In the 1950’s, the gift shop at MD Anderson Cancer Center (then MD Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute) sold ashtrays bearing the institutional seal.
This from a time when doctors advertised cigarettes.
Related post: The campaign to get women to smoke
Interesting. I’ll have to send this to my friend Alan Blum in Tuscaloosa- He has a huge collection of tobacco memorabilia. My husband follows your blog. Wondered if you may know a friend of ours, Jeff Morris in the stats dept at MD Anderson. I went to undergrad at Samford Univ. with his wife.
John- Dr. Blum wondered if he could get a better photo or buy one of these for his collection- any ideas? Check him out on http://cchs.ua.edu/people/alan-blum-md/
He was at Baylor for a while. Interesting man. Appreciate any help you could give him. He gives really interesting talks and has a whole museum. Thanks!
(circa 2050)
dramatis personae
YU, young ‘un
AK, alta kocker
YU: granpa, is it true that you would offer people donuts – they were just handed out ?
AK: yeah, sure, people would even bring them to work – often the company would have free pizza on friday
YU (shocked) *free pizza* ??didn’t they know anything about heart disease and diabetes ?
AK: they knew, but they didn’t listen – it was considered socially acceptable to bring fat/sugar laden desserts in to “celebrate” birthdays
YU: gosh gramps, you guys must ave been awfully stupid, “celebrating” a bday with heart disease and obesity and diabetes….