC 2 6 PRS 7 TUV 8 WXY OPER 0 9 eeeeee 0 The Next Phone is here. Trimline"- perfect for any room. Attractive. Compact. Convenient. Comes with a recall button that lets you make call after call without reaching over to hang up. Trimline...in wall or desk model. A choice of colors, Call your Pacific Telephone Business Office or ask your telephone service man. Pacific Telephone (
    via u/Massive_Entrance_811
  • 27

    futuristic Sinclair station - 1964

    SUPER SERVICE STATION AN IRVING-CLOUD PUBLICATION JULY, 1964 PRICE ONE DOLLAR Sinclair CLA Pump Islands in the Jet Age-38
    via u/heathenworld
  • 28

    HD on a CRT monitor (1998)

    High Definition Television is here! HDTV DEFINITION TELEVISION 50% $399995 MITSUBISHI Get ready for the next big advance in picture quality, with MITSUBISHI's True HDTV-upgradeable television 50" diagonal projection television fully compatible with HDTV receiver (MIT HD1080) Extraordinary Analog TV performance- from Mitsubishi's innovative Diamond Digital Pixel Multiplier ⚫3D Y/C Comb Filter for the best in color & picture clarity •Advanced 2-tuner Picture-in-Picture 60% V550803 HDTV HIGH DEFINI
    via u/Djf47021
  • 29

    Nescafe ad from 1947

    "SAY! NOW YOU'RE REALLY MAKING COFFEE!" Merak Want to surprise your husband with the most won- derful-tasting coffee he ever drank? Coffee with all the delicious flavor, all the satisfying goodness he could ever want? Then try Nescafé today! It has a rich, full-bodied flavor that can't be matched. And you get perfect coffee every time-exactly as you want it, when you want it-made instantly! Here's the secret: Only Nescafé has a secret, pat- ented way to brew extra-flavored coffee from the choice
    via u/PinupCheesecakeSale
  • 30

    Maybe we were too hard on "Red One"

    SANTA BRINGS CHRISTMAS FUN TO MARS! Blast off for Mars... with Santa and a pair of Earth Kids! Science-Fun-Fiction at its height! JOSEPH E. LEVINE presents SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS IN SPACE-BLAZING COLOR SAT.-SUN. MATINEE SPECIAL Hear: "HOORAY FOR SANTA CLAUS" On Four Corners Records SEE: The Martians Kidnap Santa! Santa's North Pole Workshop! The Fantastic Martian Toy Factory! Earth Kids Meeting With Martian Kids! Space-ship Journey from Earth to Mars! Santa Turn Mars-Robot Into a Mech
    via u/Ebonystealth
  • 31

    Christian Dior - Poison Eau De Toilette Ad (1986)

    Di 101 POISON Data de Chades Alles Gillen All-V (TMDO
    via u/bil-sabab

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