SNUFFED OUT; JOE CAMEL'S CAREER GOES UP IN SMOKE.Byline: George Rodrigue George Rodrigue (b. March 13, 1944), is a Cajun artist who grew up in New Iberia, Louisiana. Rodrigue began painting outdoor family gatherings framed by moss-clad oak trees in an area of French Louisiana known as Acadiana. The Dallas Morning News Joe Camel Joe Camel (officially Old Joe) was the advertising mascot for Camel cigarettes from late 1987 to July 12, 1997, appearing in magazine advertisements, billboards, and other print media. , who was born in a French porn magazine and grew up to become an American cigarette-selling icon, died Thursday at the hands of his corporate masters. ``We believe that the time is right for us to move on,'' said R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. spokesman Richard L. Williams. He added that the company had sought an equally effective advertising theme for its popular Camel brand - which will continue to be sold in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and abroad - ever since Joe Camel became a lightning rod lightning rod, a rod made of materials, especially metals, that are good conductors of electricity, which is mounted on top of a building or other structure and attached to the ground by a cable. for industry critics. The cartoon character's death was widely hailed by tobacco-control advocates, who accuse the worldly-wise beast of luring millions of children into a potentially deadly addiction to nicotine. ``Joe Camel is dead. He had it coming,'' said Bruce Reed, President Clinton's chief domestic policy adviser. Clinton, traveling in Poland, also praised the demise. ``I'm glad RJR RJR R.J. Reynolds RJR Thorny Skate (FAO fish species code) has finally taken this step today, and I hope other companies will follow suit,'' he said in a statement. ``We must put tobacco ads like Joe Camel out of our children's reach forever.'' Diane Cook-Tench, director of the Adcenter at Virginia Commonwealth University Formed by a merger between the Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia in 1968, VCU has a medical school that is home to the nation's oldest organ transplant program. , said RJR's new ads feature a more traditional and sophisticated image. It is built around the trademark camel featured on Camel packs since 1913 and aimed more at upscale adults, she said. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: (Color) A Joe Camel coupon leans against packs of the cigarettes. Critics say the cartoon character lures kids to smoking. Associated Press |
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