Inappropriate Ads

I came across several collections of old magazine ads.  It would be conservative to say I was surprised by some of them.  Here is a handful that at least don't contain blatant racism or xenophobia.

Are those adds about beating wives supposed to be a joke, or was that some kind of acceptable practice??

I think it was serious... but I have no way of knowing.  Maybe we could write to the Co-Le Sales Co. in Chicago ... or on second thought, maybe not.

It's pretty shocking. I recently read about Cary Grant actually spanking his wives "when they were out of line", like some parents spank their children. It really disturbed me.

In that respect, I believe society has evolved.

i really like the artwork in the cocaine ad.

It almost make me wanna have a toothache.

Hilarious! It's makes me think Huckleberry Finn may have faked a toothache or two sometime

Maybe I meant Tom Sawyer? Now I don't remember which one had all the other kids paint the white-picket fence?

These were indeed funny ads.

It was indeed Huck Finn, but in "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer."

$.15 in 1885?  Wasn't that like 2 months pay?

16 years later they had heroin cough drops:

Seven year olds with asthma smoking cigarettes?! Doctor Batty is appropriately named.

I almost had tears rolling down my cheeks.

I somehow missed this America. Thank goodness.

On the lighter side of old ads

Plastic?   How nice!

I love the choices!