The holidays are often seen as the golden season for advertisers, with brands pulling out all the stops to spread festive cheer and drive sales. But not every campaign hits the mark—especially when we look back at vintage ads. From questionable taglines to cringe-worthy visuals, these old-school Christmas ads might have been intended to charm but instead left us scratching our heads (or laughing uncontrollably). Let’s unwrap some of the most memorable festive flops and see what lessons they offer for modern-day marketing.
1. Santa Claus and Lucky Strike Cigarettes
Santa's wholesome image takes a smoky turn in this ad featuring Saint Nick promoting Lucky Strike cigarettes. The tagline, “Luckies – A Light Smoke” paired with a handwritten letter from "Santa Claus" himself, hilariously reimagines Christmas cheer as a carton of tobacco. While it’s comically dated now, it serves as a reminder of how dramatically advertising norms have changed.
2. Dormeyer Appliances: A Christmas Plea to Husbands and Wives
This ad doubles down on the stereotypes of its time, encouraging wives to circle their appliance wish list and cry a little if their husbands don't buy them. The kicker? A special note for husbands: "Pick out what your wife wants. Go buy it. Before she starts to cry." Equal parts outrageous and bizarrely candid, it’s a classic example of holiday advertising that could never fly today.
3. Coca-Cola’s Creepy Christmas Elf
Coca-Cola may have perfected Christmas ads in recent decades, but this vintage attempt missed the mark with a haunting elf hovering over Santa as he sneaks into a fridge. The tagline “Where there’s Coca-Cola, there’s hospitality” feels oddly misplaced with the unsettling imagery. It’s an unintentional lesson in how visuals can sometimes overpower a message.
4. The Lady Remington: “Give Your Wife an Extra Head for Christmas”
If the phrasing doesn’t make you cringe, the explanation will! This razor ad emphasizes the need for a “two-headed” shaver to tackle both legs and underarms with a tough yet gentle touch. While innovative at the time, the messaging is a wild ride of awkward innuendo and impractical gift ideas for the holidays.
A Festive Takeaway
These vintage Christmas ads are a mix of hilarity and cultural time capsules, showing how much advertising has evolved (for the better!). While they may have missed the mark, they offer endless laughs and a nostalgic reminder of how far marketing has come.
Which one is your favorite festive fail?
