1920 – 1939 The Golden Age

1920: The Roaring 20’s

Spurred by the instant coast to coast success of blended cigarette brands such as Camel, Lucky Strike and Chesterfield cigarette companies spend millions on  advertising and promotion to encourage smoking.

1929: Efforts to get Women to Smoke

In the 1920s smoking was rare among women.  However, passage of the 19th Amendment ushered in new freedoms and smoking in public became symbolic of women’s new role in society. American Tobacco taps into the women’s cigarette market with the marketing slogan “Reach for a Lucky instead of sweet.”

Mass Marketing

Almost every magazine and medical journal featured cigarette advertisement featuring opera singers, athletes, doctors, senators and movie stars.

1930: Radio Commercials

Every major radio show featured tobacco advertisements. Jack Benny would seamlessly weave the advertisement into his comedy hour.

<< 1900 – 1919 The Beginning

1941 – 1959 Circle the Wagons >>