Judge, 1927-05-07 · page 36 of 36
Judge — May 7, 1927 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **1927 cigarette advertisement**, not satire or political commentary. The R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company uses the Judge magazine platform to market Camel cigarettes to "experienced smokers." The image shows five men in casual period dress sharing cigarettes, presumably representing satisfied, seasoned smokers. The ad's pitch flatters the target audience: experienced smokers possess refined taste, have "tried every brand," and naturally prefer Camels for their Turkish and domestic tobacco blend. The social message—asking smokers to evangelize by offering cigarettes to "inexperienced smokers"—reflects 1920s marketing that explicitly encouraged spreading smoking habits, particularly to newcomers. By modern standards, this is notable primarily for its brazen promotion of nicotine addiction and the casual normalization of smoking as a social good worth promoting to others. The advertisement contains no health disclaimers whatsoever.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
vA To you—experienced smokers... EXPERIENCED smokers, your patronage has put Camel first among cigarettes. You know good tobaccos. From their taste and fragrance, you know that Camels are rolled of the choicest Turkish and Domestic tobaccos grown. Your preference proves it. You’ve paid every price and tried every brand, and you will smoke only Camels. Camel popularity—your vote—shows that Camel is totally unlike any other cigarette that ever was made, You are also steady smokers, and you have paid Camel the highest compliment: “No matter how liberally we smoke them, Re Jie Camels never tire the taste. They never leave a cigaretty after-taste.” Experienced smokers, it is your patron- age that enables us to produce the best. We spare no expense, we buy the best of everything for Camels because we dare look forward to your appreciation. And you give it beyond all bounds! There’s only one thing more we could ask. Pass the good news to inexperienced smokers. Help them shorten the search for tobacco enjoyment. Extend them the most friendly—because the most helpful —smoke invitation ever spoken— “Have a Camel!” REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY, WINSTON-SALEM, N. C. comicbooks.com