Washington Cigarettes?

September 13, 2011 3:29 AM

Do Washington brand cigarettes exist in the US? I have seen them on Breaking Bad and other TV shows and movies.

There is/was a brand by that name in the Netherlands (or so I see here) but do they actually exist in the US? The Dutch pack has a similar color but wrong font for the US specimens I have seen. Reason for my query: I suspect this is a made-up brand for TV/movies that cannot be said to advertise any extant brand. Am I wrong?

posted by CCBC to media & arts (11 answers total)

I believe your suspicions are correct (fake brand). I am trying to think of films other than Tarantino's (Apple cigarettes) in which a fake brand is used. They are usually approximate to Marlboro Red packaging and appearance.
posted by kuanes at 4:16 AM on September 13, 2011 [1 favorite]

Morleys are probably the most famous fake brand of cigarettes, as seen on The X-Files and lots of other movies and TV shows.
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:32 AM on September 13, 2011 [4 favorites]

Haha, I was thinking the same thing. Are you adopting a Pinkman lifestyle? I'm in Amsterdam and I haven't seen Washington cigarettes - ever. I'll ask in the shop later this afternoon. If they're available, i'll let you know in this thread.
posted by ouke at 5:00 AM on September 13, 2011

They're a fictional brand. I believe there are restrictions on showing real brands of cigarettes on TV, because they are not allowed to be advertised on TV and it would amount to product placement.
posted by Miko at 6:04 AM on September 13, 2011

In fact, when Superman II is shown on TV in the US, a product-placed "Marlboro" truck is retroactively blurred out of the picture.
posted by endless_forms at 6:34 AM on September 13, 2011

I've never heard of them either, but what a great name for a cigarette brand! Another fake brand is "Laramie" from The Simpsons.
posted by gjc at 6:44 AM on September 13, 2011

gjc: Laramie is in fact a real brand.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:16 AM on September 13, 2011

From the linked image (and name) looks like they're based on the Parliament brand.
posted by Lorin at 12:05 PM on September 13, 2011

Thanks for the answers so far. I've checked out some fictional brands sites but seen no mention of Washington cigarettes. Also, I'm curious now about whether they really are available in the Netherlands.
posted by CCBC at 12:15 PM on September 13, 2011

The fake brand used in Breaking Bad is Wilmington [via reddit]
posted by birdherder at 6:18 PM on September 14, 2011 [1 favorite]

Thanks, birdherder. My eyes aren't what they used to be.
posted by CCBC at 2:23 PM on September 15, 2011