Smokers in films

[DancingSweetie]

In watching movies from the 30's and 40's I have noticed (besides the fact that everyone smoked) that when one lit a cigarette with a match, they just threw it right down on the ground - inside a house, hotel, or wherever. When they finished the cigarette they also threw that right down as well. Did people really do this?

 

[Feraud]

That is a good question. I always look for the tossed match in films.

 

[tallyho]

I have noticed the same thing. I have wondered it myself. I do know that most places did not have wall to wall carpeting then. bare floors were either wood or tile. area rugs were used, the more afluent, the more rugs. area rugs were made of wool then. Unlike todays nylons and other synthetic rugs, wool rugs do not catch on fire. a match or other buring item will only synge not burn (the scene in Indy/last Crusade with the burning carpet is impossible)

 

[Dixon Cannon]

Old smoker..

My Dad was an old smoker - Phillip Morris, unfiltered. I watched a lot of smoking as a kid. One thing to remember is most homes, hotels and public buildings had ashtrays everywhere. Many were free standing and had large bowls. Others rested on end tables and counters - they were plentiful! It might seem as though matches and butts were being thrown willy-nilly, but I'm betting there is an ashtray very close by.

My Dad used to talk about spitoons being as plentiful as ashtrays when he was younger too.

-dixon cannon

 

[scotrace]

Good point Dixon.

In The Maltese Falcon they toss smokes and matches all over the place.











.

 

[Benny Holiday]

They still do it here in Sydney

I was about to cross the road yesterday and saw the strip of dirt and grass between the pavement and the road was littered with cigarette butts, literally hundreds of them. The problem's got so bad that it's now a littering offence with a fine of (if I remember correctly) $200 if a smoker is caught throwing a butt down in the street.

 

[Nathan Dodge]

I still have the 1950s-era cigarette lighter and cigarette holder (holds about 20 cigs) that was left on the two-tiered coffee table in my grandparents' home. It was a part of the culture in a big way, with cigarettes even placed in WWII soldiers' K and C Rations, but I'm thinking it was prevalent before that, too.

Two more things:

Whatever happened to "Lucky Strikes" green wrapper? During WWII, the slogan was "Lucky Strike Green has gone to war", because the green dye was needed in war materials production, yet when the war ended, Luckys were still white. Does this mean that Lucky Strike Green was K.I.A? Just joking, but it did vanish!

Secondly, what ever happened to those "strike anywhere" matches? They seemed plentiful in the movies.

 

[DancingSweetie]

I guess I will start looking for the ashtrays next time I watch an old movie.

 

[scotrace]

Anyone know why they didn't go back to green?

You need Ohio "Strike Anyhwere" matches. They're in grocery stores here. They were called Ohio Blue Tip - but the tip is red now. Still by Diamond brands.

You can friction light them on the seam of your jeans, like a regular cowpoke!

 

[Nathan Dodge]

Anyone know why they didn't go back to green?

You need Ohio "Strike Anyhwere" matches. They're in grocery stores here. They were called Ohio Blue Tip - but the tip is red now. Still by Diamond brands.

You can friction light them on the seam of your jeans, like a regular cowpoke!

Glad to hear it! Although the jeans seam would be cool, I'm thinking thumbnail like Sterling Hayden in The Asphalt Jungle!

 

[Quigley Brown]

Someday...when I'm bored...I'm going to count how many cigarettes Robert Mitchum goes through in 'Out of the Past.' That one has to be the film with the most cigarettes smoked.

 

[magneto]

Someday...when I'm bored...I'm going to count how many cigarettes Robert Mitchum goes through in 'Out of the Past.' That one has to be the film with the most cigarettes smoked.

Funny, I was thinking the same thing after just watching "Young Man with a Horn" with Kirk Douglas

 

[LizzieMaine]

Actually, the "green ink as a vital war material" as a reason a change in the color of the Lucky Strike pack was a marketing gimmick more than anything else -- and it ended up costing American Tobacco the sponsorship of one of its most popular radio programs. The producer of "Information Please," then sponsored by Luckies, was so offended by the crassness of the commercials, that he refused to have anything more to do with the product and insisted that they cancel their contract.

The actual reason for the change was that American Tobacco marketing executives felt that the green pack was dowdy, and they wanted to give the product a more striking, modern look. In addition, there was some research suggesting that women smokers didn't like the green pack -- because it often clashed with their outfits (!)

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Boy am I glad I quit smoking!

It's very true that it was ubiquitous in movies as it was in real life. Everyone smoked! Everyone! It was like an essential part of a balanced diet or something. Even included in a GI's rations as was noted.
But now that I, and many others (?) have quit, it still seems like everyone smokes! Everywhere I go I'm dodging second hand smoke.
Smoking is one thing left over from the past that I sincerely wish we could leave in the past forever.

 

[Doh!]

I work with a few 20 and 30-somethings (I'm... older) who, if we go out for drinks after work, will step outside for a smoke every so often. Maybe it's wrong, but I always try to tell them, "You know those things cause cancer, right?"

 

[The Wolf]

random thoughts and responses

I thought Lucky Strikes stopped using green because copper was used to make the color and copper was needed for the war effort.
It seems as though everyone somed in the Golden Age. I find it interesting when a character, such as Doc Savage, doesn't smoke.

Even though I don't smoke, I have practiced lighting blue tips with my thumb nail. Sometimes part of the burning powder will go under my nail, it hurts like heck but looks cool.:eusa_doh: I still can't do it on my stubble or front teeth.lol

Sincerely,
The Wolf

 

[tallyho]

the untouchables

heres a really fun one to watch.
Kevin Costner has smoke in his hand quite often in the film. one of the pivatol scenes in the movie has him opening a book of matches to light a smoke. if you really pay attention, you will notice at no point does Costner actually take a drag and inhale. it is just a prop!

 

[Andykev]

Lucky Strike Green has Gone to War!

You are right! The company only had a three months supply of green ink, and instead of ordering new ink, they crafted a "marketing" slogan for the war effort.
An ingredient in the ink was used to protect wood on ships used in the war. Here is a very nice link with good color picture.

http://www.wclynx.com/burntofferings/adsluckystrikegreen.html

 

[Absinthe_1900]

Actually, the "green ink as a vital war material" as a reason a change in the color of the Lucky Strike pack was a marketing gimmick more than anything else -- and it ended up costing American Tobacco the sponsorship of one of its most popular radio programs. The producer of "Information Please," then sponsored by Luckies, was so offended by the crassness of the commercials, that he refused to have anything more to do with the product and insisted that they cancel their contract.

The actual reason for the change was that American Tobacco marketing executives felt that the green pack was dowdy, and they wanted to give the product a more striking, modern look. In addition, there was some research suggesting that women smokers didn't like the green pack -- because it often clashed with their outfits (!)

Plus Raymond Loewy probably got a nice sized check for redesigning the Lucky strike packaging.

 

[Twitch]

Dixon your comment about your Dad smoking and the ashtrays everywhere made my memory flash on those days. I recall the ornate ashtrays in many places. Even the public ones had personality. In peoples' homes were the type on fancy stands that rose to armchair level. Table lighters were everywhere. Cigarette cases on tables in homes were the norm as were pocket cases. Ashtrays that sat on coffee tables were a riot of color and shape too.

I know, i know, we're all much healthier now, right? lol