Re: The Pages of Punch

1936: The ‘Modern’ Family

There were a fair number of ‘progressive’ people around in the thirties. Normally they would have sent their children to ‘progressive’ schools such as Bedales and Summerhill. Here the culture shock was going to be intense both for Miss Addison and for Jane.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1928: How to achieve a happy marriage

This sort of cynicism was already live and well during the inter war period.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1931: Predatory female

Parlour Games indeed. The mind boggles as they say. What was she really suggesting?

Re: The Pages of Punch

Very forward of the young woman for the day.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1927: Men as unlikely fashion icons

A fair number of Punch jokes in the twenties and thirties featured holidays in Europe. Although in the north, and not the south, of France Deauville was a fashionable seaside resort as this cartoon shows. Here the suggestion is that the men are making all the running in stylish dressing. This is surely something of a hyperbole.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1927: Selling a car

How is that funny? That car surely can’t do seventy. The copper isn’t likely to participate in the deception. Would the prospect really want to go at seventy miles per hour?

I suppose the cartoonist is well aware of these contradictions.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1933: Not much change here

The clothes look different but the conversation could easily go like this today. To me the patient doesn’t look to be in need of slimming but that is just as likely today.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1927: Bad tempered colonel

What are we to make of this little offering? The colonel isn’t easy to please. The young man hasn’t a chance. Everything about him is wrong. The pullover deserves a mention too.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1927: Inevitable future

Daphne has observed her adult female relatives all busy dieting and she can think of no other future. She doesn’t look too happy about it.

Re: The Pages of Punch

1929: Dressing for dinner

She is determined to make a memorable entrance. His shocked reaction convinces her that she has made the right decision. It is, of course, depressing to realise that this seems to be entire summit of her ambition. ‘Sad’ as someone might tweet today.