Yabba Dabba Do Smoke |
Loading ...In 1961 it was acceptable for tobacco companies to advertise on radio and TV.
I knew they were doing this on shows like Twilight Zone, as I’ve seen old video footage of Rod Serling doing cigarette commercials, but I didn’t realize the Flintstones had cigarette ads too. Wow, starting them young back then — or was the Flinstones originally more aimed at adult audiences like The Simpsons tends to be today? We have the first season of the Flinstones on DVD I’m going to have to see if I can spot any cigarette stuff on there. My guess is that has all been purged.
I wouldn’t know if the Flintstones were aimed at adults or not, since I wasn’t around in 1961, but with the guest voices they used to have (e.g. Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York once appeared), I have a feeling it was akin to The Simpsons today. Also, I seem to recall it had a long run and was on prime-time.
Comment by Jack Yan — April 17, 2006 @ 1:05 am PST
Yes, The Flintstones did start out on prime time, along with The Jetsons. My parents used to watch both shows with us kids in the early sixties (showing my age again, but never my bald spot). Of course, the tobacco companies also did market to children back then. Grocery stores carried candy cigarettes, which were branded the same as their tobacco counterparts (Lucky Strike, Kool, Winston, Salem, etc.). They functioned as props for kids to play grown-up. Great behavior modeling, eh? Not to mention all of the older cartoons that featured characters smoking (remember the exploding cigars?).
Comment by Sterling Camden — April 17, 2006 @ 12:17 pm PST
Jack - I did some quick checking and according to Sitcoms online the Flinstones ran from 1960-1966, only one more year than the Twilight Zone (1960-1965). A far cry from the Simpsons 17 year run and counting. I guess with reruns it seems like they were on longer than they actually were. Kind of like the original Star Trek which went three seasons.
And I remember those candy gum cigarette, Sterling. They had powdered sugar in them so you blew on them and it was like they had “smoke” coming from them.
Comment by TDavid — April 17, 2006 @ 5:33 pm PST
True, but for me the six- (seven-?) year run is still pretty long, though, as you say, not a patch on The Simpsons. I think, too, they had more episodes per season in those days.
We had Spaceman cigarettes down here. No smoke, but you could still look cool. Basically candy with a red tipped end (so no filters!). And you know, I don’t smoke. So much for all this stuff apparently poisoning kids’ minds!
Comment by Jack Yan — April 18, 2006 @ 12:06 am PST