From the Dick Buchahan Files: Back to School Gag Cartoons 1946 - 1961

It's always a mixture of dread and joy when it's "back to school" time. This 1996 Staples store TV advertisement pretty much captures the feeling:

 

But what was going back to school like back in the golden age of gag cartooning? Dick Buchanan answers that question and shares some single panel cartoons of that era. Thanks, Dick, and take it away!

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BACK TO SCHOOL
  (1946 – 1961)
 

It’s that time of year once again . . . Back to School. Did you ever wonder what was school like in mid-20th century? Your friendly cartoon curator doesn’t know.  Sure, he lived through it all, but he wasn’t paying attention. So, we delved into the Cartoon Clip File for some answers. The result was some gag cartoons which illustrate clearly what education had wrought and continues to wrought. Take a look . . .


1.  ALBERT SWAY.  American Magazine  September, 1951.

2.  STANLEY STAMATY.  Collier’s  September 20, 1947.

 

3.  HANK KETCHAM.  Collier’s  September 21, 1946.

 

4.  STAN FINE.  In the 1950’s schools cleverly skirted child labor laws by using kids as crossing guards. This was the “Baby Boomers” first taste of power.  Look Magazine  February 27, 1961.

 

5.  BRAD ANDERSON.  The Saturday Evening Post  November 21, 1953.

 

6.  SHARP.  1000 Jokes Magazine  May – June, 1946.

 

7.  WALTER GOLDSTEIN.  The Saturday Evening Post  May 21, 1949.

 

8.  JOE CAMPBELL.  American Magazine  December, 1952.

 

9.  HAROLD SPARBER.  Collier’s July 20, 1946.

 

10.  BOB GALLIVAN.  The Saturday Evening Post  January 11, 1947.

 

11.  GEORGE WOLFE.  The Saturday Evening Post  June 11, 1949.

 

12.  CHARLES PEARSON.  Collier’s  September 14, 1946.

 

13.  HARRY MACE.  American Legion Magazine  January, 1959.

 

14.  LESLIE STARKE.  Collier’s  September 18, 1948.

 

15.  REAMER KELLER.  The Saturday Evening Post  February 24, 1951.

 

16.  BORIS DRUCKER.  The Saturday Evening Post  October 28, 1948.

 

17.  CHARLES SHARMAN.  American Legion Magazine  June, 1955.

 

18.  MORT WALKER.  The Saturday Evening Post  May 21, 1949.

 

19.  WALTER GOLDSTEIN.  The Saturday Evening Post  February 7, 1951.

 

20.  HAROLD R. CURRIER.  American Magazine  June, 1950.

 

21.  SYD HOFF.  Collier’s  March 9, 1946.

 

22.  ELDON DEDINI.  Look Magazine  May 9, 1961.

 
Complied by Dickie Buchanan
1955 Graduate, Barboursville Elementary
Barboursville, WVA