Former Winston Cigarettes Pitchman Dies of Throat Cancer

[Liberal_in_LA]

Source: Snafu-ed

Alan Landers, 68, a model who posed for Winston cigarette ads in the 1960s and 1970s, has died of while undergoing treatment for throat cancer.

While some of his celebrity came from appearing in ads, still more came from his legal battles with R.J. Reynolds and other tobacco companies. Landers, born Allan Levine, claim that being forced to smoke for the ads caused his health problems. His case was scheduled for trial in April.

Alan Landers had already survived two bouts of lung cancer, and was undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for the aforementioned throat cancer. As if that wasn't enough, he also suffered from emphysema.



Read more: http://snafu-ed.blogspot.com/2009/03/former-winston-cigarettes-pitchman-dies.html

[Endangered Specie]

1. I sense a category 2 flamewar could brew out of this.

:popcorn:

[rpannier]

2. It probably will

I'm sorry the man is dead.
I feel for him and his family.
But cigarettes were referred to as cancer sticks in the 50's.
It's not like it is some huge surprise.

[No Elephants]

8. Maybe, but that reference was half joking. The "scientific" research was saying the opposite. The

federal government was gleefully and proudly subsidizing tobacco growers, which was very well publicized, and that made it seem fine, too. Whodda thunk back then that our gubbamint would massively subsidize something that would kill us? The FDA aided and abetted Big Tobacco by keeping the forumulae for cigarettes under lock and key, literally.

As to the this specific guy, the warning was on the pack by 1964 and no one forced him to do the ads, even if Winston forced him to smoke during the ads. Besides, smoking during ads is not what gave him lung cancer, throat cancer and emphysema. He got that from smoking before and after the ads and no one forced him to do that.

Until the warning pack was on the label, I'd blame the companies who paid labs very well to come to the "scientific" conclusion that smoking did NOT cause cancer and probably the feds.

[rpannier]

10. Thanks for the input

It's always appreciated

[rfranklin]

14. I prefer the scientific name...."coffin nails"

Somehow, the addictive nature of nicotine and the immediate satisfaction of a hit on a Winston overwhelmed any sense of danger. Once hooked it was very, very difficult to quit.

[RantinRavin]

19. Oh Bull

It is not difficult at al to quit. Why myself I have quit smoking probably 15 times. :D

[shanti]

68. my grandmother smoked winstons

:( she died from lung cancer too. my father has had half a lung removed because of it and at 79, suffers from COPD/emphysema. he's been deteriorating quickly this year, on oxygen 24/7 and pretty much bedridden:(

i hate tobacco.

[Jeep789]

15. He was an early anti-smoking advocate

I will never understand why so many, so called "progressives" insist on blaming the victims and protecting the corporations responsible for so many deaths. The victims may have been brainwashed by ads but those that blame them have been brainwashed by the corporations too.

Let's just pretend we never heard the evidence that the tobacco corporations added substances to enhance the addictive properties because blaming the victims feels much better for some strange reason.

Count this as flame #1.

[timtom]

46. I'm with you on this

I feel reeeallll lucky, as I smoked 2 packs a day for 20 years. The dude is 1 year older than I and I feel very sorry for him.

But, as a fan of "Supernatural", the image of making a deal at the crossroads comes popping into mind.

[The Stranger]

48. Actually, Big Tobacco prevented Congress from acting on cigarettes' causing cancer for four decades.

Big Tobacco knew it was fraudulently marketing a defective product that killed people, but used its lobby to prevent Congress from doing anything about it.

The only relief didn't come until the 1990's, in the courts, when some lawyers finally took the question away from the 535 in Washington, and to a juries of twelve.

(To myself: Holy fucking shit, am I really having to post this information here?)

[roguevalley]

31. he's not the first. The Marlboro cowboy made anti smoking commercials

I feel for him and his family. The older smokers who didn't know, I pity and feel for. Those who know better I still feel bad for but regret their choice.

[junior college]

3. It's not necessarily the case that cancer did him in

Many people die of throat cancer who never smoked a day in their life.

