When did the smoking stop - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Tankeryanker · 01-16-2021, 10:12 PM

I know that in FKB, Young briefly smoked in the first few episodes. Other than that, there is no smoking in LTB, FKB, A-12, Emergency, BBunch, etc.

I thought people were still smoking in the 60s and 70s. What gives with the shows or had people started to quit smoking earlier?

GentlemanJim · 01-16-2021, 10:28 PM

Andy Griffith smoked onscreen. So did Joey Bishop if I correctly recall. le beau was shown to smoke from time to time on hogan's heroes, with his european "backwards" style of holding the cigarette.

I think that the use of cigarettes on screen closely paralleled the control and prohibition of cigarette advertising on TV.
It went into decline starting around 1967, and had almost completely vanished by 1971.

Here is some background:

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/...-1-1970-489882

GentlemanJim · 01-16-2021, 10:33 PM

Carolyn Jones as Morticia on the Addams Family occasionally smoked on screen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYji3a_pPSk

And, of course, we all know that Barbara Eden smoked when starring on I Dream of Jeannie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfnTTcVdaog

GentlemanJim · 01-16-2021, 10:44 PM

On a more serious note, Phyllis Diller had her long stemmed cigarette holder in "The Pruitts of Southampton" into the color era:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--fk7HzTipI

I'd love to see this show again.
One of Richard Deacon's lesser known roles.

stevea · 01-16-2021, 11:36 PM

Pruitts would be a good pickup for Antenna TV. To replace the 7th or 8th repeats of Paul Lynde.

On smoking (other than Jim smoking in episode 1, and the original Kent-sponsored opener), FKB showed the eccentric wife of Jim's friend smoked in season 2. Also in season 2 Bud got sick smoking cigars with his friend Joe.

But I imagine the shows got letters on smoking. As for Beaver, they didn't even approach the subject, other than Mr. Gregory (Kathy's, the girl who fell in the fountain, father) telling Wally to smoke if he wanted to (he didn't, of course).

GentlemanJim · 01-17-2021, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

But I imagine the shows got letters on smoking. As for Beaver, they didn't even approach the subject, other than Mr. Gregory (Kathy's, the girl who fell in the fountain, father) telling Wally to smoke if he wanted to (he didn't, of course).

You were posting in another thread about recycled plots that were used in multiple series.

Seems as though I've seen a "son finds father's pipe and makes self sick" storyline get used in multiple shows, but can't recall now which they were.

MISST3 · 01-17-2021, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

Pruitts would be a good pickup for Antenna TV. To replace the 7th or 8th repeats of Paul Lynde.

On smoking (other than Jim smoking in episode 1, and the original Kent-sponsored opener), FKB showed the eccentric wife of Jim's friend smoked in season 2. Also in season 2 Bud got sick smoking cigars with his friend Joe.

But I imagine the shows got letters on smoking. As for Beaver, they didn't even approach the subject, other than Mr. Gregory (Kathy's, the girl who fell in the fountain, father) telling Wally to smoke if he wanted to (he didn't, of course).

Don't forget on LITB, Marlene Holmes's smoking scenes, cementing the fact that she and Wally were operating, in entirely different leagues . . or galaxies.

stevea · 01-17-2021, 10:19 AM

Right, and there was Larry and Beaver improvising on smoking the pipe that Fred sent to Ward.

GentlemanJim · 01-17-2021, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

Right, and there was Larry and Beaver improvising on smoking the pipe that Fred sent to Ward.

Did the Wardster actually smoke? That's not the kind of mistake that a long term co-worker would make.

stevea · 01-17-2021, 11:08 AM

No, just Larry and Beaver--I don't think they actually showed it -- just preparing to do it, and dissolve to the result -- sick.

GentlemanJim · 01-17-2021, 11:09 AM

Of course, smoking on-screen did not stop entirely in 1971. You had detective Ron Harris on Barney Miller late 1970's, the George Peppard character on the A-Team in the early 80s, and Peggy Bundy's infamous cigarette butt in the salad in the late 80s I'm sure there were more.

But by that time I think cigarettes were mostly used as a prop to enhance aspects of questionable personality or moral turpitude.

stevea · 01-17-2021, 11:13 AM

Right, just the ads were banned. Now if they would ban attorney, drug company, and Medicare ads, the world would be a better place.

GentlemanJim · 01-17-2021, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

No, just Larry and Beaver--I don't think they actually showed it -- just preparing to do it, and dissolve to the result -- sick.

Well, that's not what I really was getting at. I know that Ward never smoked on camera. But if Fred, a long time cohort.... gifted a pipe to Ward, that's not the kind of thing you would give someone unless you knew they would appreciate it.

