People tend to be nostalgic for things of the past. We remember stuff like Game Boys, New Coke, and video store rentals with a certain fondness, even if they weren’t that good. But the 20th century really was a different time, as people thought that smoking was good for your health, drinking while pregnant wasn’t all that bad, and telephones used to look like something Etsy witches now use to summon the devil.
Bored Panda found the wildest and most interesting ads from the past century that enthusiasts have shared on r/VintageAds and presents them to you here. You almost wouldn’t believe the stuff people would buy and sell back in the day: from seemingly useless knick-knacks from Sears to slightly, er… racist soap.
More info: Reddit
#1 The Virginia Slim Tool Kit. Because You Got More To Fix Than Your Face. 1974
© Photo: Initial_Reason1532
#2 Whiplash!! Liberate Your Eyes 👁️ 👁️ With Alice's Own Unisex Mascara 1973
© Photo: Initial_Reason1532
#3 Kellogg's 4th Annual Stick Up For Breakfast Contest. When A Sears Free Spirit Bike 1977
© Photo: Initial_Reason1532
#4 1/2 The Calories Of Regular Margarine. Diet Imperials Taste Never Goes To Your Waist. 1967🧈
© Photo: Initial_Reason1532
#5 Del Monte (Then Under California Packing Corporation / Calpak) Launched A Short-Lived Line Of Soft Drinks In The Mid-1960s (Around Fall 1964–1965)
© Photo: Ebonystealth
#6 Five Ways To Improve Nature's🥛 Most Perfect Food. The Five Quicks. 1967
© Photo: Initial_Reason1532
#7 Hostess Twinkies 2004
© Photo: ata3121
#8 Back Cover Of Mad Magazine #96 (July 1965)
© Photo: Character-Witness-27
#9 Star-Kist Tuna (1970) With "Charlie The Tuna" Transistor Radio
© Photo: Character-Witness-27
#10 [1962] Judy Garland In Gay Purr-Ee - “Friskies Cat Food Labels Are Free Movie Tickets!”
© Photo: mistermajik2000
#11 1966…so Much To Do By Telephone!
© Photo: Ebonystealth
#12 The 70's Were A Different Time
© Photo: Deep_Money_6267
#13 Sears Gifts And Novelties (1932)
© Photo: ALIEN_GUARDIAN
#14 Kmart Pets
© Photo: Ebonystealth
#15 Kentucky Fried Chicken - September 1978 - Sarasota, FL
© Photo: RetroMan70s
#16 No Car "Out Comforts" The New Kind Of Ford. And The New Inner Ford Is Why! 1957
© Photo: Initial_Reason1532
#17 1933 Advertisement In Delineator Magazine (Page 97) For Ironized Yeast
© Photo: Ebonystealth
#18 Frozen Haute Cuisine From 1968: Swanson International Dinners
© Photo: BSB8728
#19 Ridgid (April 1952)
© Photo: StephenMcGannon
#20 Radioshack Ad 1983
© Photo: ata3121
#21 A 1922 Mellin's Food Advert
© Photo: Botellas_Antigues97
#22 [1939] Canada Dry - “It’s Gingervating!”
