Smoke, Smoke, Smoke that Cigarette......

When I was growing up, my parents were both heavy smokers.  I never knew anything but smoke, smoke, smoke.  Our car trips were pure hell, with a thick fog of nicotine trapped inside our car, with the windows rolled up for the air conditioner in the summer and the heater in the winter.  My eyes would burn and my hair and clothes would stink; but, as I say, that was normal.

Then, when I went off to college, most of the guys---and a few of the girls---smoked.  Why I never acquired the addiction I'll never know.  Lord knows I was certainly exposed to it heavily

Then, in the workplace, for many years our meeting rooms were littered with ashtrays and the stench of tobacco.  It was an American way of life.



YUCK!!!

 Cigarette commercials were everywhere---television, magazines, radio, billboards, etc. 

But a funny thing happened over the last 35 years---almost no one smokes these days---at least, I don't know anyone who does.  Well, of course, the president of the United States hasn't been able to kick the habit, so there are still a few addicts around. 


Smoking is Glamorous

Oh, a guy might smoke a good cigar three of four times a year, but that's about it. All this got me to thinking about the way things used to be in the recent past.  I got to thinking about all the cigarette brands and their ads.  I had a good time dredging the following up from memory:

Old Gold---"A treat instead of a treatment"

Camels---"I'd walk a mile for a Camel"...They had a cartoon character named "Joe Camel" on their TV ads, who would appeal to kids to smoke.  Interesting Note:  Camels were never sold in the Middle East
Pall Mall---"Outstanding, and they are mild"
101s---"A silly millimeter longer"
Winston---"Winston tastes good---like a cigarette should"
Marlboro---"Come to Marlboro country"...Interestingly, the "Marlboro Man" on TV eventually died of lung cancer
Philip Morris---"Call for Philip Mooorrriiiissssssss!"

Lucky Strike---"LSMFT"---"Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco"

L&M---"Low tar, More taste"
Kool---"There is no substitute for that clean, cool taste"

Virginia Slims---"You've come a long way, baby!"---the first cigarette marketed exclusively to women
Eve---Another ciggy for women
Newport---"Alive with pleasure"
Viceroy---"Viceroy's got the taste that's right!"
Tareyton---"Us Tareyton smokers would rather fight than switch!"

A few other brands from my memory include Kent, Lark, & Salem

Maybe some things in the USA are worse now than they were a few decades ago, but the fact that smoking has been greatly cut back is something to be thankful for.