Doctors Recommend
Smoking Camels
"According to a nationwide survey:
More doctors smoke Camels than any other cigarette."
Lincoln, Me. (DG)---
As you all know, cigarette smoking is a very touchy and controversial
subject. The subject matter of this article may be appalling with some of
you, but since it was used in radio advertising, this article will report
for its advertising information only--- and not a
recommendation by anyone for anyone to start smoking.
Before the rumors of smoking and health became reality, people smoked
cigarettes for a number of reasons. Some reasons for smoking were
cigarettes assisted in the digestion of food; cigarettes helped the smoker
to relax; and it was fashionable to smoke. Since there were so many brands
to choose from in the late 1940’s, smokers wondered what brand the
doctors recommended over the others. They got their answer on NBC’s
MYSTERY IN THE AIR.
 Announcer Michael Roy stated that three independent research organizations
conducted a nationwide poll with doctors, surgeons, and specialists in
every branch of medicine. 113,597 doctors in all participated in this
poll. The brand of cigarette the doctors named most often was Camel.
To prove it was worthy of the doctors’ recommendation, Camel
introduced the "T-Zone." In all honesty, every human
being, smoker and non-smoker alike, has a T-Zone-- although they never
knew it was named as such. Most people would call it their mouth and
throat. For those people who smoked, the T-Zone was very important. It
was the proving ground as to what cigarette provided the combination
of good taste and a smooth smoke. Since more doctors recommended Camels
for this very reason, it made a lot of sense for the people to
take the doctors’ advice and smoke Camels as well.
The doctors’ recommendation of Camels lasted until
the early 1950’s--- when the first rumblings about smoking and heath
were beginning to surface. It was only a matter of time before the
doctors, who originally recommended Camel, began to publicly
distance themselves from any positive advertising for Camel
and any other cigarette brand.
In conclusion, this advertising was a sign of the times. Today, it
is a combination of laughable and appalling. Back then, it was just
the latest promotion to sell Camel Cigarettes.
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