[RebelOne]

17. I had a cousin who died of lung cancer who never in his life smoked. n/t

[Hassin Bin Sober]

27. Did he have emphysema and throat cancer too?

[The Stranger]

49. "Many" people, huh? But "many" more have ties to smoking and carcinogens.

(To myself: Holy motherfucking shit: did I land in some Democratic Underground in another dimension?)

[progressivebydesign]

55. Um.. yeah. Smokers are so entertaining to watch.

I don't know of one person that has gotten throat cancer that did not smoke. Are you one of those people that thinks seatbelts are dangerous because you might die while trapped in your car underwater? Or are you just a smoker who is living in denial?

[Divine Discontent]

4. inhaling the smoke from burning items is a hazard. eom

[rpannier]

5. You mean I shouldn't be standing around the camp fire inhaling the smoke and ash???

Really?

Damn. Now, I have to get a new hobby.

[Divine Discontent]

6. yes, new hobby. ingesting blackened food is also not good for us, either. lol

[rpannier]

7. Damn

You just killed my first idea for a new hobby

Drinking Chlorox Bleach with a breakfast of fried lard is high on my list

[Divine Discontent]

11. whew, I was thinking you were saying you were eating blackened marshmallows to boot! eom

[caseymoz]

9. He also had lung cancer twice.

The problem with his case, and with most others, you have trouble proving that smoking cigarettes caused his particular cancer, the proof is only statistical, but overwhelming. Statistics win class action suits, not individual ones, which is why Bush limiting class action suits was so crucial.

Then again, given technology, they might come up with a DNA test that can prove what caused a particular cancer. In which case, cigarette companies will either suppress it or die.

[jb5150]

12. Which argument is more compelling?

That cigarettes cause health problems.

or

that cigarettes are highly addictive.

[Maine-ah]

22. if there truely is a gateway drug, I'd tell you it's not pot, but niccotine

everyone I know that ever smoked pot, or went on to hard core drug addictions, always started smoking cigs first.

For those that have never smoked a cig ever, when you first start, they give you a hell of a buzz. I passed out on numerous occasions from smoking a cig. Unil I started smoking them on a regular basis, I always caught a buzz from them. I quit when I was preggers with BB Maine-ah. I made it 2 years before I picked them up again. At least I don't smoke nearly what I used to. About a half pack a day. I would love to quit again, and I know I will. It's a love/hate relationship for me.

[Fumesucker]

53. I only tried ciggies a couple of times..

But I smoked a lot of pot back in the day.

And you're right about them giving you a hell of a buzz, made my head spin far worse than any pot.

[mitchum]

59. White sugar is the true gateway drug

[sinkingfeeling]

26. Having just quit smoking, cold turkey, after 38 years, I'm not convinced that cigarettes are

addictive. I have been amazed that what has bothered me hasn't been loss of the taste, the 'rush', or anything. It's been what to do with my hands when I'm reading or on the computer, etc. I find life a little boring without the cigarettes.

[nichomachus]

28. One sample isn't conclusive of anything

Most people can't do what you did. However, some people can just quit drinking after years of abuse and some people can put drugs down as easily as they pick them up -- it all depends on personal chemistry.

The fact remains that most people have much more trouble -- and scientists have actually determined the addictive processes involved in tobacco. They are the same as, but quicker than, those of cocaine.

[roody]

36. I am glad that you are still off them.

[The Stranger]

50. I love this post.

This poster smoked for 38 years, and then comes here to tell everyone that it isn't addictive.

Somehow, 38 years of yourself is telling you otherwise.

I really love this post.

[Vanje]

65. Congratulations on your quit

I quit Nicotine (smoking AND dipping Copenhagen) about 8 years ago.

It was a very worthwhile project.

Edit - spelling....again

[shanti]

69. that's awesome for you!

:thumbsup: my cousin wasn't so lucky. he dipped and is now undergoing chemo for colon cancer, supposedly because he swallowed some of it :(

[Politicalboi]

13. In the 30's and 40's

They advertised cigarettes to be good for you. Lucy and Ricky among other stars of the day did ads too. Influence is always a good way to get people to do what you want them to do. You can take Salem out of the country but.. You can't take the country out of Salem. I remember a commercial with the 3 pigs and the wolf couldn't blow the straw house down because he smoked and the pigs laughed at him. And that was in the 60's. And then came the kick the habit ones with people doing side kicks. All in the 60's.

