In the 1950s, cigarettes were a symbol of sophistication and smoking was allowed just about anywhere—restaurants, offices, airplanes, and even hospitals. It was such a societal norm that doctors ...

they were cheap and widely popular — costing just 25 cents a pack on average in the 1950s. In 1965, 42% of adults smoked. Since then, the adult smoking rate has declined and now stands at 14%.