Well, I like my retro ads like I like my album covers: kitschy and excessively garish. Here's a few of my favorites.Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like firearms. Hey kids, let's gather round the Christmas tree, brandish assault rifles and sing carols!
Holiday hint: Glock 9mm pistols make great stocking stuffers! (ad found here)
"Deck the Halls with Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz"In 1979, this little gem appeared in magazines. Sammy Davis Jr. as Santa is just classic. Go here to view the TV commercial. A thank you to A Christmas Yuleblog for bringing it to my attention.
This 1951 ad features Santa in a very awkward position indeed. You can cut the sexual tension with a knife...
And they thought Joe Camel was bad - he was nothing compared to the many Santa cigarette ads. It's like having Care Bears selling Marlboros. (Come to think of it - even Fred Flintstone sold Winstons; watch Fred and Barney light up here). This Chesterfield ad features the Skipper's dad (Alan Hale, Sr.) as a tobacco pushing Santa Claus.
During the Atomic Age, aluminum trees were in vogue. The more metallic and blatantly artificial the better. Looking at these high-tech "trees of tomorrow", I'm reminded of the Charlie Brown Christmas special where he rejects the flashy neon abominations in favor of something real - a genuine Christmas tree.
And one last thing before I go...
[Related post: Retro Christmas Ads (Part 2)]
