I belong to an online group to which people post examples of creepy vintage advertising. Some of it is quite amusing.
I thought people on this forum might get a charge out of one that was posted today.
Or maybe you won't. 
Steven J. Serenska
The full ad can be seen here:
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Product placement at its finest!
Get up and go with Lionel trains!
Rusty
See! Trains have always been wonderful. And helpful. And therapeutic. Even medicinal, apparently. (Of course, all that bending over and reaching around, crawling around, and jumping in glee might have been helpful, too.)
Just sayin' .
😊
All the time you spend playing with trains is all the time you don't spend stuffing yourself with things that will clog you up.
Its the Smoke Pellets.
So it's true; This hobby gives you a good run for your money ....... anybody up for identifying the locomotives and cars the boys are destroying? (I hope they washed their hands...)
He runs those 2 alco's head on,constipation won't be his problem.....because, first you say it,then you do it!!
I see it is a case of directional issues, are they coming or going. Besides the constipation they are directionally challenged. notice the caboose is not on the tracks. 
Drop that caboose on the tracks and watch the short hit the man!
Nairb Rekab posted:Drop that caboose on the tracks and watch the short hit the man!
That would be another way to end his constipation worries!
Rusty
jay jay posted:Its the Smoke Pellets.
You're saying take the Smoke Pellets and...?
Never mind. 
George
Lionel trains and milk of magnesia will always keep you running on time!! 
The funniest comment on the original thread (from which I took the image) had the father saying, "Boys, let's hide behind this wall where the crazy lady can't find us!"
If they had bought the Lionel Acela, they wouldn't need the laxative.
banjoflyer posted:If there's a headlight on that "Train" exiting the "Tunnel" you've got more problems than you thought!
Mark
That might be an electrifying experience.........
Interesting....
That explains the one-word expletive I heard from the wife while I was carrying the new engines through the front door returning from York!
.
.
.
Just kidding, dear!
Dear?
As long as we're critiquing the photo, the 145 gateman works better right side up.
Don't ever take the trains through the front door!Wait until 2 a.m. and sneak them into the train room.
TRAIN WRECK!
Oh, well.
Let's go take a family ****.
Did they really have to associate trains with such an unpleasant affliction?
That can't be authentic. It's too ridiculous. So I wonder if it is somebody's photo-shopping little exercise to get a rise out of model railroaders. Eh?
It's in such bad taste, I just cant believe it was actually published.
FrankM
Well based on reading this entire string I think the poster met his objective of creating a little humor this string is funny as can be. Everyone posting made a great positive comment on achieving the goal of the ad and curing the problem, had me in tears it is all so funny. GREAT JOB Guys. The really funny part is how many of us really remember seeing the original ad in the fifites. Now for the 64 dollar question where was this add posted, what magazine?
RJT posted:Well based on reading this entire string I think the poster met his objective of creating a little humor this string is funny as can be. Everyone posting made a great positive comment on achieving the goal of the ad and curing the problem, had me inters it is all so funny. GREAT JOB Guys. The really funny part is how many of us really remember seeing the original ad in the fifites. Now for the 64 dollar question where was this add posted, what magizane?
"Psychology Today" ? 
"Good Housekeeping" or "AMA Journal" ?
Well, I made a couple of blowups of the original ad as well as the doctored-up Lionel ad version. These will be nice additions to the train room.
I wonder if that proud mother/wife ever considered that the family constipation problem might have something to do with her cooking? 
It's interesting to think of the societal changes that have occurred since the time that ad was run. Smiling fathers and sons on the floor playing with trains was a common vision of calm and order in a home, promoted by countless Lionel ads back in those days illustrating the same vision. Fathers and sons playing with trains in a home, like a family sitting around the radio listening together in earlier times, for example, was looked upon as an entirely usual and normal thing, and evidence of family health and well-being. Nowadays such a picture, particularly with a laxative ad, would be looked upon as a real oddity. The connection would be completely lost.
this is truly funny. made my day. Thanks for posting. Lionel should have made a Prune Juice vat car for the ad,,,
Ok, guys, updating my own post with a new ad from the same online group. This time, it's the 70s and the subject is trains run by COMPUTERS:
The picture provokes many questions:
Have at it, guys.
Steven J. Serenska
It has a sort of twisted Norman Rockwellian look. :-p
Is that a young Mike Wolf in the picture?
Going back to the original post, "at least now the trains are regular".
Most advertising of any era makes me wonder what drugs the people who wrote them were using.
It must have been really good sh--, I mean stuff.
Serenska posted:Ok, guys, updating my own post with a new ad from the same online group. This time, it's the 70s and the subject is trains run by COMPUTERS:
The picture provokes many questions:
- Why does the kid have a garden hose in the kitchen?
- What exact command did the director scream before taking this shot (e.g., "Everyone! Quick! Make the stupidest face possible!")
