12 Vintage 1950s Ads That Are Seriously Old-School

Written by Erin Kuschner on
A vintage advertisement featuring a woman in a dress smiling while stirring a pot on an electric stove. The ad promotes electricity for cooking, highlighting features like thermostat control and variable switches. Text emphasizes modern convenience and energy savings.
Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Advertisements can tell us a lot about an era. The 1950s were a golden age in advertising, and incorporated catchy slogans, long paragraphs of copy, and idealized representations of an American lifestyle. From Zenith TVs to Ford Galaxies (and plenty of food products), these 12 vintage 1950s ads clue us in to the products that captured Americans’ interests during the decade.

1. 7UP (1950s)

A vintage advertisement for 7-Up features a family in a colorful kitchen. A man in a hat pours 7-Up into a punch bowl while others look on happily. The bold text reads "fresh up with Seven-Up!" with bottles and glasses of 7-Up around.
u/shrimpwheel via Reddit.com
u/shrimpwheel via Reddit.com

2. Green Giant Corn Niblets (1950s)

A vintage advertisement features a family at a dining table. An older man serves corn to a young boy who looks reluctant. A tray of corn kernels and a can of Niblets corn are displayed. The text highlights the convenience of canned corn.
u/nina_ballerina via Reddit.com
u/nina_ballerina via Reddit.com

3. Wilson & Co. Mor (1950)

A vintage advertisement featuring a boy wearing a "USA" cap sitting on a wooden fence with "Jimmy Loves Mary MOR!" chalked beside him. A girl in a dress holding chalk looks at him. Cans of MOR meat products and text describe sandwich specials below.
u/TanglimaraTrippin via Reddit.com
u/TanglimaraTrippin via Reddit.com

4. Zenith TV (1951)

Vintage advertisement featuring a Zenith TV with text promoting the ease of operation using their miracle turret tuner. The ad includes an image of the TV and the tuner, and displays the Zenith Radio Television logo at the bottom right.
u/PappyKolaches via Reddit.com
u/PappyKolaches via Reddit.com

5. American Kitchens (1951)

A vintage advertisement titled "Now! American Kitchens" promoting kitchen sets. The ad features a man and woman talking about refurbishing a kitchen. Illustrations show a modern kitchen with red and white accents, cupboards, and appliances.
u/PappyKolaches via Reddit.com
u/PappyKolaches via Reddit.com

6. Hot Dawg Relish (1952)

Vintage advertisement featuring Mr. Giggles promoting "Hot Dawg Relish." The text highlights its use on meats, cheese, and more. Includes Delta Packing Co. contact information for recipes. Black-and-white with playful design.
u/WhoIsTheAleMan via Reddit.com
u/WhoIsTheAleMan via Reddit.com

7. Spry Ground Beef (1954)

A vintage advertisement featuring a can of Spry vegetable shortening and a cooked piece of ground beef on a foil-covered tray. A hand is holding a slice, with text highlighting Spry's benefits.
u/TanglimaraTrippin via Reddit.com
u/TanglimaraTrippin via Reddit.com

8. Texaco Sky Chief Gasoline (1955)

Vintage Texaco advertisement featuring the Sky Chief gas can. Top text promotes better engine performance. A red star and green "T" logo are at the top. The ad highlights three benefits of using Petrox in Sky Chief gasoline. Texaco dealers listed in all 48 states.
u/bil_sabab via Reddit.com
u/bil_sabab via Reddit.com

9. Franco-American Macaroni (1956)

A vintage advertisement showcasing Franco-American Macaroni with cheese sauce. The image displays a can of the product alongside a serving dish filled with baked macaroni, garnished with cheese. Fresh vegetables surround the display, enhancing the presentation.
u/PinupCheesecakeSale via Reddit.com
u/PinupCheesecakeSale via Reddit.com

10. Kraft Swiss Cheese (1956)

A vintage advertisement for Kraft Natural Swiss Cheese featuring a plate with Swiss cheese on bread and slices of ham. A cup of coffee is beside the plate. The text highlights pairing the cheese with drinks, showcased with retro-style graphics and fonts.
u/PinupCheesecakeSale via Reddit.com
u/PinupCheesecakeSale via Reddit.com

11. Cheerios (1956)

A vintage Cheerios advertisement with a red bowl of Cheerios and blueberries, a spoon, and a box of Cheerios. Text above reads, "Cheerios made from oats need no cooking taste so toasty you’ll enjoy ’em!
u/PinupCheesecakeSale via Reddit.com
u/PinupCheesecakeSale via Reddit.com

12. Ford Galaxie (1959)

A vintage advertisement showcases three white Ford Galaxie cars with open doors. The cars are adorned with white garlands on a grassy field, surrounded by elegantly dressed people and a table under a canopy. Text includes "Announcing the New Ford Galaxie.
u/Trivial_Web69 via Reddit.com
u/Trivial_Web69 via Reddit.com
Author
Erin Kuschner

Erin Kuschner has spent the past decade as a writer and editor for both digital and print publications. Prior to joining Wealth Gang, she was a reporter and editor at Boston.com, Time Out Austin, and Time Out Los Angeles, and has written for the Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe, Eater, and other publications.