Today is World Tuberculosis Day and while we forget here in the states how devastating something like tuberculosis can be due to our easy access to advanced medical care we should be reminded it still kills almost one and a half million people each year. The American Lung Association formed in 1904 to fight the disease and began selling Christmas seals to raise money for the cause. Pictured immediately below is Ethel Barrymore in 1921 at a Christmas seals drive. Barrymore was nominated four times for an Oscar, winning Best Supporting Actress on her first nod for None but the Lonely Heart. Below her picture is General John Pershing, before he had a missile named after him, and President Woodrow Wilson, both participating in drives as well. After that is a series of four WPA posters from between 1936 and 1941, the first two issued in New York and the next two in Chicago. Finally, two posters from France, issued in 1917.
18 comments:
In the hurdle poster, Mal Nutrition is clearly winning. Tuber Culosis is making an ass out of himself. Again!
Not to mention, the klutz is just about to bust his ass there.
Some killer, can't even clear a hurdle! Which isn't to say I could, either.
I wanted to comment on the hurdle poster too. It's interesting tht Malnutrition and Heart Disease are portrayed as being breezy hurdles on the way to good health. Or, maybe they are saying that they are just easier hurdles to deal with than TB.
Also, I wish modern basketball players wore snap shorts.
Meanwhile I'm thinking The Templars are recruiting them young these days.
I was in another depressing meeting about staff cuts. Boy does this place believe in the slow bleed process. Will I lose my job? Come back in three meetings and we'll give you a few more cuts to make before we decide.
Anyway,
The hurdle poster stood out for me too. I think the assumption is that anyone named Tuber is just going to be inept at the hurdles.
Actually, at the time, malnutrition in the states at least was receding to the fringes as better understanding of vitamins and food groups came to light. For instance, state fed citizens (orphans and prisoners primarily) had diets completely lacking in vitamin B, specifically B3 (niacin) until it was finally connected to pellagra and corrected.
But heart disease? I'm pretty sure that was then and now still wiping 'em out by the millions.
Arbo, I also get a vague Klan-like vibe from that little girl that's unsettling. And considering Wilson's beliefs it's not hard to imagine him contributing to such a cause.
One last thing: The way Tuber is falling is so cartoonishly klutzy that it makes you laugh which is decidedly not the effect one should want from a poster calling attention to a horrible health scurge. But seriously, you imagine him making one of those Jerry Lewis "ooooeeee..." sounds as he crashes down to the ground, arms outspread.
Sorry, now that I'm back from my meeting I can't stop. I also thought when uploading these that in the basketball one, it doesn't look so much like the girl with the ball is about to do a hook shot as she is about to slam that ball onto her opponents head, with extreme prejudice. Maybe the opponent is tuberculosis and it's supposed to look like that.
Greg-
Yeah, the basketball poster is odd. She must be about to slam it on her friends head b/c she is way too far away from the basket to actually dunk it.
And the girl in the red needs to learn a better defensive move than "wave your hands in the air".
You go from the Klan to Nazis in one swift motion ... the little girl signing Wilson up to "FIGHT Tuberculosis, OBEY the Rules of Health." And they have ways of making you obey.
Fox, the girl in red will learn cause she's about to get her head smashed in.
And if the little girl is recruited to make you obey then it seems like the Khmer Rouge. Wow, who knew so much could be read into that photo?
Wow, who knew so much could be read into that photo?
Always glad to help.
What do I gotta do to get a missile named after me?
Help win a world war. I'll see if I can start one up for you.
Greg, Greg, Greg (that is your name, right?)
It's 2009 - meaning that great sacrifices are no longer required. Can't I just win American Idol or America's Next Top Model or something?
You've got my vote. For your final number, do Wind Beneath My Wings.
Hi,
Since 1980, Tuberculosis has skyrocketed from over 200,000 cases to over 500,000! This astonishing number is a sign that organizations, such as yours, are important now, more than ever. As I read through your website, it is clear that we share the same passion in fighting this horrible disease. Here at, Disease.com, we are dedicated to the prevention and treatment of diseases. If you could, please list us as a resource or host our social book mark button, it would be much appreciated. We may not physically heal the suffering, but lets support their cause.
If you need more information please email me back with the subject line as your URL.
Thank You,
Sharon Vegoe
Disease.com
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