Before this gets locked - care to share a link to the Marlboro story? All I can find online are stories about the negative space branding, and a KKK conspiracy theory.

https://www.vix.com/en/ovs/wtf/57458...keted-to-women

That doesn't say anything about the red top. Is it red because the filters used to be red? That story also claims the brand is named after Earl of Marlborough, but Wikipedia states "The name was taken from a street in London where Philip Morris's British factory was located" (street was indeed named after Churchill's relative, but John Churchill, not Earl)

I think what you were trying to say is that filtered cigarettes used to be marketed to women, but were rebranded to be marketed to men after research showed that smoking causes lung cancer (under the pretense that filtered cigarettes are healthier).

Wow. Did Mommy and Daddy pay for that education? Such a deal...

In the 19th century, bloomers were scandalous ,
because in an era of ground dragging length dresses , & Skirts
It allowed women to ride bicycles.. independently..

You may be right that the actual red at the top design isn't directly related to the red and white tip on the cigarette (to hide the lipstick stains on the filter, BTW), but the packaging of Marlboro for decades before the brand sex change had the name Philip Morris printed in red on the pack in a way that looked like it had been written in lipstick.

"Ivory tips. Protect the lips."
https://flashbak.com/marlboro-cigarettes-women-24001/

GI Joe, Star Wars figures and a host of other dolls with accessories,rebadged as action figures.

But the OP is correct, his post is a pointless rant.

So what?

Why simulate lipstick? I remember drinking Playmate Malt Liquor back in the 60's when it had a black can with big red lipsticked lips diagonally across the can.


A couple of Cherry Coke cans from Germany.

I came expecting an academic dissertation and leave feeling disappointed

Scholar TFU!

How is this German billboard for West cigarettes as a headspinner? Lipstick, gun, bike, gender bender attitude, its got it all.

I'm good with it as long as I get to be the BF-Gesundheitsminister.

I guess the guy in the background is supposed to be a suspect the cop lost interest in to have a smoke with the other dude. He should have quietly slipped away while they were not watching.

What exactly are they testing? Weird nonsense English copy and "American" scene photo in a German ad. On topic though, cuz there's a bike--think she keeps the stem bolts on?

He's sticking around waiting to be frisked.

Just order it with the optional Picatinny rail.

Since this thread is like a Seinfeld episode as its really about nothing, ill contribute to the gender part of the discussion and bring up the 1984 Univega catalog cover.
My wife saw it and at first sight commented on what she saw as selling sex since the woman is attractive and less than fully dressed. I pointed out that one of the guys is equally limited in clothing. Always funny how even women sometimes view men and women in athletic clothing differently where one is OK and the other is to attract attention.

Anyways, the Univega catalogs are always a good chuckle. The pictures are so hokey. Pretty sure what developed into hipster irony was alive and well back then. There is no way the pictures were taken without recognizing how campish they are.
Such well spec'd bikes and such terrible catalog pictures.


more from '83 and '84...

That's gold, Jerry! Gold!

When I was looking down the road to riding across country in the late 90s I was trying to decide between a self-contained trip and a supported one. I was a "cycling snob" back then and imagined every self-contained touring cyclist exactly like the guy pictured above (except with a Bell V1-Pro helmet), primarily because the few self-contained tourers I knew were that guy. No way I was going to become "that guy." Then I saw the prices and the long daily mileages of supported tours and opted to do a small, group self-contained tour. While preparing for it, I realized that I didn't have to become "that guy." Probably the best bike-related decision I ever made.

BTW...The roadie on the cover reminds of Zoolander. The goofy raquetball guy reminds me of David Brenner.

Cooking, repackaged as "grilling."

Notice in "Land Rover Five," the boy is actually looking longingly at... the single speed bike.

He's not looking at the girl in the red skirt?

Well, a boy's first love is a bike if not a dog.

Is the cute young guy in the red top holding squash or racquetball equipment? Goofy? I wish young fellows looked handsome, clean-shaven, tatt-free and had sexy longer-hair these days. The ugly bearded fellow in blue looks like many homeless guys here in Idaho today. No, David Brenner was not nearly as cute as the racquetball guy. By looking at the nose and the dark features this guy has to be Greek, Italian or jewish.

Are you trying to get banned?

Looks like it comes naturally to him. That was his 10th post, btw, so he might just be getting started.

I'm wondering if this account is a sock puppet with spudlives. 2 overwritten vacant first op from Idaho seems like a big coincidence.