Muriel Cigar Boxes

Muriel Cigar Boxes

I was just trying to remember...all my life I think I only saw my dad smoke a couple cigars in his later years. But it's apparent that he smoked a lot of cigars and in particular Muriel Air Tips.

There was dozens of these boxes filled with electronics parts on the shelves and a bunch more empty in the closet. I've even had and sold some boxes that were made into crystal radios.

The box on the left is (I believe) 1960- 70s. And the right box is late 1970s-80s.

The left box bottom says:
" The ordinary retail price of the cigars herein contained is intended by the manufacturer to be more than 4 cents each and not more than 6 cents each."

MURIEL CIGARS
In the early 1900's, a company called P. Lorillard and Company out of Jersey City, New Jersey made the first Muriel Cigar.

"The company had used a proprietary blend of tobacco and wrapping leaves to create such popular brands as the Coronella, the Magnum and the Muriel Little Cigars. The company became known for the mysterious lady on its label and the sweet flavor of its products."

HARD TIMES
Falling on hard time in 1959, they sold to Consolidated Cigars.

BIG TIME
Starting in the 1960s they embarked on an aggressive advertising campaign. This worked to increase their popularity. And as the ads worked, more celebrities started smoking them further increasing their popularity.

FUNNY BUSINESS
Helping make it famous in the late 1950's & early 60's was singer, Edie Adams wife of the legendary cigar-smoking comedian, Ernie Kovacs.
Edie told us in the old commercials—“pick one up and smoke it sometime.”