© Photo: mistermajik2000
#23 Ricardo Montalban And The 1984 Chrysler Fifth Avenue - An Island Of Luxury
© Photo: AI3Iverson
#24 Philips Advertisements Featuring James Bond
© Photo: AI3Iverson
#25 Van Camp's Pork And Beans [1949]
© Photo: Dickey_Pringle
#26 A 1910 Baker Electrics Advert
© Photo: Botellas_Antigues97
#27 Payday 1999
© Photo: ata3121
#28 A 1912 Nabisco Advert
© Photo: Botellas_Antigues97
#29 A 1902 Nestle's Food Advert
© Photo: Botellas_Antigues97
#30 A 1911 Cooper's Underwear Advert
© Photo: Botellas_Antigues97
#31 Dolly Madison Zingers 1970
© Photo: Initial_Reason1532
#32 Guide - Matic Automatic Headlight Control 1962
© Photo: Initial_Reason1532
#33 De Soto [1937]
© Photo: Dickey_Pringle
#34 We Found The Guy Responsible For The Vega Aluminum Engine
© Photo: T206V70R
#35 Historic Election Campaign Buttons At Standard Oil Stations - October 1972
© Photo: RetroMan70s
#36 Print Ad For The 1968 Chevrolet El Camino Ss 396 From 1967
© Photo: bigbugfdr
#37 Underwood Deviled Ham (1916)
© Photo: ALIEN_GUARDIAN
#38 Are You Having Sex Dreams Where You're Being Violated By Your Furnace? [1940]
© Photo: acidmine
#39 Texaco 1931⛽
© Photo: Initial_Reason1532
#40 Highway Building, 1979
© Photo: guava_dog
#41 Ice Cream For Breakfast. Cream Of Wheat (1956)
© Photo: Ebonystealth
#42 Sealtest Ice Cream (1962)
© Photo: Character-Witness-27
#43 Butter🧈bangles & 📿beads Land O' Lakes 1970
© Photo: Initial_Reason1532
#44 Oster Massage Instrument (And Her Dress!) [1952]
© Photo: html5gamerguy
#45 Cowan's Active Service Chocolate (1917)
© Photo: mgwngn1
#46 Presenting Tobal No. 1 At The Galaxy Amphitheater [1996]
© Photo: TC_support
#47 Coca-Cola Was Marketed As A Medicinal Tonic And Refreshing Remedy That Relieved Fatigue And Exhaustion
© Photo: Ebonystealth
#48 Taylor's Number 13 Insect Spray. Now A Double Action Killer!! Tested Trusted Ddt 1952 🦟🕷️🐞🪰🪳
© Photo: Initial_Reason1532
#49 A 1906 Victor Talking Machine Co. Advert
© Photo: Botellas_Antigues97
#50 McDonald's Country Style Mcchicken 1989
© Photo: ata3121
#51 Pop Art Pillows From Kleenex 1967
© Photo: Initial_Reason1532
#52 You Can't Fake It. 🐻❄️ Icee 1967
© Photo: Initial_Reason1532
#53 The Coming Meat, 1880
© Photo: create_content
#54 A Sandwich Is A Sandwich, But A Manwich Is A Meal! 1983
© Photo: Initial_Reason1532
#55 Vans. October 1994. ‘We Have Shoes For Moods You Haven’t Even Felt Yet.’
© Photo: StephenMcGannon
#56 Vpr-5
© Photo: AI3Iverson
#57 Kelly Tires 1950 Dependable Over Fifty Years
© Photo: Initial_Reason1532
#58 Star Trek Sneak Preview (1966)
© Photo: Character-Witness-27
#59 A 1926 Orange Crush Advert
© Photo: Botellas_Antigues97
#60 New First Time In This Country! A Fabulous American Cake- Make It Yourself In Just 4 Minutes. 1955 😋
© Photo: Initial_Reason1532
#61 Sesame Street Snacks 2001
© Photo: ata3121
#62 Samsung Mp3 Phone 2000
© Photo: ata3121
#63 An 1886 Pears' Soap Advert
© Photo: Botellas_Antigues97
#64 Mr. Fatu's Tribute To Elvis At The Red Carpet Inn In Sarasota, FL - September 1978
© Photo: RetroMan70s
#65 Paper Mate Ops'n Pops Are Here. 1968🖊️🖋️
© Photo: Initial_Reason1532
#66 Improve Your Pickups! Thrush 🏁the Performing Parts.1979
© Photo: Initial_Reason1532
#67 1970s Vodka Ad
© Photo: Euphoric-Cupcake4581
#68 Bug Too! You Can't Keep A Good Bug Down. [1996]
© Photo: TC_support
#69 Barbie Cereal Ad 1989
© Photo: ata3121
#70 Allstate Scooters By Sears 1960s 🛵
© Photo: Initial_Reason1532
#71 Virtua Cop 2: Twice As Lethal [1996]
© Photo: TC_support
#72 1-900-200-Sega: Hey There. Are You Tired Of This? Call Now [1996]
© Photo: TC_support
#73 Battleship - Warning: Before Playing, Notify Your Next Of Kin. [1996]
© Photo: TC_support
#74 Risk: War Is Hell. [1996]
© Photo: TC_support
#75 Kraft Cheese [1947]
© Photo: Dickey_Pringle