Up in Smoke

From our April 1937 issue, a look at marketing messaging from a bygone era.

cover of April 1937 issue of Penn State Alumni News, by Penn State Alumni Association

 

Advertising standards for the alumni magazine have changed with the times—much like federal health and safety guidelines—but it’s fun to puzzle over some of the marketing messaging from bygone eras. This colorful back-page ad from the April 1937 Penn State Alumni News equates the satisfaction of riding a motorbike with smoking Chesterfield cigarettes. Considering she’s riding without a helmet and holding on with just one hand, they might have equated the risk instead.