1936: The difference between theory and practice
The truth is now out.
1936: Somewhat exaggerated
There is, no doubt, a germ of truth here. Consider our Head of State.
1937: A real change here
Open fires are now quite unusual.
1934: Aristocratic self-improvement
This is a cartoon which is very class conscious. The visitors are shown as vey haughty and the butler is full of deference. Her ladyship doesn’t seem to be at all bothered by her status. Not doing her exercises in the privacy of her bedroom seems unlikely but it makes the drawing more complete. She certainly could do with some exercise.
There really was a Women’s League of Health and Beauty in the 1930s and it became quite fashionable at the time. By 1937 there were 166,000 members.
1937: The myth is proudly displayed
This is the sort of thing that was being portrayed at the time. The ship is sinking but the diners and the waiters are making no attempt to save themselves. It is very unlikely that such a thing would have occurred. It certainly didn’t happen on the Titanic.
1934: Confronting the hype
We are all so used to all these claims that we aren’t at all persuaded by them.
1937: Effortless Superiority
The holidaying visitors can’t help being annoyed at the local children for whom using their skis is an everyday experience.
1937: Finding it
What seemed obvious when she put it away doesn’t now seem obvious at all.
This was a time when a woman would not venture outside a house unless she was wearing a hat.
Thanks Mr M.
I’ve taken the liberty of copying that image to send to my wife (she’s in foreign parts right now - Eastbourne), as I think it is appropriate for her.
No liberty at all! I’m glad you like it.
1939: Zoo rules
Once again George Belcher portrays people who would not be likely to read Punch. The boy just wants to get close to the lions and his big sister hasn’t tried to deter him.
1937: Not much luck there
The cartoonist has accurately caught the boy’s reluctance. His mother hasn’t found the right form of words to get him to help her.
1937: Latecomers’ dilemma
The guests feel the need to come up with the best excuse for being late. The top hat identifies them as being high up in the social scale. Even they need to explain their lateness.
1924: An unexpected visitor
The nosy cow’s arrival is misunderstood. This scenario is somewhat unexpected in the pages of Punch.
1936: Croissants for breakfast? Never!
This tendency is still present now when some Brits travel abroad. For instance there was the holiday maker in Spain who complained that all the taxi drivers were Spanish.
1934: Pavement Artist
A surreal story in which the cat ‘consumes’ the fish but leaves the plate alone.
1937: Does the name fit?
A neat story briefly told.
1937: Keeping the romance going
Is her ladyship more interested in keeping Jane’s services for longer? Jane is presumably concerned to prolong the excitement of having found her mate.
1937: Intellectuals are different
This cartoon accurately depicts the gulf between intellectuals and ‘ordinary’ upper middle class people who were likely to read Punch.
You really could tell about people’s opinions by the way they dressed.
1937: Precocious schoolboy
It is interesting to see that splitting the atom was a recognised aspiration as early as 1937. Both boy and the master surely are caricatures?