Here is a rather artistic trade card for Prince Albert Cigarettes and Tobacco, which the new York Public Library dates from the last quarter of the 19th century.The later and more famous Prince Albert tobacco was first manufactured in the US in 1907 by R.J. Reynolds. It was named for Victoria and Albert's son, Albert Edward, who became Edward VII on Victoria's death in 1901. The Reynolds ads show a man with a full beard, which Victoria's Albert never had.
But this earlier ad definitely shows Edward's father. Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1819-62) was the dignified and abstemious spouse of Queen Victoria (1819-1901), who is glowering to herself up at the top of the circle.
The future King Edward VII is on the left, labelled "Prince of Wales," and sports a full beard. Below him is Princess Alexandra of Denmark (Edward's wife, later Queen, 1844-1925). Opposite her is the Princess Royal, Victoria and Albert's eldest daughter Victoria (briefly the Empress of Germany, 1840-1901). And above her is the Duke of Connaught, Victoria and Albert's son Arthur (1850-1942).
The R.J. Reynolds' Prince Albert tobacco is famous, of course, for figuring in the old telephone prank in which one phones someone and asks if they have Prince Albert in a can.Ideally you have phoned up one of your friends who owns a drugstore, or smokes a pipe, or collects tobacco tins - perhaps all three. Because you want them to say, yes they do.
And then you can cry triumphantly, "Better let him out, then!" and hang up giggling.
I wrote about Prince Albert Pudding a long time ago on my other blog, in case you prefer pudding to tobacco ads. I must warn you that I used the tiresome old joke over there, as well. I'm done with it from now on, though. That's a promise.
Advertisement (ca 1875-90) from the NYPL Digital Gallery. The brilliant photos of Prince Albert (and Velvet tobacco, too) in various cans is from Phlora over at Flickr, in the Creative Commons.
15 comments:
I was the queen of silly crank calls in Jr. High. Harmless fun, but now one would probably get arrested for it.
Should have put a disclaimer "Don't try this at home".
BTW, the Grand Ole Opry segment sponsored by Goo Goo Clusters was originally sponsored by Prince Albert Tobacco.
Standard Candy Company, makers of Goo-Goo Clusters, took over sponsorship of the Prince Albert half-hour in 1968.
"Better let him out" - LOL we did that one all the time. My other fave was to call a grocery store and ask "Do you have pigs feet?" When they said "Yes" I'd say "Well wear shoes and no one will notice!"
Had fun here Thanks
Kris - Here it is: Don't try this at home, kids!
The Exaggerator - I have always liked the name of that candy. I am not sure what Prince Albert would have thought of it though!
geneabloggers - I hadn't heard that one before...
Joe - Well, thanks for stopping by! :)
Hi there Lidian...my girlfriend and I used to play that prank all the time...she didn't get the gist of it however, because she'd call just anyone...I tried to explain, but she just didn't understand. Her name was Donna and my mom used to call her Dense Donna...but I loved her like a sister!
LOL
We didn't have the Prince Albert tobacco here in Oz but I love your pranks!
Judy - You know, I never did any phone pranks...I did do other silly things though, mostly in college (am not telling what though, not now anyway) :)
Jayne - I don't know if we have Prince Albert anymore though. I think he escaped from the can.
Oooof! Nothing like the royal stamp of approval for persuading people to smoke and use tobacco, eh? Have a smoke - - - - and feel aristocratic!
The magazine GQ has an irritating habit of showing young and handsome movie stars holding a cigarette or smoking when they are photographed, making the nicotine habit look trendy and glamourous.
If you crave some ashtray breath, by all means kiss a smoker. NO, NO, ANYTHING BUT THAT!!!
Come up and see Mae . . .
Mae - And ironically, I don't think Victoria's Albert ever did smoke. I can totally see Albert Edward going for it, though.
I didn't know that Prince Albert tobacco was not named after Prince Albert himself, so I learned something. It is also amazing how the warning labels on tobacco change over the years. Back then it was "Absolutely Pure" and now it is... well, you know.
This reminds me of how our country was practically founded on tobacco from the very beginning. Well, not YOUR country. Your country was founded on beaver pelts. Not the same. :)
I take it back. You can be both countries. You've paid your dues.
Max - Thanks, I think I will take both! Since I'm a dual citizen, why not I say :)
I love how the style in those days was for everyone to look very serious in their portraits. My mother has some old family portraits from the late 19th century that look like mug shots to me! *grins*
Hairball - So true! And they aren't happy because it took a long time to get a photograph taken, which brings out the grumpy in anyone.
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