Life, 1926-12-02 · page 7 of 81
Life — December 2, 1926 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **Marlboro cigarette advertisement**, not political satire. The page header claims to document "Real Life Episodes in the History of Marlboro's Sensational Flight to Universal Popularity in One Short Year." The ad depicts a social scene where a man presents cigarettes to a woman at what appears to be an elegant gathering. The copy celebrates Marlboro's rapid market success, attributing it to "exquisite mildness" and noting husbands recommending them to wives for social occasions. The tagline "They Lend an Added Charm to Smoking" — combined with imagery of refined, fashionable people — suggests cigarettes enhance social sophistication and appeal. The price ("20 for 20c") and "Mild as May" branding emphasize accessibility and gentleness, targeting both male and female consumers during an era when marketing cigarettes to women was becoming normalized.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
; Life REAL LIFE EPISODES IN THE HISTORY OF MARLBORO'S SENSATIONAL FLIGHT TO UNIVERSAL POPULARITY IN ONE SHORT YEAR y Lend an cAdded Charm to Smoking TARLBORO CIGARETTES’ tremen- Mild as May 20 for 20c dous popularity was predict- ed a year ago by those who first discovered their inimitable flavor .. their exquisite mildness. Husbands told their wives what a rare new treat they could serve for their friends and week-end ests. —And Marlboro’s fame gan to spread. MARLBORO In just a little more than a year Marlboros have achieved the most sensational success ever achieved by any cigarette in such a short period of time. You'll be delighted with the add- ed charm they lend to smoking. And at finding that a blend which exactly suits your taste can also be as “Mild as May.” CIGARETTES Created by PHILIP MORRIS & CO., Ltd., Inc. comicbooks.com