Do you remember "The Flintstones?" Who was their original sponsor?

Of course, that TV show has been in syndication for decades. But when it debuted in the 1960's, it was actually a primetime show, aimed at families. This was a new idea: a cartoon show that was not just for children; a show that families would watch the same way they watched "sitcoms" with live actors.

And so...the commercials were aimed at the parents. The show's sponsor was Winston cigarettes. Back then, cigarette ads were ubiquitous on television, so this did not seem unusual to audiences at the time.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAExoSozc2c]

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bowman81 · M

My old Doctor smoked like a chimney. Great guy, great doctor but just couldn't kick the habit. He tried everything that came along, patches, pills, hypnotism, and would still sneak out back for a smoke between patients.

He didn't start smoking until a Sr. in college, said that the picture of a medical student in the 60's was a guy bent over a book with a cup of coffee and a lit cigarette. At that time more than half the men in the country smoked....a lot of women too. 45% of the total population smoked.

Even as late as the mid 70's cigarettes were included in C-rations for military field use. Yes, the Army was supplying tobacco to every soldier 10 years after the Surgeon General warnings appeared on the packs.

DrWatson · 70-79, M

@bowman81 I remember attending a World War I exhibit at a museum a few years ago. There had been a drive in the US for people to donate cigarettes to be sent to the troops in Europe. One of the "motivations" for this was that smoking was seen as a less serious vice than booze or sex! So supposedly cigarettes would help keep our boys wholesome.

bowman81 · M

@DrWatson When I was in the Army most tried to sample all of the them. Wholesomeness seemed a lot less appealing.

DrWatson · 70-79, M

@bowman81 I'm shocked.