Early Days of Advertising

1952 ad found in a Brooksvile magazine shows the efforts of cigarette manufacturers to allay the fears of consumers after it was proven that smoking causes cancer. Other manufacturers would also feature movie stars, recording artists and famous sports figures touting how safe they were

Advertising has always held a special place with me. I majored in Advertising/English at the University of Florida in 1968 and have been involved in it ever since. As a kid, I was always fascinated by commercials on TV and radio and jingles. Advertising gives us an idea as to how we lived in the past from the quack nostrums, automobiles, life styles and newer inventions at the time. It is a direct reflection on our American culture throughout history. You will find many fascinating ads in this issue, especially the prices.

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Thanks to the following for their contributions:

John White

George Allen, Jr.

Hernando Historical Society

Andrea Read

Christopher Rhodes

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1953 Florida Power ad. Reddy Kikilowatt was the mascot/spokesman.

1929 ads in the Brooksville Journal.

The Brooksville Hand Laundry was located on West Jefferson Street, before the old railroad tracks.

The Tamiami Cafe was where Main Street Eatery is today.

Two 1958 Brooksville realtor ads. You could buy a home on a 1 + acre corner lot for $3,300

1927 Brooksville ad. Mosquitoes were a plague on Floridians during the 1920's before air conditioning, mosquito trucks, and modern measures. Fly swatters, fly paper, sprays and liquid powders were the remedies against the mosquito bumps in the road of life in Florida. One man claims to have killed 32 mosquitoes one night in his room.

1910 Brooksville ad for the New York Racket Store

Here is the New York Racket Store on North Main from 1908 to 1912. It would later become Rogers Department Store. It was behind where Truist Bank is now.

1954 City Garage ad for the new '54 Chevrolet. City Garage was the ancestor of Register Chevrolet.

Iconic Dinah Shore Chevrolet commercial c. 1952-1953

1885 Cocaine Toothache Drops ad

1959 Brooksville ad for the new DaMac Estates just north of Brooksville. $300 sounds good! Sold!

1885 Brooksville ad in a local promotional brochure

1954 Publix ad. Publix was located on N. Brooksville Avenue

Brooksville ad for the new 1959 Ford trucks.

1950 advertising flyer for The Dixie Theatre. The flyer featured the Dixie on one side and the 41 Drive In on the other. Both owned by Howard Smith. Westerns were most popular but many big names like Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, Alan Ladd, Jimmy Cagney, John Wayne, Gene Autry, Tyrone Power and Ronald Reagan were featured as well.

1968 Neisner's ad. Old timers remember the popular store in Hernando Plaza.

1939 ad seen in local magazine. "Quick Henry! The Flit" was a popular advertising catchphrase for a bug killing pump spray.

1908 Brooksville ads in local paper

1929 ads in the Brooksville Journal - The Brooksville Hand Laundry was located on West Jefferson Street, before the old railroad tracks. The Tamiami Cafe was where Main Street Eatery is today.

1906 Brooksville ads

1966 ad for Jet Shoes, located at Brook Plaza