What cigarette's got the most on the ball? Well, you can tell that with your eyes closed. For when Old Gold stepped into the box in the third inning of the Blindfold Test, I said without a moment's hesitation that it was smoother milder than any of the three brands.
This ad features a testimonial from Baseball Hall-of-Famer Lou Gehrig (1903-1941). He was most well-known for his position first baseman for the New York Yankees (1923-1929). Gehrig held the record for most consecutive games played (2,130 games, a 14-year streak) until Cal Ripkin, Jr., shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles, broke the record in 1995. The Yankees won the World Series in 1927 and 1928, which would have made everyone abuzz with talk of Lou Gehrig. Many companies sought Lou Gehrig to endorse their products, and he provided testimonials for countless products ranging from cereal to shaving cream; his mother was even enlisted to endorse a baking powder brand. Aside from his endorsement of Old Gold, Gehrig also provided a number of testimonials for Camel cigarettes in 1935 and 1937. In this particular Old Gold ad, Lou Gehrig is shown performing a “blindfold cigarette test,” during which he says, “it was smoother…milder… than any of the other three brands.” Gehrig’s athleticism also speaks to Old Golds being healthy, further supported by the “Not a Cough in a Carload” slogan at the bottom of the ad. Gehrig was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), today often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 1938, and passed away as a result in 1941 at the age of 37. Smoking has been shown to contribute to the development of ALS: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/737934.
Cough, Health, Throat
