DOWNEY — There are many benefits in volunteering at the Downey History Center – I get to engage with the community, educate myself in all aspects of history, empower my knowledge by being able to look at all reference books, newspapers and magazines, and it keeps me inspired by learning about my history.

Looking at an advertisement for Lucky Strike Cigarettes from Dec. 14, 1935, I find that it says “Luckies are easy on my throat” as stated by Santa Claus. “There are no finer tobaccos than those used in Luckies, and Luckies’ process is your throat protection against irritation…against cough.”

Where there’s smoke…some of us recall ashtrays were being made by children for dad and mom when the world had many people who were smoking. Who knew that Jack Benny was giving (yes, giving) cartons of Luckies to a few close friends.  This fun fact was learned by reading The Saturday Evening Post (November 2020). Jack Benny’s ad was from Dec. 6, 1958.

The thrill that comes twice in a lifetime

The following is an ad for Electrolux: The Gas Refrigerator from Dec. 5, 1931:

“A gift that saves money instead of costing money. What’s a woman at Christmas time but a little girl grown up? Tickled to pieces with a toy refrigerator when she’s little; even more thrilled with an Electrolux when she’s big. There’s a special sort of ‘Christmas magic’ about Electrolux. This refrigerator is so dramatically new, different and improved. Its luxury just naturally wins a woman’s heart, while its economy appeals to her reason.

“Think of it – no machinery or moving parts to wear. Frost cold, quick-freezing ice cubes, always. Absolutely, permanently silent. Costs less to operate than any other refrigerator. Refrigerant hermetically sealed in rigid steel, needs no renewal. Liberal purchase terms.

“Place your Christmas order now. At your gas company’s showrooms, you’ll see models ranging in size from tiny affairs for two people, up to huge mansion size.

“Complete information by mail if you wish. Electrolux Refrigerator Sales, Inc., Evansville, Indiana.”

The Facts of Wife

“Ideal gifts for the high priestess of home and earth? Why, more cherished tools of her trade – vacuums, dishwashers, refrigerators – of course. Let your wife come into the living room from the kitchen to see the new automatic Electric Dishwashers being advertised on the television. Everybody’s pointing to Hotpoint.” – ad from Dec. 2, 1950.

“Half-way House Cleaning Ends Dec. 25” – ad from Dec. 2, 1939.

These are ads from holidays you will never see again. Just a flashback to a simpler time when marketers presented a world in which dads and little boys care only for having fun, moms want nothing more than a clean house, and Santa is smoking.

An ad for Textron Menswear dated Dec. 1, 1948 shows “Big Boys, Little Boys.” They’re all the same wearing pajamas, playing cowboys and Indians.

I’m having so much fun volunteering at the historical society.

Bobbi Bruce is a docent with the Downey Historical Society.