Blackface comedy

A minstrel show is an American form of entertainment where black people are portrayed in a way that is comical to a white audience. Truly racist entertainment.

Remember the black people in "Uncle Tom's Cabin" or "Tom Sawyer"? That's some of the stereotypes: funny and incompetent black people.

The ad here gives you the chance to learn it and you even get your own black person makeup. If you did this today you'll end up in jail. Or shot. Or both.

"Minstrels", 1930
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Forgiving women

Old advertisements are an incredible tool for understanding the cultural norms and rules accepted by society.

Back in 1946, you could get away with an ad, in a nation-wide magazine, with the tagline:

"Forgive Her, she's only a woman."

The rest of the ad is just as "balanced" -women are portrayed as finicky fumbling creatures that can't be trusted.

From our perspective, it seems like the world before the sixties was not as fun or attractive. Sanforised or not.

"Forgive her", 1946
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Baby defends with gun

Is this for real? This baby is protecting his cotton buds with a gun. And he looks angry as well.

"Warning to grownups", 1957
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It's really hard to think of a positive message with this ad -shooting people for using your toiletries is just not nice. Especially when they're close family.