And now a word from our sponsor…
Those particular
words didn’t come into play until the radio, but advertising has been around
since the beginning of mankind. Cavemen
painted billboards on rock walls and the ancient Romans printed advertisements
for gladiatorial games on
papyrus.
Ads were designed
not only to sell products, but also to solve personal and social problems. In
many cases, people were oblivious to body odor or halitosis
until some enterprising marketer brought it to their attention.
Sense and Sensibilities
Looking back, we can’t help but laugh at some of the strange wording used to
avoid offending
customers. During the 1800s the word limb was used for leg and white meat for chicken breast. No one dared to mention pants or trousers in
polite company. This posed a challenge
for marketers.
The Scott Company
was so embarrassed at the prospect of advertising toilet paper during the 1880s that they customized
the paper for their clients. The Waldorf Hotel became a big name in toilet
paper and when a customer walked into a general store and requested a roll of
Waldorf, no questions were asked.
Speaking of
toilet paper, Northern Tissue advertised “splinter-free” toilet paper in 1935. If that doesn’t want to make you go “ouch”
consider this: the “cure” for a certain male condition currently blasted
nightly from the TV was, in the early 1900s, thought to be electric belts.

The Civil War
created a great need for clothes, shoes and ready made food and advertisements
during the era reflected the new consumerism.
Writers hear a
lot about “branding” today, and we can thank the patent medicine companies of
yesteryear for that. By touting exotic
ingredients, producers could distinguish themselves from competitors. Other companies followed suit and slogans like the “soap
that floats” became increasingly popular.
It’s Wonderful, Amazing, Spectacular…
Honesty didn’t come easy for
some advertisers and reform was needed. In 1892, the Ladies' Home Journal
announced it would no longer accept patent medicine ads. The bogus potions were
costing Americans millions of dollars per year, and were coming under heavy
attack by critics and consumers.
In our factory, we make lipstick. In our advertising, we sell hope." -Peter Nivio Zarlenga
In our factory, we make lipstick. In our advertising, we sell hope." -Peter Nivio Zarlenga
Women purchased
most of the household goods and so it made sense to have women create the
ads. As early as the 1900s advertisers
welcomed female employees. The first advertisement
to use sex as a selling point was created by a woman for Woodbury soap. Tame by today’s standards, the advertisement
featured a couple and the message “The skin you love to touch.” Not only did this raise eyebrows, but it
promised anyone savvy enough to buy the product more than just clean skin. It worked:
Sales skyrocketed.
Studying
advertisements is a great way to learn the customs, concerns, prejudices and
history of earlier times. I shudder to
think what future generations might gather from ours.
What is your favorite or least favorite ad?
Now a word from my sponsor...
When Texas Ranger Chad Prescott, wakes up from a gunshot injury in Kansas, he finds himself surrounded by German nutcrackers and nursed by the feisty Lucy Langdon. Could this be the start of a lovely friendship or just a bad dream?
The "12 Brides of Christmas" stories are available for only 99 cents each.
Fun post, Margaret. Do you know if those ad pasters had a name other that "ad paster"? Calling toilet paper Waldorf is a hoot. I have always called tissues for the nose Kleenexes, no matter what brand I buy. It's what I grew up calling it. And you've already list my least favorite ad. Oh, and I don't like the Sonic ads with the two guys in them. They're just dumb. My favorite ads are usually the funny ones, and I like the Valspar ones with the chameleons that change color--because I love colors.
ReplyDeleteHi Vickie, I think they were called bill posters. I don't like the sonic ads, either. I can't imagine that "dumb" sells.
DeleteI still call tissues Kleenex. I also know someone who calls her vacuum the Hoover, no matter what the brand. Funny how some brand names work their way into the language.
Have a great weekend!
I love looking through old magazines and newspapers, because the old ads remind me that "the more things change, the more they stay the same." Women in the 1800s were concerned about their figures, products promised to make cleaning easier or more effective, etc. etc.
ReplyDeleteStephanie, you're so right! People don't really change that much, do they?
DeleteMy least favorite ad? Casual sex.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite ad? The old Burma-Shave signs along Route 66 when I was a young girl. Kept me looking for the next one ~ even if I didn't understand it when it came to the end one. Oh, and I liked the Vicks ones ~ we used Vicks for every ailment! Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
Oh, yes! I loved those old Burma-Shave signs. I think they taught me to read. I still use Vicks for every ailment! LOL.
DeleteOh--and I'm still laughing about the dangers of "unsafe bathroom paper." It's always something.
ReplyDeleteStephanie, that "unsafe toilet paper" made me laugh too. I also laugh at all the warnings that come with the prescription drug ads. They make it sound like the cure is worse than the ailment.
DeleteWhat a fun post, Margaret! So many interesting facts--and a lot of chuckles. =)
ReplyDeleteThe 12 Brides of Christmas looks very exciting! I like the Babies selling investments commercials on TV. sm wileygreen1(at)yahoo.com
ReplyDelete