15 Fascinating Ads That Tell the Story of Early 20th Century Life

Written by Erin Kuschner on updated
On the left, a vintage Navy recruiting poster features a woman in a sailor uniform. On the right, a 1924 Jell-O advertisement shows a girl in a blue dress holding a tray, with bold yellow and white text.

If you want to get a glimpse of life in the early 20th century, just look at advertisements from the era. These vintage ads were printed at a time before “Mad Men” and the Golden Age of Advertising, and often used hand-drawn illustrations, a focus on modernity, and patriotic sentiments to appeal to consumers. The following ads, which span over two decades from 1914 to 1939, are a telling depiction of life in America at the time. Oh, and they might make you want to buy Listerine toothpaste or Cracker Jacks, too.

1. Colgate Shaving Stick (1914)

Comic strip titled "The Conversion of Mr. Prejudice" showcasing a man's transformation from using traditional shaving methods to adopting Colgate's shaving stick. Illustrations depict the products and his shaving experiences. Ends with his satisfaction.
morganmonroe81 / Reddit.com
u/morganmonroe81 via Reddit.com

2. Cracker Jack Baseball Cards (1915)

Advertisement for Cracker Jack ball player cards. Features vintage baseball player portraits with team names like Chicago, Indianapolis, and Boston. Text promotes a collection of 176 baseball player cards in Cracker Jack packages.
Ebonystealth / Reddit.com
u/Ebonystealth via Reddit.com

3. U.S. Navy (1915)

A vintage Navy recruitment poster shows a smiling woman in a sailor’s uniform with the text: “Gee!! I wish I were a man; I’d join the Navy. Be a man and do it. United States Navy Recruiting Station.”
LookWutIFound / Reddit.com

4. Montgomery Ward & Co. (1916)

A vintage fashion catalog illustration shows eight women modeling long skirts and blouses or dresses in various fabrics and styles, with item numbers, prices, and descriptions beside each outfit.
RedKittieKat / Reddit.com

5. Interwoven Socks (1920s)

Illustration of a man in a tuxedo and patterned robe sitting elegantly in a lavish chair, reading a newspaper. A shield emblem and ornate designs frame the image. The text reads, "Interwoven Socks - Because They Fit as Well as Wear.
CelebManips / Reddit.com
u/CelebManips via Reddit.com

6. Comet Rice (1921)

A vintage advertisement for Comet Uncoated White Rice shows a red and white rice box filled with rice, with text promoting the product’s quality and suggesting various uses. A small bowl of rice appears in front of the box.
RedKittieKat / Reddit.com

7. Jell-O (1924)

A vintage 1924 Jell-O advertisement featuring a girl in a blue and white dress holding a plate with a Jell-O mold. The text reads “1924 A JELL-O YEAR America’s Most Famous Dessert.”
fondlemeLeroy / Reddit.com

8. Oreo (1924)

Vintage-style advertisement showing two hands twisting apart an Oreo cookie above a bowl of Oreo cookies. Text reads: "Oreo Sandwich: Chocolate flavored wafers with creamy lemon or vanilla flavored filling.
blancolobosBRC / Reddit.com

9. Mystikum Parfum (1925)

Vintage perfume advertisement for Mystikum Parfum by Scherk. Features a woman with her head tilted back, enjoying the fragrance. The text highlights the mystery of flowers and the availability of the perfume in various products.
nina_ballerina / Reddit.com
u/nina_ballerina via Reddit.com

10. Roosevelt Five-Passenger Sedan (1929)

A vintage newspaper ad featuring a drawing of a car with the headline "America Has Voted YES" promoting the Roosevelt Straight-Eight automobile by Marmon at a price below $1000. The ad lists various features and benefits of the car.
PappyKolaches / Reddit.com
u/PappyKolaches via Reddit.com

11. Ivory Soap (1931)

A vintage advertisement featuring a man reading in a bathtub. He's using Ivory Soap, with a view of a bathroom and a red-black checkered floor. Text promotes the soap's benefits. The top reads, "Reach for the Floater Instead.
StephenMcGannon / Reddit.com
u/StephenMcGannon via Reddit.com

12. Buick (1933)

Vintage Buick advertisement featuring a classic car with text emphasizing quality, size, and weight for a smooth ride. The ad mentions Buick's focus on steering and reducing motor weight, with a call to visit the Mobile Cadillac Company.
PappyKolaches / Reddit.com
u/PappyKolaches via Reddit.com

13. Kenwood Mills (1939)

A vintage advertisement shows a sleeping woman under a soft, blue blanket. The background has elegant script reading, "Drift away to sleep under Kenwood Blanket." The design highlights luxury and comfort with a dreamy atmosphere.
bil_sabab / Reddit.com
u/bil_sabab via Reddit.com

14. Gary Cooper in ‘Beau Geste’ (1939)

A vintage movie poster for "Beau Geste" featuring a smiling man in a military uniform. Text highlights Gary Cooper as the lead, with Ray Milland and Robert Preston. Showtimes and theater details are at the bottom.
MinnesotaArchive / Reddit.com
u/MinnesotaArchive via Reddit.com

15. Listerine Toothpaste (1939)

Vintage advertisement for Listerine Tooth Paste featuring illustrations of people and text promoting the product's benefits. It highlights Luster-Foam's extra care and brilliance for teeth, with testimonials and a large image of the toothpaste tube.
Tony_Tanna78 / Reddit.com
u/Tony_Tanna78 via Reddit.com

More ad content:

A large roadside billboard advertises the 1955 Ford car, showing a green and white model. Below the sign, an older black car is parked on a dirt lot with several other parked cars and an industrial building in the background.
Robert Landau/Corbis via Getty Images