09/09/2026
Did you know that it wasn’t until 1964 that smoking was officially linked to lung cancer? 🚬
Though medical researchers suspected that smoking caused cancer and had other detrimental effects on health in the 1950s, it took years to gather enough clear scientific evidence to definitely prove it 🔍
Prior to that, advertising from to***co companies showed doctors endorsing smoking and extolling its positive effects from weight reduction to soothing throat irritation 🍎
Given the popularity of smoking, it was going to take a lot of effort to sway public opinion and change the perception of smoking from healthy to carcinogenic, and these posters created by the American Cancer Society in 1969 were one of these efforts.
The stark black and white photos contrast the reality of smoking with the positive perceptions of smoking as “glamorous,” “debonair,” and “sophisticated.” The photos are fantastic and these posters are a wonderful piece of history that documents the beginning of a major culture shift.
We believe these are the original posters, not reproductions, based on the numbers in the lower right corner of each poster (see photos). The dimensions are also accurate and the paper is the correct weight and appropriately aged.
It seems like these posters have been framed for most of their lives. We put them in new frames because the glass was cracked on one of the original frames. Two of the posters are in great condition, but the “sophisticated” poster has a scratch in the word “sophisticated”. It is not terribly evident, but we discounted that poster due to the condition.
The posters measure about 11”x16” and the frames measure 12”x18”
These would look wonderful in a collection of smoking paraphernalia or maybe in a home bar!
Find this and much more at Mandevilla Memories, booth #5503/7669 in the south building, at Red Barn Market! Asking $50 each for “glamorous” and “debonair” and $40 for “sophisticated” plus OKC sales tax. Thanks for looking!
