The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I could hardly believe it when I came upon this cigarette advertisement featuring both Elsie Carlisle, queen of the double entendre, and Dame Clara Butt, symbol of the glory of a Britain on whose empire the sun never set. Some people would have been shocked to learn that Dame Clara smoked cigarettes, let alone endorsed them. I doubt that she needed the money.

I love ads like this! Back then, I think it was more like if you didn't smoke you were in the minority. It's fun going through the online newspaper archives and seeing those ads, though.

Sean (Now cigarette and vape-free for 1.5 years after 30 years...ugh)

Here is another celebrated singer who should have known better :

epigramophone wrote:Here is another celebrated singer who should have known better :

...but it was protecting his throat...

Pretty amazing what claims were made back in the days. Arsenic in children's medicine, lead, cigarettes that protect, and so on. Makes one wonder if these companies didn't know or if they knew and tried to deceive?

Thanks for sharing these.

Andreas

It does seem shocking with what we know these days. But, nearly all opera singers seemed to have been smokers. Here are a few ads I have collected.

Camel straights were my preferred smoke for awhile too, when I was a smoker. I liked Camels generally. Don't miss 'em now.

Jeez, next time I have a sore throat do I buy Luckies or Camels?
-bill

I don't believe that most of these opera singers smoked. They made the ads for the money. I don't think you could smoke a pack or more a day and still sing opera, but I'm not an expert as I've never smoked. My brother and his friends are not smokers, but on their birthdays they usually buy some good cigars and smoke. They always offer me one, and sometimes I'm tempted, buy I chicken out. I guess I'm afraid of getting addicted. Unlike cigarettes, I like the smell of a cigar if it's in the distance outside. Congrats to Sean for quitting a very tough addiction. It must have been hard!

Listening to Caruso one would never suspect that this is the voice of a heavy smoker, who reputedly got through 80 strong cigarettes a day.
It is said that he refused to sign contracts with any opera houses which would not allow him to smoke between acts.

So I've heard as well. Caruso would smoke in the wings when he didn't have to be onstage.