Advertising
Catch the first boat for Europe…
A moment of high drama in the Listerine lab, 1934.
Posted By: Alex - Mon May 28, 2012 -
Comments (5)
Category: Hygiene, Advertising, 1930s
Follies of the Mad Men #183
I ripped this ad out of a Reader's Digest a long time ago, so I don't have the exact issue attribution. Other sources on the web claim 1960.
In any case, this is a fine example of the category of subliminal ad known technically as "You can put the liquid from your long thick bottle into my melting ice cream anytime, honey!"
Here's a fascinating version for what was then perceived as a different market.
Posted By: Paul - Tue May 22, 2012 -
Comments (9)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Sexuality, Junk Food, 1960s, Double Entendres and Nudge-Nudge, Wink-Wink
Dr. Scott’s Electric Flesh Brush
It rubs the Flesh Brush on its skin!
From Scientific American, Sep 17, 1881.
If interested, you can buy a genuine Flesh Brush on eBay, for a mere $174.95.
Posted By: Alex - Sun May 20, 2012 -
Comments (4)
Category: Advertising, Products, Skin and Skin Conditions
Canned Cocktails
Despite a long history--this ad dates from 1972--canned mixed drinks have never caught on. Perhaps something to do with inferior taste?
And yet manufacturers continue to try--as seen here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue May 15, 2012 -
Comments (9)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Technology, 1970s, Alcohol
Follies of the Mad Men #182
"World War II was won by superior American staples. We're not saying that just because we make and sell them."
The personal bonus: Bostitch is a company from my home state of Rhode Island.
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon May 14, 2012 -
Comments (5)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Engineering and Construction, Technology, War, 1940s
Strange Iconography
A Scottish child and a Native-American child pour hair tonic on the head of an elderly Anglo man and massage it in, while a child soldier out of some European comic opera stands by with sword upraised in tribute.
The only sensible part of this weird iconography is the Scottish kid. Once upon a time, right up to, oh, the 1960s, "anything Scottish = cheap and economical" was standard advertising shorthand.
Original ad here, with accompanying text.
Posted By: Paul - Mon May 07, 2012 -
Comments (10)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Stereotypes and Cliches, Hair Styling, 1900s, Weapons, Hair and Hairstyling
It’s always a good idea to be armed at Christmas
via christmasyuleblog
Posted By: Alex - Sat Apr 28, 2012 -
Comments (11)
Category: Holidays, Advertising, Weapons
What makes Gay Edna happy?
Only Midol... washed down with a couple of shots of whiskey, I assume.
via Beatrix Elizabeth Groves
Posted By: Alex - Thu Apr 26, 2012 -
Comments (10)
Category: Advertising
Helen Keller Sunglasses
Yeah, she was blind and socialist. But the important question is -- can her name help sell sunglasses? A Chinese eyewear company thinks the answer is yes. Which proves, I guess, that the Chinese have become just as adept as us Americans at recycling cultural heroes into hawkers of overpriced crap. (Thanks to Bob Pagani for the link!) Check out the Helen Keller Sunglasses ad below:
Posted By: Alex - Tue Apr 24, 2012 -
Comments (4)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products
Unsafest Skies Ever!
[Click on either half of the image to enlarge.]
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Apr 23, 2012 -
Comments (5)
Category: Business, Advertising, Products, Confusion, Misunderstanding, and Incomprehension, Surrealism, Air Travel and Airlines
| Who We Are |
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |