Your Doctor Wants You to Smoke

20,000 Doctors Can't Be Wrong
This 1930 ad raises many questions. How many physicians did they have to interview to find the right 20,679? And why stop there? Why not go for the big 20,700? (Actually, subsequent ads added to the number.) Is it really a good marketing strategy to say something is "less irritating?" (Can you see the movie posters? "Less annoying! Not as stupid!") And finally, how the hell did this dude keep his pince-nez on?

• The Art of the Family Dog