Doctors, Dentists and Santa Claus Say Smoke ‘em if You Got ‘em in Old Ads

I ran across a hilarious and frightening slide show on the New York Times website this week.  It shows ten old ads from decades ago depicting doctors, dentists and Santa Claus lighting up and promoting tobacco products.  

Here are a few snippets of copy from some of the ads in the slide show:

• Dentists loved smoking: “As your dentist, I would recommend Viceroys.”
• Doctors loved smoking, too: “More doctors smoke camels than any other cigarette.”
• Did you know Santa Claus Smoked?: “Let a carton of Pall Malls say Merry Christmas to you.”
• Even babies gave smoking a thumbs up way back when: “Gee, Dad, you always get the best of everything … even Marlboro!”
• And I really like this line: “Yes, you need never feel over-smoked … that’s the Miracle of Marlboro!”

I don’t have permission to republish the slide show here, but I found many more examples on Flickr.  Check some of them out below (lots more after the jump). 

For more old cigarette ads, follow the link to a great cigarette and tobacco ads album on Flickr.

Images: Flickr 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11