- Why did "Mr. Computer Know It all" (presumably the father) need to disassemble the phone to run a Marx train?
- Why does the mother have an entire ham in a bowl?
Have at it, guys.
Steven J. Serenska
3: lol, maybe he was using CO trunk power to run the train or his PCB?
Biggest question: what’s with Captain Maytag?
Well, at least, in the latest ad, the one from the 70's, the models are not over-acting.
Ottawa_Marc posted:Serenska posted:Ok, guys, updating my own post with a new ad from the same online group. This time, it's the 70s and the subject is trains run by COMPUTERS:
The picture provokes many questions:
- Why does the kid have a garden hose in the kitchen?
- What exact command did the director scream before taking this shot (e.g., "Everyone! Quick! Make the stupidest face possible!")
- Why did "Mr. Computer Know It all" (presumably the father) need to disassemble the phone to run a Marx train?
- Why does the mother have an entire ham in a bowl?
Have at it, guys.
Steven J. Serenska
3: lol, maybe he was using CO trunk power to run the train or his PCB?
And I may have just given myself away as a nerd.
That 8048 was very cool stuff back in the day for those of us just getting into computers and wanting to control things. It was a great learning platform. Their own press release in 1977 even mentions controlling model trains....
Check it out, and check out the other funny ads they had for it on the page as well
Serenska posted:Ok, guys, updating my own post with a new ad from the same online group. This time, it's the 70s and the subject is trains run by COMPUTERS:
The picture provokes many questions:
- Why does the kid have a garden hose in the kitchen?
Obviously being sent out to water the lawn while dad plays with the train- What exact command did the director scream before taking this shot (e.g., "Everyone! Quick! Make the stupidest face possible!")
"Everybody act normal..."- Why did "Mr. Computer Know It all" (presumably the father) need to disassemble the phone to run a Marx train?
And you thought controlling a train with a phone was something new....- Why does the mother have an entire ham in a bowl?
Why not???Notice grandma's got her hand on the thermostat so they won't be cooling the whole neighborhood....
Rusty
Have at it, guys.
Steven J. Serenska
cuz its a roast, not sure why that is in a bowl either. My uncle worked for the phone company,
kept bringing home 24 gauge wire to run the trains with. Not good. And that looks like a whole
roll of phone company solder by the guys right hand. Have been using the same roll for almost
30 years. Is this the advent of smart home technology?
Make perfect sense
The phone is disasssembled to look for a whistle relay replacement.
Engine are "head" to "head"....with portholes
The caboose is off track so someone can use the "head" without bracing from movement against the wall.
The news stand is for "library reading".... and emergency "paper" if they run out.
Creepy to me is Skittlespox 
Here's another ad. This time the perpetrator is Lionel itself:
Get a load of that kid's face! Straight out of Reefer Madness.
As one commenter on the other site said, "The kid's face clearly indicates he's got his sister's doll tied to the tracks."
Enjoy.
Steven J. Serenska
Sure. Why else would a grown man's kid want to play with trains?
Updating my own post once again with a new ad from the same online group.
Hey, kids – it’s the cigarette train!
Once again, I am updating my own post with another ad from the same online group. The caption someone added on the vintage advertising group was: "Hey son! Let's climb into our underwear and play trains!"
Steven J. Serenska
Steven J, thanx for starting one of the best threads since DCS came along---or even E-unit reversing
RJR posted:Steven J, thanx for starting one of the best threads since DCS came along---or even E-unit reversing
My pleasure. The Facebook group from which these were taken has 33,000 members and is quite hilarious.
Steven J. Serenska
Serenska - that Winston ad really took me back - the version of that ad kids in my neighborhood used to sing was - "Winstons taste bad like the one I just had. No filter, no flavor, just cotton-pickin' paper."
RJR posted:Steven J, thanx for starting one of the best threads since DCS came along---or even E-unit reversing
Yup, I'm really enjoying this one...and looking forward to more posts!
Mom fixed the constipation problem TOO WELL! Poor Dad is left holding his caboose!
Jon 
Apparently Lionel guys were constipated, not us Flyer guys
lol
Al
When these seven trains hit the switchyard all at the same time...
Serenska posted:Once again, I am updating my own post with another ad from the same online group. The caption someone added on the vintage advertising group was: "Hey son! Let's climb into our underwear and play trains!"
Steven J. Serenska
****, I've been doing it wrong, I'm usually fully clothed. This weekend I'll try your method.
Stu
(1) Does the cigarette train come with a smoke unit?
(2) Beside the fact that they're in their undies, what does the kid have on top of his leg with a wire coming out of that he's staring at with a weird grin? ....it's reminding me of the Addam's family ....is he about to set off the explosives?
ScottV posted:(1) Does the cigarette train come with a smoke unit?
(2) Beside the fact that they're in their undies, what does the kid have on top of his leg with a wire coming out of that he's staring at with a weird grin? ....it's reminding me of the Addam's family ....is he about to set off the explosives?