[monmouth]

16. Hahaha, and remember the "doctors" who recommended certain brands???...n/t

[Monk06]

18. Here's an ad. "What cigarette do you smoke Doctor?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYgLAPhbyKg

[shanti]

67. "winston tastes good....

like a cigarette should". i've never smoked, but i'm sick that i even remember that commercial :( it was really hard sell back in the day!

[badgerpup]

20. *shakes head*....

Sort of one of the things you're not surprised about...

My mom is in remission from lung cancer at the moment.
She smoked for fifty years and it took two strokes and a heart attack to get her to the point where she was ready to quit.
'Asking' for it? Maybe...
'Deserves' it? Hell no...

There are very few people upon this planet that I feel "deserve" cancer...
and since I'm not in charge of that sort of thing, the point is moot. :shrug:

[BlancheSplanchnik]

21. I just wanted to take a moment...

for this

:hug:

[badgerpup]

40. Thank you!

:hug: back atcha...

[BlancheSplanchnik]

42. :) n/t

[jus_the_facts]

23. Everyone is gonna DIE from something....regardless of what they choose to ingest into their bodies.

....everybody dies from something....our entire planet is being choked to death too by all sorts of things WE'RE ALL GUILTY OF CONTRIBUTING just by being alive at all. :think:

[Dervill Crow]

30. That was my mom's take on it.

I'm sure she thought something else would get her. She was wrong. She died a horrible death, lung cancer with metastases to her spine, spending the last months of her life bedridden and in pain that morphine couldn't touch and with my asshole father insisting on every treatment modality available to keep her alive as long as possible. :cry:

My deepest regret is that I didn't have the nerve to have a private conversation with her to find out what SHE wanted.

[Raine]

38. True but

some ways of death are much worse than others.

[Lorien]

43. So, we should all commit mass suicide now?

My grandparents died of smoking related illnesses. One smoked, the other didn't. Believe me; if you're gonna die anyway, that's NOT a gentle way of doing it.

[progressivebydesign]

56. given the choice between an AGONIZING death by throat/lung cancer in your 50s or 60s..

..or passing away in my sleep when I'm 90? No contest.

I don't think that is a valid point to make trying to defend smoking. Unless you think it would be enjoyable to have to breath and speak through a hole in your throat, or feel as though you're suffocating 24/7, your argument is silly.

My mom has been battling the effects of second hand smoke her entire adult life, and she would beg to differ with you about the QUALITY of her life, as opposed to NOT having all these lung/bronchitis problems.

[onehandle]

24. Here come the addicted rationalizers.

"who says the smoking killed him"

"my grandpa has been smoking for 90 years and is as healthy as a horse"

"what about my personal rights to smoke?"

"car exhaust is worse"

Sorry to burst your addicted bubble, but science says you're full of shit and you have no right to poison others.

[Lorien]

44. They are no different than climate change deniers

they don't LIKE the facts, so their answer is to not believe the facts or set up a bunch of pathetic straw man arguments. It's always sad to see science and reason take a back seat to "personal beliefs" on DU.

[progressivebydesign]

57. my fave are smokers who drink filtered water because of "All those bad chemicals in tap water!"

And then they light up a cigarette that contains 3,000 different chemicals, including rat poison. D'oh!!!

It's also funny to see smokers here on DU railing against corporations, when their own addiction is making the lowest of the low, tobacco giants, filthy rich.

I do feel sorry for them, though. I've read that one of the thousands of chemicals they inhale actually deadens the part of their brain that allows them to see that smoking will kill them, slowly, and in an ugly way. You know, like the person who watches their parent die of a smoke-related disease in an agonizing way, and yet still smoke because they think rationalize it away? I had an acquaintance like that. Her mother, who was a lifelong smoker, had emphysema for decades that made her miserable and housebound, she then got lung cancer, and then it spread to stomach cancer. The acquaintance spent over a year living with her Mom at the end, being her caretaker, and it was pretty horrific. The mother passed away there at home, because she refused to go to a hospital for any treatment at all during that time, just took morphine pills for a year, and the daughter had to do all of her medical care. You would THINK that this would make that woman finally stop smoking after going through all that with her Mother, but instead? She continues to smoke and said.. "she had stomach cancer", it wasn't the smoking!!! In fact, the woman that died smoked until the very end too, risking blowing up the house with her oxygen tanks. So yeah, denial is built in to the cigarettes themselves, and don't think for a minute that the chemical doing it was NOT put in there on purpose. Every chemical is in there for a reason.

