This week marked the 70th anniversary of V-J Day, so for Saluteback Saturday, another look through the cartoons of A Bird's Eye View of the Postwar World. Another cartoon by William Wenzel illustrates the anticipation of the war's end:
"Your third from the left postwar plan is home, baby!"
The anticipation of a return to a normal home life was not limited to seeing one's loved ones again. At least of the flesh and bones variety -- America's love affair with the car was about to shift into high gear.
A generation that had grown up with Depression Era and War Time austerity was eager for an end to shortages and rationing. Aside from failing to foresee the mobile home, cartoonist Harvey Johnson wasn't terribly far off the mark:
"This is my first postwar plan. Every day I'm gonna drive in and say 'Fill'er up!'"
The return to normalcy was, nevertheless, going to take some getting used to.
"Please don't salute me any more, your lordship -- I'm no longer a colonel, nor you a captain!"
(Cartoonist identified only as "Medill" in the book credits)
"I beg your pardon but this is an old sailor habit that keeps coming back to me!"
(Cartoonist William Wenzel, again -- some editor having decided to print a mirror image of the cartoon!)
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