Re: The Pages of Punch

1949: Could have been Expressed More Diplomatically

The customer has noticed the gaffe even if the beauticians have not.

Re: The Pages of Punch

These are getting more and more giggle-worthy.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1949: From Potato Field to Chip Shop

Emett has taken his cue from the combine harvester – and taken it to its illogical conclusion.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1949: Homer Brought Up-to-date

This artist’s standard technique is to place modern ideas into a context taken from history or literature. In this cartoon we are shown a modern ‘take’ on an episode in the Odyssey.

One of the many perils encountered by the crew of the Argo was that of the sirens who lured sailors to the deaths by persuading them to sail onto rocks. Here these sirens don’t want to do what they are meant to do. Instead one of them is referring to them as though she is a sixth former at a posh Girls’ Grammar School who has been told not to talk to those common boys from the local Secondary Modern.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1949: The Almost Perfect Uninvited Guest

Without a caption or any text the artist uses a well-executed series of drawings to let the pictures tell their story entertainingly.

The tramp is well mannered. Yes, he helps himself to a meal that doesn’t belong to him. On the other hand, he washes up after his fry up and closes the curtains before alighting at a traffic hold-up.

The car towing the caravan looks as though it might be a Morris Minor, which would be correct for 1949.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1949: Balance of Payments

Punch readers in 1949 no doubt were very exercised about the £50 maximum that they were allowed to take out of the country when going abroad for their holidays. This cartoon is a testament to the attraction of the exotic things that were available across the Channel – and to the difficulty of obtaining them.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1949: Seaside Encounter

The naive elderly gent is quite unaware of the commercial intent of the man who has just taken his photograph.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1949: Intrusion of TV

In the early 1930s there were some, though not many, jokes about the super-rich. Now, in 1949, we get only the one. This will not be a matter of chance. The super rich still survived but they had largely moved out of the ken of the readers of Punch.

Here the butler is making sure that he has correctly summarised Madame’s orders for what is to be served with which course. The innovation is that the dinner party will take coffee and Grand Marnier with television. Perhaps there would be really something worth watching. It didn’t happen all that often. The potter’s wheel wouldn’t fit the bill.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1949: Matchmaking Without Ultra Modern Technology

The romantically inclined lady at the marriage bureau is charmed that her efforts have been successful. In reality I fear that she would be much more hard-boiled than that reflecting that on this occasion, at least, she would not need to try once again to shift some awkward character off her books.

The cartoon reminds us how things have changed in this area. Dating sites now abound to say nothing of speed-dating. There is no longer any need to join (say) a pottery class in the hope of finding a like-minded partner.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1949: Light Larceny

I was around in 1949 and read the papers assiduously. I do recall the era of spivs (though I don’t remember the triangular hats with which Anton always drew them). I associate the spivs with selling objects in short supply – which had ‘just dropped off the back of a lorry’. I don’t associate their activities with daylight robbery but I can well imagine that Anton was much better informed than I was.

If there was any doubt about what the pair is up to one has only to look at feet of the spiv on the right of the drawing.