Tareyton, Raleigh, Viceroy, Kent, Old Gold, Chesterfield and L&M were once familiar names in American tobacco advertising, but many of these brands have since faded from everyday life. Tareyton became famous for its “rather fight than switch” campaign, with advertisements showing smokers wearing a fake black eye to emphasize brand loyalty.

Raleigh stood out for its famous coupons, which smokers could collect and redeem through catalogs for household goods, appliances and other prizes. Viceroy became an early pioneer of filtered cigarettes and relied heavily on celebrity-driven advertising, while Kent promoted its Micronite filter as a major innovation. The campaign later became infamous after the original filters were found to contain asbestos.

Old Gold was another major name during the golden age of radio and television advertising, remembered for its enormous dancing-cigarette-pack promotions. Chesterfield was one of America’s biggest-selling brands during the 1950s and 1960s, with advertisements featuring celebrities and entertainment personalities. L&M, meanwhile, became particularly recognizable for its catchy television jingles and memorable advertising campaigns.

These brands offer a fascinating glimpse into how dramatically American advertising and consumer culture have changed. Cigarette companies once dominated radio, television and print advertising, using celebrities, slogans, prizes and even claims about health to build brand loyalty. After federal restrictions ended cigarette advertising on American television and radio in 1971, the visibility of many once-famous brands gradually declined. Some disappeared entirely, while others survived as much smaller names in the tobacco market.