It looks like the external wire that goes with the Lionel Generator car (the blue and white one).
https://www.tandem-associates....30_operating_car.htm
But, yeah, a strange looking scene.
ScottV posted:(2) Beside the fact that they're in their undies, what does the kid have on top of his leg with a wire coming out of that he's staring at with a weird grin? ....it's reminding me of the Addam's family ....is he about to set off the explosives?
Well, it is an underwear ad after all. Nothing creepy about that. No different than the bazillion underwear ads we see today in print, online, and tv.
Scotty,
The cigarette train comes with a smoke unit … and, of course, a Light.
Note: Close cover before striking.
On further thought, perhaps the cigarette train should shoot missiles (aka cigarettes, pre-lit of course).
jay jay posted:Its the Smoke Pellets.
Smoke was good for you back then.
If you need proof that that there really is a ****...
Let's play trains.
these cigarette ads are a hoot. One of my uncle's was a two pack a day unfiltered guy. He died at 93 of a heart attack. My father was 15 years younger and his comment was... "I knew the smoking was bad for him." Heavens! Pass the smoke fluid please!
Robert S. Butler posted:Serenska - that Winston ad really took me back - the version of that ad kids in my neighborhood used to sing was - "Winstons taste bad like the one I just had. No filter, no flavor, just cotton-pickin' paper."
RSB:
Funny, we had a similar version of the song in my neighborhood: "Winston tastes bad like the one I just had. No filter, no taste, just a bunch of paper waste."
In hindsight, it's a pretty well-crafted melody, seeing how it's stuck with us all these years....
Steven J. Serenska
NOT LionelLLC posted:Serenska posted:Once again, I am updating my own post with another ad from the same online group. The caption someone added on the vintage advertising group was: "Hey son! Let's climb into our underwear and play trains!"
Steven J. Serenska
****, I've been doing it wrong, I'm usually fully clothed. This weekend I'll try your method.
Stu
Go ahead - try and drink that visual out of your mind
Paul
Updating my own post once again with a new ad from the same online group devoted to vintage ads.
This one is a little disturbing. I'm not too appreciative that Lionel was trying to get kids to be this conniving. Given the catalog images, I'm going to place this from in the mid- to late-1960s.
The best comments from viewers of the thread had the father pause to reconsider his words:
...But, for gosh sakes, DON'T tell Mom this is the most fun i've had in years!
and
...Well, the most fun since that weekend last year with Cindy from accounting!
Enjoy.
Steven J. Serenska
@Serenska posted:Given the catalog images, I'm going to place this from in the mid- to late-1960s.
It's the 1966/1968 catalog cover artwork.
Don't know that I'd call that conniving. Seems to me all the twist is in the eye--and minds--of the beholders, especially given the stupid comments.
I seem to recall a cigarette ad featuring a locomotive engineer all decked out in his overalls and hickory striped cap. Please post any railroad related tobacco ads that happen to pop up. Come to think about it, how many remember Railroad Mills chewing tobacco?
...perhaps cough drop ads should be included as well?
From that same Facebook group (I was a member for a while; may still be but I do not follow it anymore) I saved this ad:
Check out the expression on the man in the blue suit:
How about the guy with glasses? What is he looking at?
@LLKJR posted:How about the guy with glasses? What is he looking at?
He looks like he is staring at the woman’s chest. Definitely creepy. The other guy just looks like he is happy to have cake.
Not creepy, just crowded:
To me, it looks like the guy is lusting for the Schlitz. Which would be in keeping with the ad.
Note the guy in back not happy with the way the housekeeper has washed the pot.
Remember when one could have such a get-together, without masks?
Leroof, our posts crossed. I don't know how old your are, but I clearly remember the cigarette ads from the 40's, that 9 out of 10 doctors smoke [brand], and ads saying that doctors promoted smoking to help one relax. I leave it to the reader to draw analogies to what is being touted today as medically beneficial.
Gotta love that fridge full o' Schlitz.
Everybody has a nice Pilsner glass to drink their can of Schlitz.
Check out the time of day, seven minutes past midnight and they are hammering it away with now the food being served. I don't suppose none of these guys were thinking about how they were going to drive home!!
Not so, it's shortly after noon. They started early.
@RJR posted:Not so, it's shortly after noon. They started early.
A starlit sky with a crescent moon at noon?
Good point 
Here is one combining cigarettes and trains- does not get any better than that!
Possibly could be a party going full blast in the Far North where it's dark six months out of the year?
Wonder if doggie is looking at the can of Woof in the fridge or if he wants a Schlitz too?
@Allegheny posted:Check out the time of day, seven minutes past midnight and they are hammering it away with now the food being served. ...snip...
Maybe they just returned from the opera or a play. Which was my thought when I saw the ad.
My favorite character in the Schlitz ad is the dachshund, who looks very much like my red dapple dachshund Panda
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