new years ads

Retro Ad of the Week: Chesterfield, 1945

What better way to waltz into the New Year than with a fresh pack of smokes? The only other requirement for a New Year’s ad is a clock. And what do you know, “Chesterfield” has the exact number of letters as there are numbers on a clock face. Better turn that into some kind of message about urgency!

FUN FACT: In the late 1960s, the majority of cigarette companies were advertising their extra-long, 100-millimeter cigarettes. Chesterfield literally one-upped the competition by releasing their own version called 101. It was a cigarette that was 1 millimeter longer than the competition. This concept inspired the catchy slogan, “a silly millimeter longer,” sung to the tune of “La Bamba” by Ritchie Valens. The campaign played a crucial role in earning Chesterfield a spot as one of the top three cigarette brands of the 20th century. (Source: Cigarettes Reporter)

 

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