Advertising Timeline

  • 1441

    The Start (AKA The Printing Press)

    In Germany, around 1440, goldsmith Johannes Gutenberg invented the movable-type printing press, which started the Printing Revolution.
  • First Newspaper Ad

    The first newspaper advertisement was in the Boston Newsletter and was advertising a house that was for sale.
  • First Billboard

    The first proper billboards were invented in the 1830s by Jared Bell in America. He wanted to advertise a circus and put up a large and colorful billboard in 1835.
  • The New York Sun

    The New York Sun was the first successful “penny
    newspaper” founded by Benjamin Day. It Revolutionized distribution by selling lots of 100 to boys to sell on the street. By 1837, circulation reached 30,000
  • Advertising Agencies

    The first Advertising Agency
    opened in 1843. It was located in Philadelphia. A
    man named Volney Palmer was
    the first true ad agency man. He was in charge of brokering space for advertising more than
    for the actual creation of the ads.
  • Full Time

    In 1880, department store founder John Wanamaker became the first retailer to hire a full-time advertising copywriter, John E. Powers who is considered the father
    of modern creative advertising.
  • Coca-Cola

    Coca-Cola was the first company to become trademarked. A man named Frank Robinson was the company bookkeeper and came up with the original
    first mark for the brand.
  • Million Dollar Advertising

    The brand Kellogg, in 1906 became the first million dollar advertising client.
  • Sponsored Radio Show

    November 2, 1920. A radio station known as KOKA aired the first sponsored radio show.
  • Stock Market

    With the Stock Market crashing, many companies reduced their spending on things like advertising.
  • Magazine Publishing

    In 1936, a magazine company publishes over $100million in ads.
  • Radio Taking Over

    In 1938 radio ads surpass magazine ads, as the dominant form of advertising.
  • Television

    In 1941, the first television ad was broadcasted. Advertising by television was a way of keeping Americans interested in consumer culture.
  • Color

    In 1945, the first colored television comes out. Color is an essential part of any advertising. Colors help convey the right mood and allows potential customers to associate those emotions with products and/or services.
  • Women In Society

    Mary Wells became the first woman to found, own and run a major agency. She was the founding president of Wells, Rich, Greene, an advertising agency known for its creative work. Mary Wells is just one of many amazing women to open paths, for future generations of girls.
  • Advertising For Cigarettes

    In 1971, congress banned cigarette advertising. Public health officials and consumers wanted stronger warning labels on tobacco products and their advertisements banned from television and radio, where they could easily reach impressionable children.
  • Internet

    Internet was brought to 5 Million people around the world, changing the way ads are delivered. Online advertising allows you to find, reach, and engage people who are likely to be interested in your business without spending money on an overly broad audience. Overall the internet has changed advertising and many other things, forever.
  • Regulation

    The regulation of internet advertising, occurred as the billing for internet advertising reached around $3 Billion
  • 21st Century +

    Now advertising is meant to be entertaining, and relatable. The advertisements are mainly focused on relationship building with the customers, more than the actually product itself. These tactics are used to attract people to products and services, and it seems to be working.