More Doctors Smoke Camels
2010 May 25
I grew up in a cigarette-filled world: on tv, at home, in the car, in restaurants, on planes — even the after-church ritual of the men gathering to smoke after each assembly. It’s hard today to imagine how much cigarette advertising dominated commercials, ads, and billboards. Here are a few as I remember my asthmatic youth:
Not just doctors! Fred and Barney loved to sneak out back for a smoke. (Just what you want your kids to see on cartoons!)
And no wonder: cigarettes are actually good for you!
To say nothing of how they freshen your taste!
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You’re kidding me! Kind of shocking to those of us who’ve never been on an airplane where smoking is permitted.
The Pinocchio DVD’s now come with a smoking warning at the beginning.
Because no one wants to be a jackass.
I’m just so pleased they’re all gone now!!!
I haven’t fallen captive to tweeting due to time consuming commitments elsewhere, but would like to comment on your tweet about Scott McKnight’s book cover.
The”car” really captured my heart – the angst in body language of the lone figure seems to ask, where to go, which way to go, is there a right way? It touched me deeply. I would pick up this book to discover further it’s teachings.
You know I’ve never had a definite opinion about anything.
I’m sorry to disagree with you, dear friend, but the blue just was tooooo shockingly blue. I love the color, but this was a bit too much for my taste in book covers. I would not have any curiosity about this BLUE covered book.
Still love you, though!
Wow. I wonder if this is how fast food commercials for french fries will strike us in 30 years.
Times have changed…when my dad (who would be 74 if he was alive) was a young teenager, his mom gave him money to buy cigarettes rather than have him asking (bumming) smokes off of someone else.
What good parent today would give their child money for cigarettes? Coincedently, my dad decided he did not enjoy smoking…much to his bennefit.
Grace and peace,
Rex
BTW…I’m no prophet but given the number of alcohol related deaths every year as well as the number of families who suffer constant alcohol related abuse…maybe this is what should happen to the alcohol commercials of our culture. But I won’t hold my breath on that.
Grace and peace,
Rex
Grew up in the same era. I always remember the break between Sunday school class and worship service. It was 10-15 minutes for a small church in Slaton, Texas. Took me a while to figure out that it was the perfect amount of time for all the men to smoke 1-2 cigarettes. Remember every elder standing in the parking lot, including my grandfather, smoking away.
Unlike most people, I kind of miss the tv ads. My grandfather actually was in a Marlboro ad when I was a kid. Filmed it at the Pitchfork Ranch. Was pretty cool to have a grandfather that was a “Marlboro Man”. He died at 86 years of age. I guess smoking cut his life short.
It’s interesting to me that many of the people who rail against tobacco use today are the same ones who advocate the legalization of marijuana. Seems to be a bit of a disconnect there…
Jeff,
Currently I live in the Denver area which has seen increasing bans on smoking cigarettes/tobaco products in public places yet has also legalized “medical marijuana” for consumptions and sale (thus creating marijuana business establishments) and there are also some who are trying to open up a “hookah” bar where people can go and pay to smoke tobacco and “other products” with a water bong.
There does seem to be some incongruency.
-Rex
Kathy – Are you sure that book cover didn’t just send you subliminal messages of BLUE STATES?
You should be glad to know that Scot said most people under 35 preferred the same one you liked!
Jeff/Rex – Yes, a bit of disconnect there. Actually, what I’ve heard has a bit more consistency. The ones I’ve heard warning about tobacco smoke also warn against marijuana. But the ones railing against smoking in public may well be for the legalization of marijuana. Their position is: whatever you smoke in your back yard is your business; just don’t smoke it (cigarette, cigar, joint) around me!
I have this surreal memory of going to the doctor in Henderson, TN, for a tetanus shot while in school at Freed-Hardeman. Will never forget him smoking a cigarette as he stuck me with the needle!
LOL Mike! Happy to say I’m not that susceptible to subliminal messages.
And, Scot might be surprised to know I haven’t been under 35 years for about 45 years. No fair doing the math.
Miss you, dear friend!!
btw-caught a quick peek at you serving Communion Sunday. Happy to see you might actually have discovered there is a Highland away from the ‘southside church.’ again
Sorry, but that wasn’t me, Kathy. Unless you were in Vermont!
I quit going to our local Baskin-Robbins when I saw the older lady dipping the ice cream kept a cigarette (with long ash) in her mouth as she dipped! (It’s now closed!)
So thankful Arkansas bans smoking in most restaurants and work places now!
Ooops!
I need to remember to always wear glasses when trying to identify someone or thing at a distance. 
Great. Now I have that jingle stuck in my head: “Winston tastes good, like a cigarette should.”