Here’s hoping you were NOT a victim of an April Fools Day prank today! Gotta keep your guard up-as there is nothing “practical” about being the butt of a practical joke.
It was no joke on this date in 1970 when President Nixon signed legislation banning cigarette and cigar advertising from TV and radio. At the time, tobacco companies represented the largest advertising category on television.
Despite growing evidence that tobacco was linked to cancer, the powerful industry lobby worked overtime to thwart efforts to restrict advertising of their products. Nixon himself was an avid pipe smoker, but decided that the influence exerted over children by the broadcast media was pervasive enough to warrant a total ban.
As a former smoker, radio guy and advocate of free speech, I have always been critical of the selective ban this law represented. Print media was still free to accept advertising-heck, the cigarette companies could put a full page ad in “Children’s Highlights” magazine if they wanted to, but a late night TV show watched by adults was banned from airing any such ad. In fact, the last TV commercial for a cigarette aired during the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson at 11:50pm on January 1, 1971
Having said that, I was surprised at seeing the following TV commercial for Winston cigarettes----where the pitchmen were none other than The Flintstones! Watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZvHiiWFbBU
Perhaps the regulators had a point after all. While the absence of TV and radio ads didn’t curb appeal and demand for the product (it may have enhanced it), the recent data showing declines in young people starting to smoke is good news….and THAT’s no April Fools joke!
If you’d like my blog in your inbox daily, let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com
It’s free…and so far, not banned by any federal law that I’m aware of.
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