This ad was probably considered “futuristic” back when it was published in the 50s, but our modern-day, advert-addled minds find the concept of a hand reaching out of the TV to be absolutely terrifying. If you grew up watching the original “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” you may have had dreams of Wonka Vision becoming a reality.
This ad proves that Wonka Vision would, in fact, not be cool. Giant male hands coming out of a TV to grab an attractive young woman sounds more predatory than fun, to be honest. It was the 50s, so the woman looked like she was having a blast. But as a whole, we think differently now. Nothing good can come from a stranger’s hand grabbing you and dragging you into the TV.
Seeing Double with Dior
Fashion, makeup, and trends change over the years. This is never more obvious than when we look at old ads and compare them to our modern-day ones. One glance at this vintage ad for Dior lipstick, and you immediately know that it’s from a different time. We don’t know the exact date of this magazine ad, but it was created sometime in the 60s or 70s.
The repeated mirror effect of the woman wearing Dior lipstick actually looks pretty cool. The soft filter over the photo, plus the color scheme of the ad, makes it look super awesome in a retro way. We wouldn’t be mad is this kind of ad layout came back in style. It looks so glamorous!
The Subliminal Messaging Craze
This image looks like a piece of 2010s indie art from Tumblr. It’s actually a movie still from the 1955 film “Picnic,” starring Kim Novak and William Holden. The movie still shows Kim Novak with the text “Hungry? Eat Popcorn” superimposed over the frame. This split-second ad was actually shown during screenings of “Picnic” in theaters.
Researcher James Vicary conducted a study where he inserted this ad and another one for Coca-Cola into the movie to see if viewers picked up on subliminal advertising. Subliminal advertising became a trendy topic in the 50s because companies thought they could sell more products. Consumers, on the other hand, hated the idea, and the whole concept quickly lost popularity. Plus, Vicary’s study had falsified results. There was no proof that inserting a split-second ad into a movie increased sales of popcorn.
Feminism and Advertising in the 1970s
Plenty of ads in “Redbook” magazine started looking different in the 1970s. Second-wave feminism rose to prominence in the 60s and 70s, changing the societal landscape of America in new and exciting ways. For better or for worse, corporations rode on the movement’s coattails with edgy marketing tactics and new products. This ad for Virginia Slims is a perfect example of how companies did that.
The ad targets the “modern” woman by saying, “You’ve come a long way, baby.” The ad even mentions divorce, which is something people would have never seen just a few decades before. What do Virginia Slims have to do with liberation? Absolutely nothing, but they sure tried to make this ad as convincing as possible.
Companies Used Fur Without a Second Thought
When you hear “Cadbury,” you probably think of the chocolate company that makes Easter treats and has a cute bunny rabbit as its mascot. This well-known reputation makes this old ad super weird. As you can see, the magazine ad features a steaming cup of hot cocoa against a red background. Looks cozy, right?
As you stare longer at the image, you soon realize that the mug is wrapped in a fur stole. Is that…rabbit’s fur? This wholesome ad just got a whole lot darker. This ad came out sometime in the 70s or 80s, and you can tell. Real animal fur has lost a lot of popularity for plenty of valid reasons. We most likely wouldn’t see a mainstream candy company use real fur in any modern-day ads.