# Cigarette brands that used to be popular, but which are now rare or nonexistent **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 14, 2009, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933 "2009-07-14T02:32:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933/61 "2009-07-18T17:04:47Z")
> [@Mr\_Buttons](#): > > Oh, Benson & Hedges are another I just remembered as typing this. That’s all I smoke. Popular in Canada, and as far as I know, the UK. I had a hard time finding them in the States (not a super hard time, but had to hit a few stores). They tasted different there too. But also less than half the price (over $12 a pack here), so I couldn’t complain too much. ---
**Author:** ![hellpaso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@hellpaso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellpaso)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933/62 "2009-07-19T15:22:43Z")
In the mid-eighties there was a brand called “Ritz” that was a supposedly “designer” cig and it had a satin thingie on the filter. I think it was “designed” by YSL. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933/63 "2009-07-19T18:10:35Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Tareytons. They used to have ads with pictures of Tareyton smokers all beaten up, reading “I’d rather fight than switch!” I guess they finally got quashed. “Tareyton’s got a charcoal tip and it’s got a white one, too. Together they improve that great tobacco taste for you. Get the cigarette with the taste worth fighting for…join the 'unswitchables! Smoke Tareytons!” Why yes, I did smoke Tareyton for a while! ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933/64 "2009-07-19T19:53:44Z")
I worked at a pharmacy checkout counter when I was in High School in 1977. Price for a pack of cigs: 50¢ including tax. In addition to the regular display (rack thingie that would hold an entire carton’s worth, so one brand per column), there were a few rarely-requested brands in a “leftover” box under the counter. Among these were (many already mentioned): Old Gold Philip Morris Kool unfiltered Chesterfields Twist \<—— lemon menthol :eek: Raleigh Old Something-else (??) ETA: Marlboro Menthol Some other obscure menthol in a blue pack, started wtih an “A” (??) ---
**Author:** ![Skylark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Skylark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skylark)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933/65 "2009-07-19T19:56:21Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > 101’s, “a silly millimeter longer” > BTW, Camels are not sold in the Middle East. FWIW when I was in Iraq I would see “Ali’s Totally Legitimate Shoppe”-type places sell cartons of Camels for $15. These were probably European cartons sold to cater to Americans, however, rather than a “real” tobacconist further in the city. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933/66 "2009-07-19T22:15:09Z")
I don’t actually remember Old Golds, but I have a cool poster featuring W.C. Fields and the quote, “Even a sword-swallower needs the throat-ease of Old Gold.” ---
**Author:** ![norvalnormal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f19dbf/32.png) [@norvalnormal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norvalnormal)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933/67 "2009-07-19T22:59:22Z")
Ye gods, how could I forget Old Golds? Yes, they were my go-to U.S. filtered cigarettes for a while in the ‘70s, with a distinctive (pls forgive the copywriters’ jargon) “sweet and mellow” taste Red Skelton helmed NBC’s “Avalon Time,” sponsored by the long-defunct eponymous budget ciggie brand, beginning in 1939, 2 years before he started shilling for Raleighs. I recall a single Raleigh smoker in college, and lots of jokes about whether he’d eventually be able to buy an iron lung w/all those “coupons” he came into possession of … ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933/68 "2009-07-19T23:55:45Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > 101’s, “a silly millimeter longer” > BTW, Camels are not sold in the Middle East. I thought that was L&M’s that advertized ‘a silly millimeter longer’. Stood for Ligget and Meyers, a tobacco company. Lucky Strike used to say, ‘Tobacco is our middle name’, owned of course by the American Tobacco Co. Wings was a brand I used to try; you could buy them only at Thrifty Drug Stores out here in CA. ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933/69 "2009-07-20T00:06:49Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > When I worked in a convenience store, we had a few smokers who would come in every day, and get their own oddball brands of ciggies. Marlboro Green, for instance, or Blue Max. I don’t know why they didn’t just buy the damn carton and be done with it. We almost never sold those oddball brands to anyone else. But it was a steady source of revenue for us. Ya never know, maybe they enjoyed your company. I used to do that for about 5 years I bought one pack a day thinking why buy a carton when I’m quitting next week. I finally did quit, it’s been 8 years now. So, you never know, some people have strange reasons. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933/70 "2009-07-20T00:27:12Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > I worked at a pharmacy checkout counter when I was in High School in 1977. > > Price for a pack of cigs: 50¢ including tax. > > In addition to the regular display (rack thingie that would hold an entire carton’s worth, so one brand per column), there were a few rarely-requested brands in a “leftover” box under the counter. Among these were (many already mentioned): > > Old Gold > Philip Morris > Kool unfiltered > Chesterfields > Twist \<—— lemon menthol :eek: > Raleigh > Old Something-else (??) > > ETA: Marlboro Menthol > Some other obscure menthol in a blue pack, started wtih an “A” (??) Alpines? ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933/71 "2009-07-20T02:56:57Z")
