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I found this Better Homes and Gardens magazine while fossicking in some old boxes at my parents’ house. It’s the August 1982 edition!

Summer fruit puff recipe! Redecorating a 50’s house for the 80’s! Oh yeahhhh. It’s a real retro goodie.

In this one magazine, there’s an astounding 24 pages of full colour cigarette adverts, plus the the back cover. That’s out of 143 pages total. Shocker! The ‘death of print’ and recession aside, could you even begin to imagine that in a modern magazine?

I scanned this Parliament Lights ad to share:

Benefit driven drivel, with a condescending tone. I’m not too sure why, but I am really attracted to this style of excessively persuasive communication. It’s very satisfying to write.

In fact… here’s a fictitious radio ad I wrote for a competition. Entitled, “Smoother & More Satisfying”, please imagine this being read by a 1960’s era male announcer, with formal enunciation:

“We know it’s hard keeping up appearances in today’s fast paced society… but the reward is worth it! What you need in your life is a mild good tasting cigarette, like Durrys Slims Extra Mild.

Smoother than a fine whiskey, more satisfying than cheap sex. For added vigour, to forge your path to victory – do try Durrys Slims Extra Mild cigarettes today. For all of life’s thrilling moments… with Durrys, you have no worries!

‘Mad Men. Sundays 8.40pm. It’s on Prime.’”

Hee! I’m sure I don’t need to remind you that smoking is for idiots who want nasty wrinkles and foul breath. Mwah!

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