The Quick 10: 10 Questionable Cigarette Ads and Slogans

I still get a little bit startled when I see people smoking in the office on Mad Men. I know it was totally normal back then, but I just can't quite wrap my head around it not being taboo. I feel the same way when I see these cigarette ads. Back before we knew cigarettes are quite so detrimental to your health, before it was bad to target tobacco products at teens and kids, and apparently before the women's movement, these tobacco ads did their best to get smokers to ask for their brand.

2. Camels - "More Doctors Smoke Camels Than Any Other Cigarette." Dentists, however, felt differently...

3. Viceroy - "As your dentist, I would recommend Viceroys."

4. Lucky Strike - "Reach for a Lucky instead of a sweet." This one was part of a series of ads that touted cigarettes to dieters. Lucky later had to change the wording of the advertisement to reflect dieting in general instead of sweets specifically after candy companies protested.

5. Lucky Strike "“ "Her singing coach advised a light smoke." Back before celebrities wouldn't be caught dead shilling for cigs, it was commonplace to see big names like Carole Lombard, John Wayne and even Ronald Reagan singing the praises of their "favorite" smokes. In Carole Lombard's case, a story accompanying her ad explained that she was horrified about having to give up smoking when she accepted a singing role in a movie "“ until her voice coach told her that if she switched to Lucky Strike, she could keep smoking, because Lucky Strikes are so soothing and gentle on the throat. Sure, except for that whole cancer thing.

7. Lucky Strike - "It's Toasted." That might not be so bad by itself, but it's the accompanying explanation that went with the tagline: "Toasting removes dangerous irritants that cause throat irritation and coughing." Yep, that's all it takes "“ toasting.

8. Eve Cigarettes - "The first truly feminine cigarette - almost as pretty as you are." Eve Cigarettes came with a band of flowers printed on the stick, because what self-respecting woman would be seen out and about without a cigarette that matched her outfit? They're still produced today but you don't see them around much.

9. Marlboro "“ "Before you scold me, mom, maybe you'd better light up a Marlboro," and "Gee mommy, you sure enjoy your Marlboro."

The gem targeted at dads above was part of the same campaign.

10. Mecca - "Where Was Moses When the Lights Went Out? Groping for a pack of Meccas." Mecca cigarettes answers the age-old rhetorical question about Moses "“ yeah, Moses from the Bible "“ with a rather irreverent statement. Nice!

Do you remember any old cigarette ads that would never see the light of day in 2010?