Roadside America: 40 Amazing Photos of 1980s Billboards

These amazing photos capture the bold and colorful world of American roadside billboards during the 1980s. Stretching along highways and city streets, the oversized advertisements promoted everything from fast food and cars to cigarettes, soft drinks, and local attractions.

With their bright graphics, oversized lettering, and larger-than-life imagery, the billboards reflect the commercial energy and visual excess of the decade. These images preserve a vivid record of roadside culture and the advertising landscape that once defined so much of the American travel experience.

Everglades Safari billboard, Route 41, Dade County, Florida, 1980

17 Bar and Club sign, Billings, Montana, 1980

Harvey's Tavern sign, Route 99, Edmunds, Washington, 1980

Heart's Desire Motel sign, Route 19A, Dunedin, Florida, 1980

Kozy Kamp Motel sign, La Vale, Maryland, 1980

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John Onwy: Vintage Poster Artist of the Early 20th Century

John Onwy was a French commercial artist and poster designer active in the early 20th century. Best known for his colorful advertising posters, he created striking promotional designs for products such as Tobler chocolate, King’s Lemonade, and various consumer goods popular in Belgium and France. His work reflects the decorative, eye-catching style of the period, combining bold typography with lively illustration.

Though biographical details about Onwy remain limited, his surviving posters continue to be appreciated by collectors of vintage advertising art for their charm and period character. These colorful vintage posters showcase the lively commercial art of John Onwy, a distinctive voice in early 20th-century advertising design.

Biscuits La Cigogne, Strasbourg, 1920

Café Mirault, Quel arôme!, circa 1920

Chiarini, Élixir Vermifuge contre Vers, Coliques, Convulsions, circa 1920

Glycodont, Roi des dentifrices, 1920

King's Lemonade, circa 1920

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Vintage Personal Care Product Ads From the 1920s

These vintage advertisements for personal care products capture the evolving ideals of beauty, hygiene, and modern living in the 1920s.

From soaps, creams, and powders to hair tonics and dental products, the ads reflect the growing consumer culture of the Jazz Age, often featuring elegant illustrations, stylish models, and persuasive claims about freshness, sophistication, and self-improvement.

With their distinctive typography and artistic design, these promotional images offer a fascinating glimpse into the everyday aspirations and commercial aesthetics of the Roaring Twenties.

Fior d’Alba, Dentifricio Scientifico, 1920

Frivole, Perfume, Toilet Water, 1920

Glycodont, Roi des dentifrices, 1920

L'Ondulation Permanente - Eugène (de Londres) permet toutes les coiffures," Gazette du Bon Ton, June 1920

Les Parfums Blamys, 1920

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Paul Gustave Mohr: Art Deco Master of French Advertising Posters

Paul Gustave Mohr (1890–1959) was a French poster artist known for his bold and colorful Art Deco advertising designs.

Active mainly between the 1920s and 1940s, Mohr created striking posters for a wide range of products, including Banania, Lustucru, Wonder bicycles, Champigneulles beer, and Dubonnet. His work is characterized by strong graphic composition, vibrant colors, and a modern, eye-catching style typical of the interwar period.

Though less widely known than some of his contemporaries, Mohr’s posters remain highly regarded by collectors for their rarity, energy, and distinctive visual flair. These vibrant vintage posters showcase the dynamic Art Deco style of Paul Gustave Mohr, a talented and underappreciated master of French advertising design.

Amer Picon, September 1922

Cherry Rocher Liqueur, 1922

Bicyclettes Dainty, 1923

Dubonnet l'Appetit Vient, circa 1923

La Cressonnée, 1923

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Robys (Robert Wolff): The Art Deco Master of French Advertising Posters

Robys, the professional name of Robert Wolff (1916–1995), was a French poster artist celebrated for his bold and colorful advertising designs.

Active primarily from the late 1920s through the 1950s, Robys created striking lithographic posters for wines, aperitifs, and consumer products, including brands such as Kina Lillet, Toni-Kola, Monsoleil, and Union. His work is marked by strong compositions, vivid colors, and a playful Art Deco elegance that captured the spirit of mid-century French commercial art.

Today, Robys’s posters remain highly regarded for their graphic energy, charm, and lasting visual appeal. These vibrant vintage posters showcase the dynamic Art Deco style of Robys, a true master of French advertising design.

Monsoleil, Léger, fin, délicat, circa 1929

Vals Saint-Jean, Eau Minerale Naturelle, circa 1920s

Adelshoffen, la bière fine d'Alsace, circa 1930

Baby L’Ange, Toute La Layette, circa 1930

Les Graines Vivantes VITA, Tous Jardiniers, circa 1930

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Young Marilyn Monroe as the Babysitter Photographed by David Cicero for Fox Studios, 1947

In 1947, long before the world knew her as Marilyn Monroe, a young Norma Jeane posed for a series of staged “babysitter” publicity photographs taken by David Cicero (often credited as Dave Cicero) at the Los Angeles home of Roy Metzler, a 20th Century Fox casting director.

She appears with Metzler’s children, twin boys Eric and Dick and their roughly 3-year-old sister Joanne, in domestic scenes: reading to or near the children, sitting with the babies on a couch or nearby, adjusting diapers, standing over a crib, etc. She wears an apron-style dress similar to one from her small role in the Fox film Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!, which the photos helped promote. In the press materials she was presented as an 18-year-old former babysitter who had just landed a studio contract; she was actually 21.

Contrary to old Hollywood lore suggesting she was “discovered” while babysitting, the session was entirely staged. The studio created the lighthearted narrative to paint Marilyn as a relatable, wholesome girl-next-door. In a twist of cinematic irony, this innocent 1947 shoot stood in stark contrast to her dark, critically acclaimed 1952 psychological thriller Don’t Bother to Knock, where she played a deeply disturbed babysitter.

