BrandPhilip Morris

History

Philip Morris English Blend was introduced as a non-filter, regular-size (70 mm) brand in 1933 by Philip Morris U.S.A.. To advertise the brand, Philip Morris hired 3-foot, 11-inch tall bellboy Johnny Roventini (1910 - 1998) as their pitchman; through the 1950s on radio, television, and in print advertisements, Johnny would shout out the famous slogan: ”Call for Philip Morris!” Also known as Johnny Philip Morris, Roventini essentially became a living trade mark.

The name of Philip Morris English Blend was changed to Philip Morris Special Blend in 1948. In the 1950s, the brand was the sponsor of C.B.S. television’s ”I Love Lucy” show; when it was originally broadcast, the show’s credits would run over a package of Philip Morris cigarettes. When ”I Love Lucy” was packaged for syndication, images of Philip Morris were replaced with the now-familiar heart seen in the end-credits, though the original images have been restored for D.V.D. box-sets of the series.

Philip Morris King Size (non-filter; later re-named Commanders) was introduced in 1953, while the brown packaging of Philip Morris was first changed in 1955.

Philip Morris cigarettes are produced in Germany , Switzerland and USA,France and Holland ,Italy , Japan , Argentina , Greece, Uruguay, Canada, king size (85 mm), short (70 mm) or long (100 mm), soft or hard pack, wide flat hard box , 2, 4, 9, 10 or 20 cigarettes in a pack.