Hitler and Mussolini Masks

Masks of dictators (as well as various other celebrities) could be purchased from the Johnson Smith Catalog back in the 30s and 40s. (Apologies to Paul for encroaching on his Johnson Smith series.) But what I found interesting was not only that they were sold, but that there are also images taken by photographer William Vanderson showing kids wearing them.

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Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Alex - Tue Jun 12, 2012
Category: Costumes and Masks | Politics

Comments

One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn't belong,
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?

Posted by Dumbfounded on 06/12/12 at 10:23 AM

Oh, sahib, you are such a tricky one to notice that Bapu was amoung all the evil ones.

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 06/12/12 at 10:28 AM

Who wouldn't want to go out in public looking like an evil despot? Although today I notice just naming your child Adolph Hitler can result in the child being taken away by the PC Division of the government.

Posted by KDP on 06/12/12 at 10:41 AM

I don't recognize either of the two in the front row.

Posted by TheCannyScot in Atlanta, GA on 06/12/12 at 11:26 AM

The two in the front row are Greta Garbo and Anna May Wong.

Posted by Alex on 06/12/12 at 11:34 AM

"Give me candy or I'll loose my armies upon you!"
"I want to be alone, with my candy."
"Give me candy, you can't go wong!"
"I shall not eat the candy, I shall give it to the poor."
Guess who said what. :cheese:

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 06/12/12 at 11:56 AM

Okay - Hitler, Garbo, Wong and Ghandi. Now, does Stalin say, "It is the people's right to have candy", or, "The candy must be shared among all the people, with the greatest share going to the ruling class - and that's me."? 😊

Posted by done on 06/12/12 at 10:57 PM

The last pic of the kid in the Hitler mask looks as if it was taken in post WWII England. What kid would want to be Hitler then and there? I guess he pulled the short straw. I hope he wasn't beaten to a bloody pulp...

Posted by ScoutC on 06/13/12 at 09:17 AM

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