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Former Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev for Louis Vuitton (2007)

In 2007, Louis Vuitton launched its celebrated “Core Values” advertising campaign, created by agency Ogilvy & Mather and shot by renowned portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz. One of the most arresting images in fashion and political advertising history featured Mikhail Gorbachev, the final leader of the Soviet Union.

Gorbachev is pictured wearing a pinstripe suit and overcoat inside the back of a vintage, Khrushchev-era Soviet limousine. As the car drives along a remnant of the Berlin Wall, he looks somberly out the window. Beside him on the leather seat rests a monogrammed Louis Vuitton Keepall bag. The photo starkly captures the irony of a former communist statesman participating in a high-end capitalist advertisement next to the very wall whose fall he helped orchestrate.

A fascinating detail often noted by historians is the Russian magazine peeking out of the unzipped Louis Vuitton bag. If zoomed in, the Cyrillic text reveals a headline about the unsolved murder of investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya, a fierce critic of Vladimir Putin. While Louis Vuitton claimed the magazine was merely a realistic prop brought by Gorbachev, it added a heavy layer of contemporary political tension to the image.

The luxury group LVMH specifically utilized Gorbachev to expand market credibility among men and elite consumer classes in burgeoning luxury regions like Russia and China. Gorbachev agreed to the commercial shoot under the condition that Louis Vuitton make a sizeable financial donation to Green Cross International, an environmental sustainability organization he founded.

This “Core Values” travel campaign ran in major fashion publications alongside portraits of other iconic figures, including Catherine Deneuve, Steffi Graf, and Andre Agassi.

30 Elegant Vintage Beverage Ads From the Early 1900s

These elegant vintage advertisements provide a captivating look at beverage marketing during the early 1900s. Featuring beautifully illustrated posters and prints for sodas, coffees, teas, wines, and tonics, the ads showcase the artistic creativity and sophisticated marketing style of the era.

With their refined typography, charming illustrations, and persuasive messages, these pieces not only promoted popular drinks but also reflected the optimism, fashion, and rising consumer culture of the Edwardian and early Art Deco periods.

A delightful visual collection that captures the golden age of advertising.

Absinthe Blanqui, Nice, circa 1900

Absinthe de Pontarlier, Cousin Jeune, Paris, circa 1900

Bière de l'Eclair, 1900

Birra Poretti, 1900

Bitter Campari, 1900

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20 Stunning 1960s Ad Photos of Lucinda Hollingsworth by Wingate Paine

These exquisite advertising photographs from the 1960s showcase the elegant beauty of model Lucinda Hollingsworth in Monet Jewelry’s iconic campaigns. Captured by renowned photographer Wingate Paine, the images perfectly reflect the sophisticated glamour and refined taste of the era.

Lucinda’s graceful presence, paired with Monet’s timeless costume jewelry, created a series of ads that blended high fashion with accessible elegance. Shot with Paine’s signature dramatic lighting and artistic eye, these vintage advertisements remain some of the most stylish and memorable jewelry campaigns of the decade.

Lucinda Hollingsworth, Monet jewelry advertisement, photo by Wingate Paine, 1960

Lucinda Hollingsworth, Monet jewelry ad, photo by Wingate Paine, 1961

Lucinda Hollingsworth, Monet jewelry ad, photo by Wingate Paine, Harper's Bazaar, February 1961

Lucinda Hollingsworth, Monet jewelry, photo by Wingate Paine, Vogue, October 15, 1961

Lucinda Hollingsworth in a Monet ad, photo by Wingate Paine, 1962

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30 Masterful Alcohol Posters by Leonetto Cappiello in the Early 1900s

Leonetto Cappiello (1875–1942) was one of the most influential and revolutionary poster artists of the Belle Époque and early 20th century. Renowned for his bold, dynamic style and brilliant use of color, he transformed advertising into high art. His posters for wines, spirits, and aperitifs are among his most celebrated works, featuring striking figures, energetic compositions, and unforgettable visual impact that made products instantly recognizable.

These 30 masterful alcohol posters showcase Cappiello’s extraordinary talent for combining humor, elegance, and commercial power, helping shape the golden age of French poster design and influencing generations of graphic artists that followed.

La Marquisette, Liqueur de Dessert, 1901

Vins Authentiques, Grands Chais du Médoc, L. Segol Fils, 1901

Champagne de Rochegré, 1902

Nuyens's Menthe, 1902

Pur Champagne, Damery-Epernay, 1902

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30 Vintage Ads of Fountain Pens and Inks in the Early 20th Century

The early 20th century marked the golden age of the fountain pen, a time when these elegant writing instruments became essential symbols of sophistication, education, and success.

From the 1900s to the 1930s, leading manufacturers such as Parker, Waterman, Sheaffer, and Montblanc competed fiercely through beautifully illustrated advertisements that transformed ordinary pen promotions into works of art.

These vintage ads showcase the exquisite artistry, intricate typography, and persuasive charm of the era: featuring everything from luxurious gold nibs and sleek celluloid bodies to dramatic scenes of writers inspired by their pens.

More than just commercial illustrations, these advertisements reflect the cultural importance of fine writing tools during a period when the handwritten word still reigned supreme.

Inchiostri G. Diletti, Brisighella, circa 1900s

Pelikan-Tinte, 1902

Parker Lucky Curve Fountain Pen, "Because —It is a Good Pen", 1903

Pelikan Tinte, Günther Wagner, 1903

Waterman's Ideal Fountain Pen, Christmas, 1904

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