Cut it out, you fool.
 

http://i.imgur.com/m39qQ.jpg
Zion, Illinois, ca. 1915

*found on reddit.com*

Oh how things in Zion have changed. I live not too far south of there.

Zion is the place that used the horizon over Lake Michigan as evidence that the earth is flat. So if you are going to smoke, flick your ashes over the horizon.

That's It!
 

I'm packing up the family and moving to Zion! I wish more people still thought that way about smoking. I agree with that sign 100%.

Don't knock the smokers, we are paying for the rest of you all's social security!

Bob

Funny how you don't see any signs condemning the use of methamphetamine in the Zion area.

great photo!
 

What a nice classic photo!
I can only wish some one kicked my butt to stop smoking 30 years ago! Alas, I met my wife after that and stopped smoking after some damage was done.
I always enjoy seeing these type of photographs. The stop drinking are common compared to the stop smoking theme.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful piece of history.
Bill Hedin
P S : Again, thanks to ALL OF YOU for your kind words through posts, emails and phone calls. You are all truly a wonderful group of people and I am proud to call you all my friends.

I bought a stack of Life magazines a week or so back and have slowly been reading through them...there was one article in I believe a 1938 issue showing women the proper way to smoke...it was not an advertisement, but an actual article on the dos and don'ts of smoking.

If it wasn't for all of the smokers back then (and all of the cigarette mfgs. competing for their business), there would be a lot fewer cards for us to collect now....:)

Good point Tom.

I think the smokers may have had it easy just looking at a billboard....imagine having a drink in a bar and having this lady show up to wreak havoc.......

looks like
 

Sort of looks like Ty Cobb in drag :p.

My wife and I were talking about smoking yesterday (she is a smoker, outside only though) and how, when we were growing up, folks smoked in houses all the time. My parents did and I bet a lot of other baby boomer's parents did. It almost makes me puke just thinking about it. I have a few stories about smoking but need to have some drinks in me for the full effect. I will wait for the National Dinner to divulge those... BTW, great original post and sign!!

Besides coffee, there`s nothing like firing up that 1st stoggie of the day.....ahhhhhhhhhh nice.

It's interesting to see signs posted like this dated from around 1915, yet 40 years after discussions about how nasty smoking habits are (were), that there were still commercials promoting smoking to kids.

Below is the YouTube link to the 1950's Flintstones cigarette commercial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYvOgnabABU&feature=fvst

Flintstones debuted in 1960, so that was early 60's. Insidious nonetheless.

When the showed first aired it was written for and marketed to adults.

I still remember the Marlboro Man and all the Virginia slim commercial.

Used to think that caffeine and nicotine made a complete protein and that I would live forever. Smoked my last Camel twenty years ago. I am at an age now where all those tasty little carcinogens would be coming home to roost. Still like to stand downwind from all the smokers, however, when I'm having that first cuppa joe. Ahhhhh!