Judge, 1915-02-27 · page 24 of 24
Judge — February 27, 1915 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **tobacco advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. It promotes "Bull" Durham rolling tobacco to wealthy American men by associating the product with social sophistication and masculine leisure. The illustration depicts well-dressed men at an upscale house party socializing—the aspirational setting where the product supposedly belongs. The ad claims that rolling your own cigarettes with Bull Durham marks you as "a smoker of experience" and is "correct, up-to-date, notably stylish." The appeal to women ("agreeable to the ladies") and emphasis on the tobacco's "delicate, distinctive fragrance" targets masculine vanity and social status anxiety. The free offer of a "Roll Your Own" instruction booklet and cigarette papers encourages trial purchase. This represents early 20th-century advertising strategy: linking consumer products to social class aspiration rather than product quality alone.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Bull” Durham, the Smoke of Hospitality At fashionable house-parties, gay week-end gatherings, wherever smart. American men assemble for recreation, mellow ‘Bull Durham tobacco adds to their enjoyment. — It is cor- rect, up-to-date, notably stylish to “roll your own" cigarettes with “Bull” Durham—stamps you as a smoker of experience and that delicate, distinctive “Bull” Durham fragrance is always very agreeable to the ladies of the party. GENUINE ‘BULL DURHAM SMOKING TOBACCO “Bull” Durham is unique among the world’s high-class smoking tobaccos—and has been for generations. Millions of smokers find in the fresh cigarettes they fashion to their own liking from this deli- ciously mild, fragrant tobacco, supreme enjoyment and _ satisfaction obtainable in no other way. Roll a cigarette with “Bull” Durham today. Learn that original, exquisite aroma—the refreshing smoothness and mellowness—the irresistible appeal of this world-famous tobacco. EE An Illustrated Booklet, showing correct way to “Roll Your Own” Cigarettes, sada packsge'ol cigunene papers, wil both be wailed, freccse any addres gums in U.S. on request. Address “Bull” Durham, Durham, N. C., Room 1288. THE AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY