Hollywood Celebrities from the Golden Age endorsed many products
During the Golden Age of Hollywood the movie stars were under contract with a particular movie studio and were required to do all sorts of things to help promote the studio and the films they starred in.
The top 5 studios during this era were MGM, Paramount, RKO, Warner Brothers, and 20th Century Fox. These studios often required the celebrities to advertise or endorse many types of products as a way to also promote the movie. Unlike stars of today who sign on with a company to endorse, back then it was a requirement of the studio to do so.
Hollywood And the Whitmans Chocolate Sampler Ads
Many celebrities over the years were used in Whitman Chocolate Sampler ads to both promote the candy and the movie they were starring in at the time.
To the right is Robert Taylor in a Sampler ad from 1952 also promoting his movie Quo Vadis.
Bob Hope, Van Johnson, and Robert Young also advertised the Whitman's Sampler chocolates
Celebrity Robert Young Sells Whitmans Chocolate Sampler
Celebrity Gregory Peck Advertises Chesterfield Cigarettes in 1950
"A collection of old ads with Movie Stars is really pretty cool!"
Tobacco Companies Loved the Celebrities
A really easy place to find ads with the celebrities of the Golden Age of Hollywood is in old tobacco and cigarette ads. Movie stars were used frequently to endorse Camels, Chesterfield, and Lucky Strike cigarettes.
The stars would promote their favorite brand (or at least the studio said it was) along with their latest movie. I find more Chesterfield cigarette ads with the stars of movies, radio, and television than any other brand.
Just a few notable stars found in Tobacco Ads:
Arthur Godfrey, Rock Hudson, Eva Gabor, Alan Ladd, Jane Wyman, Gregory Peck, Rory Calhoun, Rise Stevens, Kirk Douglas, Dean Martin, Virginia Mayo, Anne Baxter, Alexis Smith, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard, Claudette Colbert, and Marlene Dietrich.
Product! What Product?
Most people don't remember the product being advertised. They just notice the celebrity endorsing it.
Actress Loretta Young in RC Cola Ad in 1947
Oddly enough, Coca Cola and Pepsi didn't seem too keen on the movie stars. Royal Crown Cola did want people to associate their brand of soft drinks with the stars and used them frequently.
Links to other Vintage Collectibles
Feel free to add links to your website, blog, or favorite lens about celebrities and vintage collectibles. Not to be unpleasant but if your link is not about celebrities or vintage collectibles, it will be removed.
Vintage Magazine Ads, ephemera, used books, back issue magazines
Retro advertising, greeting cards, old paper, ephe more...1 point
Candy, Gum, and Nuts Vintage Magazine Ads sold at The Paper Trail
Ads removed from vintage magazines promoting candy more...1 point
Chesterfield Cigarette Magazine Ads at The Paper Trail
Chesterfield Cigarettes made by Liggett and Myers more...1 point
Camel Cigarette Magazine Ads at The Paper Trail
Vintage magazine ads promoting Camel cigarettes fr more...1 point
Vintage Postcard Gallery
A personal collection of vintage postcards featuri more...1 point
Who is Shirley Temple?
Curls. Dimples. Dancer. Singer. Movie star. Mrs. B more...1 point
Vintage used books magazines postcards sheet music ephemera records Valentines.
Used rare collectible old books magazines sheet mu more...1 point
Cigarette Cards
Cigarette cards are trade cardsissued by tobacco m more...1 point
wood coffee table
Perfect place to keep some of our ad collection so more...1 point
Actor Gene Autry Advertises B F Goodrich in 1950
Golden Age of Hollywood Stars at Amazon
Clark Gable - The Signature Collection (Dancing Lady / China Seas / San Francisco / Wife vs. Secretary / Boom Town / Mogambo)
Amazon Price: $53.99 (as of 11/10/2009) 
To Kill a Mockingbird (Collector's Edition)
Amazon Price: $11.49 (as of 11/10/2009)
Quo Vadis (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 11/10/2009)
Cleopatra
Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 11/10/2009)
Movie and Television Stars in Advertising
Chocolate Companies missed their chance
I can't imagine why some Chocolate Company didn't use Lucille Ball and Vivien Vance to advertise their candy. What a missed opportunity!
Buy at AllPosters.com
Current Hollywood Celebrities
More Hollywood Celebrity Items at Amazon
The Snows of Kilimanjaro
Amazon Price: $17.99 (as of 11/10/2009)
Come September
Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 11/10/2009)
Young Man With a Horn
Amazon Price: (as of 11/10/2009)
Madigan
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 11/10/2009)
Celebrity Rating
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You Don't Have to be Vintage to Comment
Feel free to add your comments about your favorite celebrities, sites that you like, or just comment on the lens.
prosperity66 wrote...
Loved your lens! Tell me "vintage" and like dogs, my ears are moving up! Wow! Amazed by those beautiful pictures. 5stars from me, for sure!
Dom.
Posted September 08, 2009
Treasures-By-Brenda wrote...
Nicely done; hope these pages are a boost to your business!
Blessed.
Posted July 21, 2009
ZenyarisGallery wrote...
Great lens! 5 Stars and Favorite! Very nostalgic feeling after seen all these images! I don't like smoking, but love this new image for me of Gregory Peck! He is my Idol!:) Zenya
Posted July 03, 2009
fanfreluche wrote...
Love the Gregory Peck ad. I didn't realized he was so handsome...I only remember him from Moby Dick. I use vintage ads sometimes as cool inexpensive (not always) decoration pieces.
Posted June 09, 2009
About BevsPaper
Lensmaster BevsPaper, aka Bev Owens, has been a member since June 18 2008, has rated 2,850 lenses, favorited 329, and has created 123 lenses from scratch. Bev Owens donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "He Chose Suicide". See all my lenses
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Copyright: October 8, 2008 by BevsPaper (Beverly Owens)
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