1952: Only waiting so long
As time moves on the beer becomes more attractive.
1953: Go away
An effective way of keeping the child away from her dog…
1953: Emmett and an impoverished stately house
Emmett is diversifying into horticulture. The whimsy is still there. On the right we see a toff, on top of a ladder, posing for the gardener.
1957: A former fashion icon
Duffel coats, with their distinctive toggles, were very popular in the aftermath of World War Two. They were surplus government stock and sold very cheaply. Students were especially addicted to this garment. It was also associated with left wing politicians.
1957: French down and out wine snob
These French tramps have been foraging for food in waste bins. The man on the right is questioning whether the discarded red wine goes with fish in the form of an already opened tin of sardines. I think I have read that this ‘rule’ is not really valid.
It is interesting to see that in 1957 Punch was assuming that its readers could understand French.
1951: NHS Guilt
Anton shows an upper middle-class woman feeling uncomfortable about ‘free’ NHS treatment. She should be reminded that it is not really free because it is funded out of general taxation. She certainly should feel guilty if her husband isn’t paying tax.
Again we witness impossibly small feet and improbably high heels.
1953: After the ball is over….
Something else that need to be tidied up.
Like that one because of the absurdity of the situation.
1953: Education education education
Modern education methods were often mocked in the pages of Punch.
1957: Swotty schoolgirls
This is a surprising example of education (private school obviously) in 1957. These really young children are enthusiastically set on decoding a Latin inscription. The teacher clearly regards this as normal.
1959: Shepherds keeping warm
A major departure for Thellwell.
1950: Reading the signs
Perhaps it is the secretary who should be the boss. She has interpreted the signs and he can’t be bothered to tell her where is going.
1959: Happy ever after?
Things don’t look good. They can’t even get to the reception without losing the initial mutual attraction.
1947: Stereotypes still dominant
If that is what matters most perhaps she shouldn’t have studied nuclear physics. That surely makes it an unlikely scenario.
Come to think about it back in 1947 she would have probably been the only woman student on that course. The men students would have been competing for her favour. That’s the real answer: marry another nuclear physicist.
1954: Not fascinated by this still new medium
Everyone in the room, apart from William, is staring intently at a tiny black and white screen still impressed that such a marvel can take place in the home. William is content to read a book. I wonder whether the cartoonist expects the readers of Punch to agree with the boy or with his mother. Probably with the boy since telly was increasingly becoming a competitor to Punch.
1959: Swimming Lesson?
The cartoonist seems to have an odd idea of what is funny. They won’t learn to swim from this scenario with the rubber ducks. At best they would become familiar with being in the sea. Why is the teacher driving them with a stick? Questions for sure, but no answers.
1961: History repeating itself?
There was genuine excitement at the time caused by the race to place men on the moon. It was widely believed that this, once achieved, would automatically lead to further achievements. Science fiction really seemed likely to be overtaken by science facts. Here is an example where the cartoonist is looking for a repeat of colonialism followed by eventual independence for the colonised. These expectations have now changed. Manned exploration has been superseded by machine exploration which can achieve more and penetrate much further.
1960: Grounds for divorce
Mutual incompatibility was not yet considered adequate grounds for divorce. It is clear that is the wife who has perpetrated the mental cruelty.
1962: Thelwell being political?
The original caption underneath, spoken by the waitress to the waiter, is as follows:
Money can’t buy them happiness.
I wonder what is going on here. This room in a stately house is overflowing with young rich people enjoying themselves. Why is this room so unbelievably full of the toffs? Why are there so many crowded together? Is Thelwell being ironic? Any other theories?