MILWAUKEE RAILROAD During World War II

Is this ad corporate propaganda? I think we can figure out what's going on here without reading the text, but the text does add more color. Try to imagine a large corporation running an ad like this today? The idea that through their efforts the enemy is being killed. I don't recall seeing any defense contractors going to the general public with this message today. They don't need our approval. They've got representatives bought and paid for. I think they'd rather we not know how they are profiting from the wars.

The nation was different in World War II. The citizens were united in one effort. Not today. From today's perspective I find this ad unnerving. Perhaps in 1943 I'd have felt different. I don't know. I have a hard time demonizing a group of people instead of just individuals.

Click on image to see it larger.

To read a brief history about the now defunct Milwaukee Road click here.

SANTA FE RAILROAD ad, tattered

This ends my theme of National Parks, Fred Harvey, and the colorful illustrations used to sell the Southwest.

Here's a Santa Fe Railroad ad from Holiday magazine, March 1949. As you can see, somewhere along the line, someone wanted something and took their scissors and did a little clipping on it, chopping out the Native Americans in the lower corner of the illustration. Looking online I haven't found this ad anywhere else so we'll just have to fill it in with our imaginations. To see other ads for the Santa Fe Railroad look here and here. And to read a little history about the railroad click on Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe.

I think you can see how the style of illustration became pretty iconic, including the paperdoll I posted on October 2nd, Blue Feather and Silver Cloud. Hope you've enjoyed this little visit through this lovely style of illustration all brought to my mind because of the National Park postcards I purchased years ago.