1. “The Incredible Man Who Stopped Smoking”
Back in the late ’60s, public service announcements about the dangers of smoking were everywhere. One of the most bizarre featured an ordinary man who quits smoking—only for his addiction to take on a life of its own. His once-daily cigarette breaks turn into monstrous, floating tobacco clouds that chase him down. Kids watching couldn’t help but feel unnerved by the unsettling animation of these ominous smoke puffs shares AdWeek.
As the man runs, the smoke clouds seem to trap him, constantly chasing him through a never-ending, surreal world. His face starts to show signs of the toll smoking had taken, with his features becoming more distorted. The eerie voiceover narrated how cigarettes can slowly control a person’s life, and the result was a PSA that was less about informative advice and more about inducing a deep sense of dread adds Upworthy.
2. “The Crying Baby”
One PSA from the early ’70s aimed at stopping child abuse used a creepy, crying baby sound that echoed through the house. The voiceover reminded parents that “every cry has a reason” and that neglecting a child could have devastating consequences. The visual of the crying baby itself wasn’t as disturbing as the eerie ambient music that played over the sound says Scary Mommy.
It felt like a haunting reminder that neglect wasn’t just bad—it was something that could leave a permanent mark on a child’s life. For children watching at home, the combination of the sad, lonely cry and the cold, emotionless delivery was more than enough to make them uneasy. It seemed to suggest that there were unseen dangers around every corner, lurking in the quietest moments.
3. “The Electric Chair”
This PSA from the ’60s used the shocking idea of an electric chair to teach kids about the dangers of running away from home. It starts with a young boy trying to escape a domestic situation, and his desperation is met with a sudden cut to a heavily detailed electric chair. The voiceover was blunt, warning kids about the dangers they could face if they made the wrong decisions.
The frightening imagery of the electric chair was so unsettling that it made kids question every decision they made—even those that seemed harmless. It wasn’t just about the physical consequences of running away, but the psychological trauma of seeing such a stark, terrifying image tied to what should have been a simple warning. Watching this as a kid, it felt more like a threat than a helpful suggestion.
4. “The Living Doll”
In the ’70s, a PSA about child safety featured a disembodied, lifelike doll that seemed to have a mind of its own. The doll would stare blankly at the screen, while a voice in the background warned about the dangers of trusting strangers. The unsettling thing was how the doll’s eyes seemed to follow the viewer, creating a sense of unease as the message unfolded.
As the doll’s gaze intensified, the warning became more direct, urging kids to never talk to strangers or accept rides from them. The combination of the inanimate, lifeless doll and the sinister music made it impossible for kids to feel comfortable watching it. To many, it became less of a safety lesson and more of a nightmare-inducing experience that stuck with them long after the commercial was over.
5. “The Insomniac”
One of the most terrifying PSAs aired in the ’60s, highlighting the effects of sleep deprivation. The image of a wide-eyed, sleep-deprived man stares directly into the camera, his face gaunt and eyes wild. His face contorts as the narration explains how lack of sleep can affect one’s mental state, leading to dangerous, irrational behavior.
What made it particularly disturbing was the use of flickering lights, which made the whole scene feel even more surreal. It wasn’t just about sleep deprivation—it felt like a glimpse into madness. For young viewers, it wasn’t just a warning about staying up too late—it was a deep dive into a nightmarish world where you could lose control of your own mind.
6. “The Shrunken Head”
One of the oddest PSAs of the ’70s involved a shrunken head—yes, you read that right. This ad aimed to warn kids about the dangers of taking drugs, and it featured a creepy shrunken head as the central image. The face of the head would distort and shrink in time with the narrator’s chilling voice, describing how drugs could have the same effect on a person’s life.
The combination of a grotesque shrunken head and the ominous tone made this public service announcement deeply unsettling. It wasn’t a simple “drugs are bad” message—it was one that portrayed how they could physically and mentally disfigure you. For kids watching, it felt like a warning that carried more weight than any educational lesson could.
7. “The Little People”
A PSA from the late ’60s showed a family of “little people” living in the walls of a child’s house. These miniature people, dressed in bizarre clothing, would sneak into the child’s room and move objects around while the child slept. The narrator’s voice warned of the dangers of being too reckless with your possessions or behavior, but the creepy little people were the most vivid takeaway.
The small, unsettling figures combined with the weird and unsettling idea that they were silently watching made the PSA feel more like a horror movie than a helpful lesson. It wasn’t just about being careful—it was about the terrifying thought that there were little, unseen people in your home, manipulating your world in secret. It stuck with kids long after it aired.
8. “The Face in the Mirror”
In the late ’60s, an eerie PSA warned kids about personal hygiene using the creepy concept of a face appearing in the bathroom mirror. The face would slowly emerge, its features twisting as it mocked the child’s laziness in taking care of their skin or teeth. The unnerving thing was how the face seemed to grow more distorted the longer the child ignored the warning.
The message itself was straightforward—brush your teeth, wash your face—but the visual imagery was so disturbing that it made kids dread looking in their own mirrors. The idea that an unknown, creepy version of yourself might emerge from the reflection felt like a threat to every child watching, making the PSA much more nightmarish than educational.
9. “The Terrifying Housefire”
A PSA aimed at educating kids about fire safety in the early ’70s featured a disturbing, animated sequence showing a house catching fire. As the flames grew, they took on a life of their own, moving in frightening ways that made the fire seem more like a malevolent force than a natural disaster. The flames would crawl up the walls and reach for the children inside.
What made this PSA stand out wasn’t just the imagery, but the chilling voiceover that seemed to suggest that the fire had a mind of its own. The sense of helplessness as the family struggles to escape combined with the eerie, almost supernatural flames left many children in a state of sheer terror. It wasn’t just a warning—it felt like a horrifying glimpse into the inevitability of destruction.
10. “The Man in the Shadows”
This PSA was all about stranger danger, but it took the warning to a whole new level of creepiness. The ad featured a shadowy figure who lurked in doorways, watching children from afar. The figure’s face was never fully visible, but his movements were slow and deliberate, creating a sense of constant threat that seemed to hang over every scene.
As the figure crept closer to the child, the voiceover warned about the dangers of talking to strangers. The constant presence of the man in the shadows, coupled with his unnervingly quiet movements, made the PSA stick in kids’ minds long after the broadcast. It felt like every corner could hide something sinister waiting to pounce.
11. “The Screaming Face”
Another deeply unsettling PSA used a screaming, distorted face to demonstrate the importance of seat belts. The face would scream as the car jolted forward in a crash simulation, showing what could happen when kids weren’t strapped in properly. The exaggerated, distorted face twisted in terror, making the point about safety clear but in an absolutely horrific way.
For children watching, the screaming face seemed like an out-of-body experience. It wasn’t just a lesson in safety—it was an intense, emotional visual that left a lingering impression. The ad was effective, yes, but it also created an enduring nightmare for those who saw it, long after they understood the importance of buckling up.
12. “The Car Crash Dummy”
In a chilling PSA from the ’60s, a crash test dummy was shown being slammed against the walls of a vehicle during a simulated crash. What was particularly frightening was the way the dummy’s body would contort and twist as it collided with the interior of the car. It was a stark reminder of the dangers of reckless driving, but the visual itself felt almost too real.
The combination of the intense crash sounds, the unblinking stare of the dummy, and the horrifying contortions made the entire experience feel like a warning of imminent death. For kids, it wasn’t just about wearing seat belts—it was a reminder that life could end in an instant. This PSA succeeded in its message but terrified its young audience in the process.