All the stories in the news about Detroit's car companies made me think about American Motors, makers of possibly the weirdest American cars: one of which was the Pacer.
[From Look magazine for July 22 1958. Two scans, top and bottom.]
Sure, you've all heard of one of the most infamous Madison Avenue displays of ignorance ever, the "flesh-colored Band-aid." But how many of us have actually seen the offending ad?
Here is one instance from many in that racist campaign.
A prosperous banker-type, an American Indian, a sailor (or is he a Turkish immigrant?), and what looks to be Uncle Sam, are all sitting around in front of a billboard, having a gay old chat, when out of a handy box pops the sexy cigarette fairy, who dispenses butts to all, even scattering them around in bountiful waste. Then a sign is unfurled, claiming WE ALL SMOKE.
Massive WTF attack, all thanks to Thomas Alva Edison!
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Imagine your name lasered onto a piece of meat. Imagine always smelling like beef jerky.
Category: Business, Advertising, Domestic, Family, Technology, 1950's, Yesterday's Tomorrows