Top 10 Scary Kids in Mid 20th Century Advertising

Advertising should make consumers want to buy the advertised product, but sometimes it causes something else – fear, for example, or surprise. Many people dream of the American dream of prosperity, happiness, opportunities and high incomes, and for some reason they think that the dream should come true in America.

But to achieve the notorious dream, it is not enough to move to the USA – you need to be born there and have a wonderful childhood. However, looking at the posters of the twentieth century, I want to ask: “What is with the expression on the faces of these children?” Is this some kind of strange publicity stunt or were children at that time very emotional? Let’s look at the posters.

10 Hunger sometimes causes strange emotions

We all get hungry from time to time, and that’s okay. But the expression on the girl’s face can hardly be called adequate: there are only vegetables and a steak on the plate in front of her, and she looks at the food with “burning” eyes as if her old dream had come true.

Perhaps the girl was asked to portray how much she enjoys food, and she had to do it. After all, it is difficult for children to regulate their emotions, they told her: “Rejoice at this plate,” and she rejoiced as much as she could.

9. Very tasty chocolate

A very tasty coconut chocolate bar… Seeing this one, no one, and especially children, are not able to restrain their emotions! And immediately forget about cultural behavior.

The poster shows how the girl and the boy are overwhelmed with emotions of joy – he smiles broadly, and she licks her lips. It seems like the kids are madly eager to try the Cocoanut as soon as possible, but consumers should only follow their desires by buying this bar.

8. Little boy or old man?

There is such a disease – progeria, in which the human body ages faster. But it is unlikely that someone, having seen a poster with a wrinkled boy, more reminiscent of a grandfather, will want to try these ripe red apples.

Whoever created this poster made the wrong choice of picture. Or maybe the problem is that they didn’t know how to draw posters reliably before? In addition, the boy can be seen saliva flowing from the corner of his mouth … not the most pleasant sight. Rather, the picture repels, you do not want to look at it.

7. Mom and son urgently need help

We see a V-8 drink on the poster. What is an energy drink? It seems that after drinking this drink, everyone becomes too energetic … Such drinks cause energy, cheerfulness, you don’t want to sleep …

But judging by the emotions of the boy and the woman, the marketers of that time overdid it with emotions – she smiles broadly and does not see how she fills her son’s glass, and he sees nothing but a drink … A cheerful family, but, in truth, the two of them did not stop to take sedatives.

6. Too many carbonated drinks for young children

Looking at a tiny child, I want to ask one question: “Is it too early for children to consume so many carbonated drinks?” There are a lot of posters depicting children drinking cola, and this is really surprising, because even adults are not advised to drink it …

People have done research, and it turns out that Coke is great for cleaning the toilet. Is this a drink you can buy your children?

What is striking is the inscription on the poster: “For the best start in life, start drinking cola from an early age.” We know that such a statement is absurd! But at the time, the company was completely serious.

5. Let your child grow up

Perhaps now you are buying your child a pacifier, toys and Lego for the development of intelligence. Do you know that earlier, in the year 1905, completely different toys were bought for children, more likely, so that they get used to the harsh adult life?

We hope that the children were not given a real razor with a sharp blade, as depicted in the poster, and this crumb should only make them want to buy the advertised razor … But, in truth, the advertising causes dissonance.

4. Let me out of this dark room

If you look at old US posters, almost all of them evoke mixed feelings, inspire fear and frighten … A fluorescent lamp (an advertised product) is supposed to make you want to buy it, but it feels like we are looking at a picture from a horror, we can say that The poster is completely illiterate.

A small child sits with his toys in the dark, huddled in a corner … It seems that the lamp is suitable for those parents who prefer to keep their children in the basement, locked away somewhere in the attic. Maybe the child should just be let out on the street?

3. Suffocation in a cellophane bag

You already know that US marketers of the last century are something. And, it seems, a child with a razor and cola is already too much, but there is something even worse … These are children in a plastic bag.

The advertising slogan reads: “A lot of great things you can find under DuPont Cellophane’s cellophane.” I wonder how living children relate to things? It is not known what things can be found under the cellophane, but judging by the poster with the kids, it will definitely not be difficult to find children there.

2. Before you scold me, mama, smoke a Malboro

Among the old posters of the United States, you can see a lot of oddities. For example, on one there is a dialogue between a mother and her child, he asks her: “Mom, can you stop smoking Malboro?” To which his mother replies: “No, it’s magical!” In another poster, a child says, “Mom, smoke a Malboro before you scold me.”

This is at least curious … what used to be wrong in the relationship between adults and children? Or did people have some special humor that we do not understand?

1. Racism is a good way to advertise soap

Racism has existed in the United States since the founding of the state. It was the norm, even the custom. And such posters were considered quite appropriate – a well-groomed white boy gives his peer – a black man soap with the words: “Why don’t your mother wash you with this Fairy Soap soap?”