The Big Bald Blog: The Advertising of Yesterday Part XVI

It's Friday and it's time for another edition of "The Advertising of Yesterday". I know, I know. I have been slacking this week. Your probably wondering where I have been. No where, I have just been busy. Trying to balance client work and getting my campaign up and running.

No more excuses. On to the good stuff.

This ad for Savage Firearms comes from a 1970 issue of Outdoor Life. I ran across several ads that are similar to this one but most are strictly promoting the rifles and shotguns. This particular ad is part of a contest where you can win trips, campers and guns - Oh my.

You tell me. Is this considered politically correct?

Oh how we have changed. Before political correctness, there was Savage. OK, check me if I am wrong. I find it highly unlikely that a "Native American" would be seen in a modern day ad promoting something with a negative name tied to the days long before this ad was conceived - Savage. As I sit here and reflect back, I remember a local restaurant called "Sambos." The restaurant operated with images of what was probably the most offensive commercial cartoon character by today's standards. Little Black Sambo.

"A popular U.S. restaurant chain of the 1960s and 1970s, Sambo's, borrowed characters from the book (including Sambo and the tigers) for promotional purposes... the controversy about the book led to accusations of racism that contributed to the 1,117-restaurant chain's demise in the early 1980s. Images inspired by the book (now considered by some racially insensitive) were common interior decorations in the restaurants."

The world we live in continues to evolve around us. Sometimes for the good and sometimes for the bad. Advertising that influences us all continues to evolve along with society. Ad that are now common place would be seen as a detestable in the 60's. Conversely, ads like the one above are now seen as inappropriate. Either way, advertising is a big part of our lives. Everyone views it and responds to it, but most are seldom conscious of advertising's effectiveness - that is until we see things like they use to be.

Thanks for stopping by. Oh, and make sure you get entered in the contest. Have a great weekend everyone.

Labels: advertising, Friday, fun

4 Comments:

At August 22, 2008 1:03 PM , Easy E said...: I can remember eating at a Sambos restaurant as a child.

It makes me wonder what current advertisements and marketing campaigns will be offensive to those 30 years in the future.
At August 22, 2008 7:20 PM , Allyn said...: I remember eating at Sambos in Florida when i was little.
Their pancakes were terrible!
I think they went outta business because their food sucked! JMHO

AL
At August 22, 2008 7:37 PM , Big Pappa said...: I was too young when they were here to remember how good the food was. Good to see you again Allyn.
At August 27, 2008 10:09 AM , Sudiegirl said...: I remember Sambos too, but I kind of liked their food.

*sigh* I didn't even get the racism part of it back then.