A history of cigarette commercials
Filed under: Television, Smoking
The television industry just might owe a bit of its success to the tobacco industry. Cigarette producers were one of the earliest and most consistent advertisers on TV. Big tobacco had large pools of money and were able to take a chance on the new medium of television when it first debuted in the 1940’s.
At a time when many sponsors were financially unable to buy advertising spots or unwilling to try TV ads, tobacco companies found opportunities to attach strings to their endorsements. Many shows were required to feature characters smoking during the shows. Stars were expected to use cigarettes and show their enthusiasm for the products. Popular shows such as I Love Lucy showed Lucy happily fetching a smoke for husband and exclaiming, “You see how easy it is to keep your man happy?!”
After television gained popularity and many consumers began to question the health of cigarettes, the products were banned from the air waves. For a more in depth look at this piece of television history, click here.
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Original post by Heather Craven
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A history of cigarette commercials
Filed under: Television, Smoking
The television industry just might owe a bit of its success to the tobacco industry. Cigarette producers were one of the earliest and most consistent advertisers on TV. Big tobacco had large pools of money and were able to take a chance on the new medium of television when it first debuted in the 1940’s.
At a time when many sponsors were financially unable to buy advertising spots or unwilling to try TV ads, tobacco companies found opportunities to attach strings to their endorsements. Many shows were required to feature characters smoking during the shows. Stars were expected to use cigarettes and show their enthusiasm for the products. Popular shows such as I Love Lucy showed Lucy happily fetching a smoke for husband and exclaiming, “You see how easy it is to keep your man happy?!”
After television gained popularity and many consumers began to question the health of cigarettes, the products were banned from the air waves. For a more in depth look at this piece of television history, click here.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Original post by Heather Craven
No comments yet. Be the first.
Leave a reply






