Smoking advertisements on television
The last commercial for cigarettes was aired during a broadcast of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson just before midnight on January 1st, 1971. In the earlier part of the 20th century, almost everyone smoked. Smoking was also heavily promoted on television. It was legal practically everywhere, as well. Public perception of smoking slowly changed during the ’60s, as the connection between smoking and deadly diseases became much more apparent. In 1970, President Nixon signed the legislation that officially banned cigarette ads on television and radio.