> [@wmulax93](#): > > My dad smoked Bel-Airs for the decades, up until the doctor put a stent in his heart and ordered him to quit. He is the only person I’ve ever seen smoking Bel-Air cigarettes. I have an uncle who has chained smoked Bel-Airs all his life. He must go through 4 packs a day. He’ll be 80 next year. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933/72 "2009-07-20T04:14:05Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Alpines? Not if their packs have always looked more or less like [this](http://www.cigaretteshopping.info/alpine-full.jpg). I’m remembering a blue pack (sky blue, perhaps with clouds, like the right-hand side of the Bel Air design) and with a long tall sans serif “A” ---
**Author:** ![MickNickMaggies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/59ef9b/32.png) [@MickNickMaggies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MickNickMaggies)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933/73 "2009-07-20T10:39:02Z")
> [@King\_Bobo](#): > > The Players my folks favoured were in a white packet with a somewhat naval theme with an anchor and ropes/lanyard and possibly a sailor figure. They were what was then called “untipped” which meant they had no filter (I think). > > This was a very long time ago, my folks expired when I was young and my memories are a bit dim. [![](http://members.shaw.ca/carads/wanted/players.JPG) ](http://members.shaw.ca/carads/wanted/players.JPG) my fiance has the (mis)fortune of being gifted with an empty packet of these nearly every Christmas by his 73-year-old aunt. We’re 28, and he looks like the sailor. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933/74 "2009-07-20T12:25:07Z")
In the UK. Passing Cloud, in a pink pack and they were oval, the cigs not the pack Park Drive and Park Drive Tipped Capstan and Capstan Full Strength…my dad smoked the latter and died of emphysema Domino, 4 in a pack…that’s right 4 Turf, tasted like it too Players Weights Woodbines…without which the Tommies in both World Wars would have been furious Joysticks…huge rascals in various colours, normally handed out at parties ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933/75 "2009-07-20T13:44:48Z")
Caaaaaaaaaalll for Phiiiiiiiiiiiiilllllllllliiiiiiiiiiiipp Moooooooooorriiiiss! I remember most of the brands listed here. Had sisters and aunts that smoked Eve, More, Virginia Slims, 101’s and every other skinny cig marketed to women in the 70’s. Every one of them took strong lungs to smoke. For a summer back then my favorite was [Tramps](http://www.cigarettespedia.com/index.php/Tramps_%28design_1%29_%28The_Gentle_Smoke_Menthol%29_KS-20-S_-_USA). Tasted like crap and menthol to boot, but they had a cool logo of Charlie Chaplin’s Little Tramp on them. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933/76 "2009-07-20T14:58:52Z")
My brother and my sister-in-law both love Old Gold cigarettes, which they can apparently only get in Montana. ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933/77 "2009-07-20T20:39:51Z")
I remember when [Richlands](http://www.cigarettespedia.com/index.php/Richland_KS-25-S_-_USA) first came out in the mid eighties, 25 to a pack. I had a paper route, and one sunday there was a coupon for a free pack in the shinies, so of course I smoked free for several months. They tasted like rolled up cardboard shavings. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933/78 "2009-07-20T20:50:33Z")
As an aside, I recall when I was stationed in Germany in the early 1990’s that there was a distinct difference in flavor between American Marlboros and German ones. The German ones tasted like shit, and strangely only had 19 per pack instead of the usual 20. They even had cigarette machines on street corners there, which I thought interesting. Not surprisingly, there was a pretty big black market for American Marlboros. There were always a few guys running around the barracks getting their non-smoking buddies to hand over their ration cards so they could buy cartons to resell to Germans. IIRC the ration card stipulated four cartons a month. It also restricted the amount of alcohol, coffee, tea and solubles you could buy, although I think the alcohol part of it was only for hard liquour. A carton of cigs was $6.75 at the PX then, and according to these guys they would get about 35-40 dm per carton for them, which at the time was right about $20 USD. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933/79 "2009-07-20T21:16:10Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > When we were teenagers, my friends and I called them “Vagina Slimes”. …or Ginnie Skinnies. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933/80 "2009-07-20T21:21:00Z")
Players No 6 - they were tiny little filter tip cigarettes. The newsagent’s shop near my school used to sell them singly to the schoolkids under the counter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-brands-that-used-to-be-popular-but-which-are-now-rare-or-nonexistent/502933.md?page=5)