Ward must have been at minimum an "alleged" smoker.

Which surprises me. Especially since he has NEVER been in a bar, ever. (the "squeaky clean" aspect to his character)

GentlemanJim · 01-17-2021, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

Right, just the ads were banned. .

But, the portrayal of smoking on camera, as a positive attribute, tapered off at about the same time frame as the advertising ban.

GentlemanJim · 01-17-2021, 12:22 PM

One thing that catches my attention is how when Sheriff Taylor does light a cigarette, often he takes just a couple puffs, and then puts the cigarette out. Not many smokers I know will do that, except under unusual circumstances.

In the same vein, on shows such as Gunsmoke, two characters will meet in the street, and one will say "wanna get a drink?" So they go in the bar, order drinks, exchange a few words.....the drinks arrive and they take one sip out of the drink, put the over half full glass down on the bar or table...and walk out.

Makes me wonder if there might have been some advertiser incentive involved, to show the beloved cast members enjoying a smoke, or a drink, that the TV viewer might emulate?

01-16-2021, 10:12 PM	#1
Tankeryanker Do you like my monkey picture? Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 22, 2014 Posts: 3,051	When did the smoking stop I know that in FKB, Young briefly smoked in the first few episodes. Other than that, there is no smoking in LTB, FKB, A-12, Emergency, BBunch, etc. I thought people were still smoking in the 60s and 70s. What gives with the shows or had people started to quit smoking earlier?

01-16-2021, 10:28 PM	#2
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	Andy Griffith smoked onscreen. So did Joey Bishop if I correctly recall. le beau was shown to smoke from time to time on hogan's heroes, with his european "backwards" style of holding the cigarette. I think that the use of cigarettes on screen closely paralleled the control and prohibition of cigarette advertising on TV. It went into decline starting around 1967, and had almost completely vanished by 1971. Here is some background: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/...-1-1970-489882

01-16-2021, 10:33 PM	#3
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	Carolyn Jones as Morticia on the Addams Family occasionally smoked on screen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYji3a_pPSk And, of course, we all know that Barbara Eden smoked when starring on I Dream of Jeannie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfnTTcVdaog

01-16-2021, 10:44 PM	#4
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	On a more serious note, Phyllis Diller had her long stemmed cigarette holder in "The Pruitts of Southampton" into the color era: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--fk7HzTipI I'd love to see this show again. One of Richard Deacon's lesser known roles.

01-16-2021, 11:36 PM	#5
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,910	Pruitts would be a good pickup for Antenna TV. To replace the 7th or 8th repeats of Paul Lynde. On smoking (other than Jim smoking in episode 1, and the original Kent-sponsored opener), FKB showed the eccentric wife of Jim's friend smoked in season 2. Also in season 2 Bud got sick smoking cigars with his friend Joe. But I imagine the shows got letters on smoking. As for Beaver, they didn't even approach the subject, other than Mr. Gregory (Kathy's, the girl who fell in the fountain, father) telling Wally to smoke if he wanted to (he didn't, of course).

01-17-2021, 10:19 AM	#8
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,910	Right, and there was Larry and Beaver improvising on smoking the pipe that Fred sent to Ward.

01-17-2021, 11:08 AM	#10
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,910	No, just Larry and Beaver--I don't think they actually showed it -- just preparing to do it, and dissolve to the result -- sick.

01-17-2021, 11:09 AM	#11
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	Of course, smoking on-screen did not stop entirely in 1971. You had detective Ron Harris on Barney Miller late 1970's, the George Peppard character on the A-Team in the early 80s, and Peggy Bundy's infamous cigarette butt in the salad in the late 80s I'm sure there were more. But by that time I think cigarettes were mostly used as a prop to enhance aspects of questionable personality or moral turpitude.

01-17-2021, 11:13 AM	#12
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,910	Right, just the ads were banned. Now if they would ban attorney, drug company, and Medicare ads, the world would be a better place.

01-17-2021, 12:22 PM	#15
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	One thing that catches my attention is how when Sheriff Taylor does light a cigarette, often he takes just a couple puffs, and then puts the cigarette out. Not many smokers I know will do that, except under unusual circumstances. In the same vein, on shows such as Gunsmoke, two characters will meet in the street, and one will say "wanna get a drink?" So they go in the bar, order drinks, exchange a few words.....the drinks arrive and they take one sip out of the drink, put the over half full glass down on the bar or table...and walk out. Makes me wonder if there might have been some advertiser incentive involved, to show the beloved cast members enjoying a smoke, or a drink, that the TV viewer might emulate?