When I was a little kid (6-7), I would rush home after school to watch Captain Scotty present a half-hour of Looney Tunes, followed by a rerun of Gilligan’s Island. It was my daily ritual. Add in a snack, and it was quality “me time” for a 2nd grader.
During those shows there were PSAs (Public Service Announcements) that were pushing back against smoking. This was 1966-67. Cigarette ads were a large part of TV advertising at the time, and they weren’t banned until 1971. So, in order to help us kids stay away from the smokes, they gave us ant-smoking commercials between cartoons.
I must say that 45 years later, I do not remember one single lesson about the Word of Wisdom from those days, although I’m sure there were many. But I do remember Johnny Smoke.
This next PSA was quite “heavy”, but I think it made the point well. It is also a time capsule of sorts. Yeah, that’s what we all used to do in the 60’s. Again, it stuck with me, and that’s why I am the non-smoking father I am today.
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Ben and I had a good laugh watching these. 🙂
My after-school routine consisted of watching Woody Woodpecker until mom caught me and sent me outside to gather the eggs. Sigh. Sure do remember the anti-cigarette ads, though.
You and I must be near the same age, Morman Man. I remember that after-school routine with the slight variation of heading out to do chores as soon as Giligan’s Island ended.
Of course I remember those PSAs too. That second one made a lasting impression on me. My father was a smoker and I decided at a very young age that it was absolutely not for me. Neither of my brothers became smokers either.
My dad died of lung cancer a little over five years ago. I think I could make some pretty persuasive anti-smoking PSAs after living through that ordeal.
They don’t make PSA’s like they used to. Here’s what we get nowadays: http://www.thinkb4youspeak.com/psa.asp?play=tvspots&video=TV_FittingRoom_30
I’m a bit younger (I was born in 75) but my mom often tells me that as soon as I could walk and talk I would stomp on my father’s cigarettes and singing the anti-smoking commercials that I saw on TV. I was so happy when my father finally quite smoking. I was 21 and expecting my second child by then.
they need these today, they really do!
I am so glad drugs never appealed to me. I remember my first drug awareness class too. Their scare tactics sure worked for me!
I much prefer those to the gross ones where they cut open a brain and squeeze out an artery
Love that Johnny Smoke! It’s cool on about five different levels.