Vintage cigarette girls in nightclubs were glamorous young women in stylish uniforms (like corsets, skirts, pillbox hats) who sold cigarettes/cigars from neck-strap trays, embodying the era's sophistication and independence (1920s-50s), offering charm and an "experience" alongside tobacco, a key part of lively urban nightlife before vending machines took over.

Appearance & Attire

Uniforms: Often glamorous, sometimes themed (e.g., burlesque), including corsets, skirts, petticoats, gloves, and distinctive pillbox hats.

Accessories: A large tray with cigarettes, cigars, candy, gum, and matches, suspended by a neck strap.

Makeup: Emphasized the era's beauty standards, with bold lips and defined eyes.

Role & Vibe

Sales & Service: Walked through crowds selling tobacco and small items, enticing customers with charm.

Icon of Glamour: Represented the allure of smoking, jazz, and the burgeoning independence of women in the "Roaring Twenties" and beyond.

Social Interaction: More than just sellers; they provided witty conversation and flirtation, making them a memorable part of the nightlife.

Cultural Significance:

From Speakeasies to Stork Club: Popular from the 1920s Prohibition era (in speakeasies) through the 1950s in clubs, restaurants, casinos, and airports.

Hollywood Staple: Featured heavily in films, solidifying their iconic status.

Fading Tradition: Declined in the mid-1950s with vending machines but remains a nostalgic symbol of vintage American nightlife.