A long held myth in some World War Two Reenacting Groups is the idea that all World War Two Lucky Strikes came in green packages. This idea is very false and is based on a neglect of research. World War Two Lucky Strike Packages in the pre-WW2 stages had a green background. However, when the war started Lucky Strikes wanting to save the copper-based green paint for tanks, dyes and equipment, switched the background to white.
Some people also argue that the reason Lucky Strikes changed the package was not to help out with the war effort, as they claimed, but to give there package a new more “up-to-date” appearance. Studies had shown the pre-war green package was losing support with men and females didn’t like the green color. With the slogan "Lucky Strike Green Has Gone to War!" and adding block lettering and the cryptic legend "L.S./M.F.T”. (Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco) which imitated Morse code they increased their sales by 40%.
In conclusion, also using a white Lucky Strike package is period correct for World War Two Reenacting and won’t ruin your impression Still don’t believe me? Take a look at the pre-D-Day picture of US Army Rangers taken by life magazine in 1944.
If notice in the picture you clear as day, a white pack of lucky strikes.
A Little Tobacco History:
Cigarettes began to gain extreme popularity in this country just prior to the turn of the century, even though they were banned in some states at the time. In 1913, the RJ Reynolds corporation first began selling Camels, which used a blend of three different types of tobacco. This marked the birth of the "modern" cigarette, and soon after similar brands, mostly importantly Lucky Strikes and Chesterfields, came on the market. These three brands were the most popular in the United States through the 1930's, with Camels always being the top seller. Other popular brands included Raleigh, Old Gold, and Pall Mall. RJ Reynolds had the leading market share on cigarettes in 1940, followed by the American Tobacco Company (maker of Lucky Strikes), Liggett & Myers (maker of Chesterfields), Brown & Williamson, and Phillip Morris (maker of Marlboros). Tobacco was not the only crop which came to be sold mostly by major corporations during this time period.
The decade of the 1930's marked the introduction of several new innovations in cigarette smoking. In 1933, Brown & Williamson began selling the brand Kool, one of the earliest and most popular menthol cigarettes to come on the market. The first mentholated brand was Axton-Fisher's Spud, but they could not compete once Kools came on the market. The first cigarette to feature a filter of cellulose acetate was Viceroy, which was introduced in 1936 also by Brown & Williamson. The thirties featured the invention of the Zippo lighter, by George G. Blaisbell, which has since become a staple of American smoking culture.
During the heart of the Depression major cigarette brands generally sold for 14 cents a pack, with some stores offering two for 27 cents. Then the large tobacco companies raised prices by 1 cent a pack following the lead of RJ Reynolds. In reaction to this, discount cigarettes, usually only costing a dime per pack, began selling more and more. In 1932, they took up a full 20% of the market nation wide. Then, in 1933, the tobacco companies lowered their prices, and discount cigarettes were only able to hold 10% of the market throughout the remainder of the decade. In the 1940's, The American Tobacco Company took RJ Reynolds' place as the top seller of cigarettes with their popular brands Lucky Strike and Pall Mall.
Sources:
Picture supplied by: Sam Adams
