Times Square and Central Park attract tourists to New York City in droves, but what were the most exciting sights back in the 1900s? Well, steak houses, famous dance halls and of course the theatre district! Thanks to our find of a 1919-ish program from Cranin's 46th Street Theatre, we're exploring back in the day versus today, for NYC tourists.
You don't see cigarette ads anymore. That's of course due to the many sorts of bans on tobacco advertising put in place over the years, but for the health benefits we've gained from decreased cigarette visibility, we tend to think that the world has missed out on some excellent graphic design. In the early 1900s, when theatre-goers sat down in their plush seats for a play or musical, tobacco was likely very much on their mind (and it stayed like this even through the 1960s). To smoke during, before or after or all of the above? The slick ads inside the program only intensified the desire.
In the New York of 2011, you'd be swiftly ushered out and possibly banned from a theatre after lighting up, not to mention fined if the establishment wants to play by the rule. No more explanations of a brand's colonial history, or odd testimonials from a famous black face performer; these ads firmly belong in the past.
Check out more of our vintage NYC travel ads here.
[Credit: Cranin's 46th Street Theatre program]
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