Cigarette Blimp

This article is part of the Tobacco portal on Sourcewatch funded from 2006 - 2009 by the American Legacy Foundation.

Cigarette Blimps

This 1990 memo shows how Lorillard considered using a blimp to help improve its corporate image. Eve Nadel, Brand Manager for Newport cigarettes) composed a blimp proposal and sent it to the Vice President of Lorillard, saying,

With the dark cloud that has pervaded the tobacco industry of late, a vehicle such as the blimp, which projects a light, airy, almost whimsical image, could serve to take some of the 'heat,' if you will, off us; 'us' meaning a tobacco manufacturer. Generating some good will at this time is in our best interest...

Cigarette companies did at various times use blimps for advertising and promotions:

A Pall Mall blimp flew in 1987, and in 1944 R.J. Reynolds ran a wartime blimp ad for Camel Cigarettes, exploiting goodwill for U.S. soldiers and citizens' fears for homeland security. The text of ad read,

You ride the swaying gondola of a helium-filled bag poised above the convoys--you guard the life-lines of war, and patrol America's endless coast-lines. And after those long hours on sentry-go above the waste of water, a Camel, with its fresh, full flavor is a mighty good friend to have handy! Let the "sky sailor" at the left tell you one reason why Camels are the favorite with men in the Navy.

Title SKYSHIPS 600 (A.K.A. A BLIMP)
Org. Author LOR, LORILLARD
Per. Author NADEL,E
Date 19900326
Type MEMORANDUM; OTHER REPORT
Bates 92743438/3440
Collection Lorillard
Pages 3
URL: http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/box60e00

Additional tobacco industry documents

• 1988 Letter re: thanks for a ride in the Vantage blimp
• Winston Proposed Blimp Flight Plan (1989)
• Memo discussing cost of making blimp promotion video tape for Board. (Brown & Williamson, 1987)

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