This little film was produced by the outdoor advertising industry in the 1940s, and is a great slice of urban history, including some good footage of early public transit. It shows some classic product ads, vintage Chicago street scenes and antique vehicles, along with a crash course on how outdoor advertising works.
The Ethical Nag
Marketing Ethics for the Easily Swayed
The Ethical Nag 
What a fascinating trip down memory lane. Methods of advertising may change but human behavior does not.
It IS fascinating, isn’t it? My parents would have been in their early 20s when this was filmed – could have been them busily walking along those downtown streets. One thing that struck me was how stylish everybody looked – both men and women wearing hats when they went out, for example.
I too thought of my parents, who were young newlyweds in rural Illinois when this film was shot. I did notice that everybody, male and female, rich and poor alike, wore stylish hats when going downtown. An interesting look at mid-century consumerism, which was about to explode a few short years later post-war. Cool…
Fascinating stuff on this short film. This was during wartime, just a year after Pearl Harbour, Germany had declared war on the U.S. – we can only imagine what these people rushing around the streets of Chicago on foot or driving in those huuuuuuge cars were dealing with on a daily basis back then. You’re right – looking pretty stylish as always, wartime or not.