Loose Talk Can Cost Lives Don't be a Dope
Half sheet This 1942 American propaganda poster, titled
"Don’t Be a Dope and Spread Inside Dope," was created by artist Cecil Calvert (C.C.) Beall during World War II. It was issued by the British and American Ambulance Corps to promote discretion and raise funds for the war effort.
Meaning and Imagery
The poster is part of the "Loose Talk Can Cost Lives" campaign, which aimed to warn citizens that sharing sensitive information—even accidentally—could aid enemy spies.
The Figures: Two blue-collar factory workers are shown chatting over beers at a bar. One worker wears an identification badge, signaling his involvement in wartime production.
The Threat: Looming behind them is a spectral, smirking figure of Adolf Hitler. His enlarged ear symbolizes the constant presence of enemy eavesdropping.
The Message: "Dope" was common 1940s slang for "information" or "gossip". The slogan warns workers not to be foolish ("a dope") by sharing confidential workplace details ("inside dope") that could lead to the loss of lives on the battlefield.
"Don’t Be a Dope and Spread Inside Dope," was created by artist Cecil Calvert (C.C.) Beall during World War II. It was issued by the British and American Ambulance Corps to promote discretion and raise funds for the war effort.
Meaning and Imagery
The poster is part of the "Loose Talk Can Cost Lives" campaign, which aimed to warn citizens that sharing sensitive information—even accidentally—could aid enemy spies.
The Figures: Two blue-collar factory workers are shown chatting over beers at a bar. One worker wears an identification badge, signaling his involvement in wartime production.
The Threat: Looming behind them is a spectral, smirking figure of Adolf Hitler. His enlarged ear symbolizes the constant presence of enemy eavesdropping.
The Message: "Dope" was common 1940s slang for "information" or "gossip". The slogan warns workers not to be foolish ("a dope") by sharing confidential workplace details ("inside dope") that could lead to the loss of lives on the battlefield.
Mounted
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