VINTAGE FOOD ADS

Oh Food Advertising…you are so much fun, and so indicative of your time!

Ranging from the not-infrequent use of the word “dainty” in the early 20^th century, to somewhat suggestive material in the 1960s, and the visual contrast of beautiful chromolithographs to the bold graphics of later ads, there is really something for everyone to enjoy!

What’s the common thread in this crazy quilt of cultural pulse points?   Well, I’d say it’s clear that advertisers wantonly prey on our fears and desires in the selling of their goods:

Am I a good parent?

Am I attractive?

Do the meals I make taste good?

Am I fun?

Is my husband happy?

Hmm…these sound like predominantly female worries, don’t they?

Even so, there is plenty of cute, fun and “what the what?” to go around here, so check out what a quick perusal of the internet uncovered…

 Apparently I’ve been glittering my food all this time, rather than salting it…who knew?!

 

DANGER: If you don’t eat a Baby Ruth, you may crash your car!!!

 

Along with the aforementioned “dainty,” “delightful” is another buzzword from early ads. In fact, wait for it…

…note that Jell-O is both delightful and dainty! (You know a piece on food advertising from this girl would be incomplete without Jell-O! So please indulge me for a couple more.)

 

This is so lovely I almost want some red gelatinous goo…almost.

 

Lime Cheese Salad anyone? Anyone?…

Ok, enough Jell-O!

 

Right. Because getting vitamins from eating real food would be crazy! Why eat natural when you can eat Science?

 

So lovely. But I really hope that by “fluid beef,” they mean beef broth.

It’s good and it’s good for you!

“Hey Jimmy…nice accordion ya got there! Can I awkwardly feed you a 7up while you play?”

I’m not sure why this would inspire me to eat Cream of Wheat, but, ok…

Another one from the School of Processed Culinary Arts.

This may be a fat-shaming ad, but to me the woman in blue is saying, “Puh-lease…Box o’ Gluten is not keeping you trim Sister!”

I’m flashing back to when the girl turned into a blueberry in the Willy Wonka movie. My five year-old self was escorted from the theater in tears. Traumatized.

 

I don’t think I want to know what goes on between these two…

And on that note, because there are so many more good ones out there, I leave you with a fun challenge: find an entertaining old ad and share it over on Facebook!