In this vintage ad for Wate-On, a promise to help 'skinny' girls put on pounds
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In this annual time of reflection and self-improvement, we’re prepared to zig where others zag.
It’s hard to imagine today, but for the first half of the 20th century, a slate of products like Kelp-a-Malt and Wate-On were designed to help “skinny” women put on pounds. Now this is a resolution we can keep.
As late as 1969, this ad for Wate-On, chockablock with copy, practically shouts at the reader: “If you want to be popular you can’t afford to be skinny!” And in addition to women and girls, it addresses men, boys and “convalescents.” It features a testimonial from actress Linda Peck, who at the time was appearing in the movie adaptation of “Hello Dolly.” Peck claims to love the bustle of Hollywood life. “But the long nervous hours, exhausting rehearsals, fatiguing re-takes, sleep-robbing personal appearances and above all the poor eating habits can make you thin, skinny and underweight.” Poor dear!
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