Ada Leyton, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This card, featuring Ada Leyton, was produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in the late 19th century as part of a series to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. These cards were not simply advertisements; they offer a glimpse into the social and cultural values of the Gilded Age in the United States. The burgeoning tobacco industry employed new marketing tactics to cultivate a loyal customer base. This image leverages the popularity of actresses, figures who were both admired and sometimes scrutinized in a rapidly changing society. Leyton is presented in a way that is meant to appeal to consumers by associating their product with glamour and celebrity. To fully understand this image, one might explore the history of advertising, popular theatre, and gender roles during the late 1800s. Trade catalogs, theatre archives, and social histories are crucial resources for uncovering its deeper meanings. By considering these contextual elements, we recognize that this card is not just an advertisement, but a cultural artifact reflecting the dynamics of its time.