[jmowreader]

25. The cigarettes he smoked on the job contributed to his diseases...

but the ones he smoked on his own time were perfectly healthy and harmless.

Where do you get that kind of cigarette? I could sell a lot of packs.

[msedano]

29. Hear that, Winston? Irony its own reward.

When I was in high school, the advertising jingle was "Winston tastes good. Like a cigarette should." Taunting classmates approach a friend, "Hey Sancha, I bet you can't say the first three words of the Winston commercial." When the chump cited the line, the taunter would look down at his groin and announce, "Hear that, Winston?"

Ironies:

actors in tobacco ad die of lung cancer.
actors in toothpaste ads contract lethal gingivitis.
actors in political ads get their votes stolen.
actors in douche ads get foul yeast infections.
etc.

recommended.

[PlanetBev]

32. "Winston tastes good like a cigarette should"

If you remember that ditty from the 50's, you're old.

[slackmaster]

34. They used the same ditty right up to the end of TV cigarette advertising

January 2, 1971 in the USA.

[daleo]

63. And things that you heard when you were little really stick in your head.

I remember an amazing amount of jingles from before I was finished grade six.

[tonysam]

64. Benson and Hedges Had the Best Ads of All.

Tobacco is a rotten, dangerous product, but the tobacco industry had about the best television ads ever made.

[Vanje]

66. You can take Salem out of the country but

You cant take the country out of Salem.

[slackmaster]

33. ARGH! Now I have that catchy jingle stuck in my head

It's all coming back - Even the old Brit correcting the grammar.

Anyone over about 45 years old who watched US TV as a kid will know what I'm talking about.

[Joe Bacon]

41. Yeah and I still remember the parody too

Winstons taste bad
like the one I just had
no pleasure no taste
just a 40 cent waste

[Myrina]

35. Oh geez, I remember having a wicked crush on him !!

I think I was like ... 12? But he was BEAUTIFUL. :(

[defendandprotect]

37. Sad to hear about Landers --- but even news of his death, perhaps, will prompt some to quit--?????

[mitchum]

39. And no vitamin and health food pitchmen ever die?

[Lorien]

45. Not from the product they were pitching, no.

if you think that dying from lung cancer isn't a particularly bad way to go, then I suggest that you spend a day in a cancer center, then re-evaluate your position.

[timtom]

47. Jim Fixx

who is credited with starting the health craze with his 1977 book, "The Complete Book of Running"

"...died at the age of 52 of a massive heart attack, after his daily run, on Route 15 in Hardwick, Vermont. The autopsy revealed that atherosclerosis had blocked one coronary artery 95%, a second 85%, and a third 50%." -- Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Fixx

That's fairly ironic.

[argyl]

51. And Jim Fixx's father died at 42 of a heart attack. Fixx began at running at age 35,a two pack a day

smoker and 60 lbs. overweight.There was also a history of early heart disease among the males of his family.

[timtom]

52. Yeah, but I withheld that info

to enhance the irony effect.

[mitchum]

60. Actually, I visit the cancer center every two weeks

We all will die. From something.

[progressivebydesign]

54. unless the vitamins or health food was tainted, there's no comparison.

DeNial.. not just a river in Egypt

[mitchum]

58. Denial and nihilism may share a syllable, but they are certainly not the same thing

[Eryemil]

61. Funny. n|t

[MadMaddie]

62. For smokers I really do feel compassion

The Cigerette companies have worked furiously to increase the addiction in their product. I have no sympathy if they shut their doors. Especially in the 50's and 60's when advertising was really coming into it's own.

This man just as others in this country and around the world don't deserve these horrible deaths.