From the Curator
Warning: This story contains a racial slur but it accurately depicts the prejudice of the day.Chesterfield in the World War I era
The portrait of a handsome man in a Chesterfield coat lighting up a Chesterfield cigarette was in vogue. This kind of upscale advertising boosted Chesterfield sale past number two, Lucky Strike. Lucky Strike was in direct competition with Camel cigarettes. But Camel knew of an underhanded campaign which would handle the upstart Chesterfield.
In a crowded room, public place, banquet or hotel lobby, a man would reach for his cigarettes. "Darn, I'm out," he would say.
"Here, have a Chesterfield," his friend would say.
"No thanks, I don't smoke those nigger cigarettes," the first smoker replied.
If fifty people were present and half of them smoked Chesterfield, few if any, would show their smokes. Chesterfield dropped to number three in sales.
More black Americans smoked Chesterfield than any other cigarette until World War II.
John Dudley
Owner & Curator from 1967 - 2004
H.F.A.A.C.A.
Roaring Twenties Antique Car Museum copyr. 2000 - 2010
Roaring Twenties copyr. 2000 - 2010