A spot of alturism amongst the commercialism...
And something for when the festivities are over...
Friday, 13 December 2013
CHRISTMAS WITH THE STARS
Recruiting the stars to sell Christmas is nothing new as these vintage advertisements clearly show. The one significant difference is that 'back then' most of them were pushing cigarettes!
A spot of alturism amongst the commercialism...
And something for when the festivities are over...
A spot of alturism amongst the commercialism...
And something for when the festivities are over...
I can't help wondering how many of those stars died of smoking-related illnesses in an age when smoking was almost universal. I know Nat King Cole died of lung cancer.
ReplyDeleteCelebrity endorsement of anything puzzles me because I cannot think of anything I've bought on that basis. Yet advertisers say it works and continue to pay huge bucks for it, often merely for the voice.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I could be dissuaded from buying a product if I took a serious dislike to the endorser, although I cannot think of any of those off-hand either.
Keep in mind that several major tobacco companies were sponsoring radio and TV shows during that period- Jack Benny was on for American Tobacco's "Lucky Strike" for 15 years (1944-'59), although he preferred smoking cigars in private [Ann Sothern's "PRIVATE SECRETARY" was sustained by Luckies, as well, 1953-'57]; Liggett & Myers' Chesterfield sponsored Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Arthur Godfrey in the early '50s...and then, there were those celebrities who endorsed cigarette brands "if the price was right".
ReplyDeleteVery true. For a very interesting article revealing the fine detail of the Lucky Strike sponsorship deal with Jack Benny (including requirements for when and how the commercials are to be presented) click here.
ReplyDelete