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Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco (1950)

A musical short illustrating how Lucky Strike chooses and processes tobacco. Features Frank Sinatra, Kay Kaiser and more.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Sponsor: Lucky Strike
Audio/Visual: sound, b/w
Keywords: need keyword

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: bgrauman - - November 27, 2009
Subject: The Sponsor Has Its Say...
This promotional film was produced in 1943, at the time American Tobacco sponsored "YOUR HIT PARADE" (starring Frank Sinatra, who appeared on and off the show, through 1949) and "KAY KYSER'S KOLLEGE OF MUSICAL KNOWLEDGE" {part variety/part comedy quiz show, with the majority of their contestants being servicemen during World War II} on network radio. The narrator is one of Lucky Strike's more prominent announcers during this period (on "YOUR HIT PARADE"), Kenny Delmar, who became best known as "Senator Claghorn" on Fred Allen's radio show a few years later. The famous tobacco auctioneer heard at the beginning of the film is one of two who were heard on all Lucky Strike-sponsored radio shows during the '40s, L.A. "Speed" Riggs [the other was F.E. Boone].

A valuable piece of recorded history concerning how a major cigarette was manufactured and promoted, and HOW it was promoted...

Reviewer: Mr.Sinatra - - July 2, 2006
Subject: yeah and?
i just thought you'd like to know that Mr. Sinatra smokes Camels.

Reviewer: KRTisME - - January 4, 2005
Subject: Sinatra
This is a very typical piece of the day. The sponsor, this time Lucky Strike would have Sinatra on contract as it was commonplace in that day for the sponsor to underwrite the star's radio program. In return the star would normally do odd bits of advertising work, sometimes this would be on radio or in the form of a short. Rather than a sell-out to the highest bidder it was an industry standard at the time. Now the advertising and sponsorship of programs are not connected.

Reviewer: cashel - - March 9, 2004
Subject: propaganda
Why not extract the music items and send to the Open Source Movies..Sinatra had a great voice, but this film only proves that he was willing to sell himself to the highest bidder

Reviewer: Spuzz - - March 9, 2004
Subject: Lucky Strike means Frank Sinatra!
I was about to go to bed, but when I saw the thumbnails of this short, I knew I had to see it. The film tells of how Lucky Strike chooses their tobacco.. but WAIT A MINUTE! Before we talk about that ladies and gentlemen, out comes the Lucky Strike Orchestra and Frank Sinatra! Wooo! He sings Stardust! Great song! Oh, um, ok back to the documentary. Lucky Strike means Fine Tobacco. Yes, Lucky Strike means fine tobacco. (they say this line 12 times in the short). Interesting footage of how the tobacco is sold in auction, and we talk to a seller, who's great because of the way he says 'Tobacky'. Great production line footage is shown, (which actually, I saw the same footage in 'New Horizons' just yesterday) and well, let go back to the music again! The orchestra and some singers play and sing "Mama, he's making eyes at me". And it ends my friends by reminding us Lucky Strike means Fine Tobacco. Yes, Lucky Strike means fine tobacco. A HOOT! This is a MUST SEE on this site!