When I was a freshman in college (1956-57), tobacco companies sent young attractive woman (The Butt’s Girls?) to walk around the campus and hand out free packs of cigarettes. Of course, we loved it, and it was great PR for these shameless companies. Fortunately, I quit smoking at 24 in 1963 after “only” seven years unlike many millions who continued until the bitter end.
I just looked it up, Mr. Butts debuted in ‘89. I had lost both my grandfathers to lung cancer in an 18 month period in ’77-’78. I am not sympathetic to Buttsy. He is a great character for Trudeau to use against the industry, and always liked these storylines.
It seemed like when I was a kid (1950s – 1960s) that almost all adults smoked (fortunately my parents didn’t). Even grandmothers smoked, many doing just “social smoking”. My understanding is that smoking really took off after WWII, since so many in the military became addicted from all the cigarettes that were provided by the oh-so-generous and patriotic tobacco companies. Lots of areas that had been smoke-free (officially or otherwise) were now open to smoking. Remember “smoking cars” (“smokers”) on trains? Those were no longer used after WWII, since all the addicted smokers demanded the right to smoke anywhere (I wonder if they argued it was their “Constitutional right” to smoke and go around affecting (or infecting) everyone else … hmmm, I think I’ve heard something like that more recently…).
1980s – There was only one non-smoking area in the Iowa Memorial Union – by the always-open back door of the bowling alley. The wide-screen TV was in the smoking section.
At one time a poll on the recognizability of cartoon characters among children showed that Joe Camel was second only to Mickey Mouse. A cartoon at the time depicted a tobacco executive telling this to another and “You know what that means?” “Yeah – get Mickey.” Meanwhile, at least one contestant in a teen window-painting contest for health messages didn’t fall for the industry line and created a patchy-haired camel in a hospital bed with multiple IVs and the caption, “Joe Chemo.”
In 1969, the Public Health Smoking Act of 1969 required all cigarette packaging contain the statement: WARNING: THE SURGEON GENERAL HAS DETERMINED THAT CIGARETTE SMOKING IS DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH. This warning label appeared on cigarette packaging from Nov. 1, 1970. I didn’t quit until 1974, I have no excuse.
BE THIS GUY over 3 years ago
And then came The Insider.
Renatus Profuturus Frigeridus Premium Member over 3 years ago
Butt , you are horrifying .
More Coffee Please! Premium Member over 3 years ago
Far too true to be funny…
jakko1 over 3 years ago
When I was a freshman in college (1956-57), tobacco companies sent young attractive woman (The Butt’s Girls?) to walk around the campus and hand out free packs of cigarettes. Of course, we loved it, and it was great PR for these shameless companies. Fortunately, I quit smoking at 24 in 1963 after “only” seven years unlike many millions who continued until the bitter end.
prrdh over 3 years ago
Anybody notice what adorable plump little cheeks Buttsie has? So round, so firm, so fully packed…
dr_suess over 3 years ago
I just looked it up, Mr. Butts debuted in ‘89. I had lost both my grandfathers to lung cancer in an 18 month period in ’77-’78. I am not sympathetic to Buttsy. He is a great character for Trudeau to use against the industry, and always liked these storylines.
TexTech over 3 years ago
Yeah, Mr Butts needs to get out there and line up the next genreation of addicts, er, customers.
MFRXIM Premium Member over 3 years ago
I think Mr Butts isTrump’s campaign manager and he’s heading for Florida.
WF11 over 3 years ago
It seemed like when I was a kid (1950s – 1960s) that almost all adults smoked (fortunately my parents didn’t). Even grandmothers smoked, many doing just “social smoking”. My understanding is that smoking really took off after WWII, since so many in the military became addicted from all the cigarettes that were provided by the oh-so-generous and patriotic tobacco companies. Lots of areas that had been smoke-free (officially or otherwise) were now open to smoking. Remember “smoking cars” (“smokers”) on trains? Those were no longer used after WWII, since all the addicted smokers demanded the right to smoke anywhere (I wonder if they argued it was their “Constitutional right” to smoke and go around affecting (or infecting) everyone else … hmmm, I think I’ve heard something like that more recently…).
gcarlson over 3 years ago
1980s – There was only one non-smoking area in the Iowa Memorial Union – by the always-open back door of the bowling alley. The wide-screen TV was in the smoking section.
gcarlson over 3 years ago
At one time a poll on the recognizability of cartoon characters among children showed that Joe Camel was second only to Mickey Mouse. A cartoon at the time depicted a tobacco executive telling this to another and “You know what that means?” “Yeah – get Mickey.” Meanwhile, at least one contestant in a teen window-painting contest for health messages didn’t fall for the industry line and created a patchy-haired camel in a hospital bed with multiple IVs and the caption, “Joe Chemo.”
didrumm over 3 years ago
I remember seeing ads for cigarettes in Baseball Digest using active major league players such as Roger Maris in the ad.
Sailor46 USN 65-95 over 3 years ago
In 1969, the Public Health Smoking Act of 1969 required all cigarette packaging contain the statement: WARNING: THE SURGEON GENERAL HAS DETERMINED THAT CIGARETTE SMOKING IS DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH. This warning label appeared on cigarette packaging from Nov. 1, 1970. I didn’t quit until 1974, I have no excuse.