Speaker’s corner

IT’S interesting to see how advertising has changed. A friend has sent me some newspaper advertisements from the 1950s including one that shows a doctor in a white coat, smoking. The headline reads “More doctors smoke Camel than any other cigarette.”

Cigarette manufacturers unashamedly depicted bogus doctors smoking their product. Craven A cigarette ads had the slogan, “Smoke Craven A for your throat’s sake”.

An advertisement for Tipalet cigarettes showed a man blowing smoke into a young woman’s face. The legend: “Blow into her face – she will follow you anywhere!”

Another advertisement showed a healthy family frolicking on the beach. The message: “They are happy because they eat lard”.

A contemporary advertisement showed a healthy-looking woman and read: “EAT EAT EAT – and always stay thin. FAT banished.”

How? With “sanitised tapeworm – easily swallowed”.

It’s going to be interesting to see how car advertisements evolve from now. The day will come when speed (0-60 in 5 seconds! Wow!) specifically lauded in ads, especially on television, will be played down – maybe even legislated against. After all what are the manufacturers trying to say? Who (or even whom) are they trying to attract?

Will car manufactures go the way the cigarette industry has gone (“Warning: Smoking causes cancer”) and warn, “Speed kills”.

Though, I must admit, caution in advertising can become silly. A number of readers have been adding to my ever-growing list of warning labels and notices attached to various goods.

In the UK, a Tesco’s tirimisu dessert label warns, “Do not turn upside down”. This is printed on the bottom of the box.

And Marks & Spencers are just as cautious. Packaged bread puddings have the warning, “Product will be hot after heating.”

The sleeping aid, Nytol, helpfully advises: “Warning: may cause drowsiness.”

On Sainsbury’s packs of peanuts: “Warning: contains nuts.”

On a Swedish chainsaw: “Do not attempt to stop chain with your hands.”

On a hair dryer: “Do not use while sleeping.” Some warnings are downright funny: On a frozen dinner: “Serving suggestion: defrost.”

On a Korean kitchen knife: “Warning: keep out of children.”

On a Japanese food processor: “Not to be used for the other use.”