What Will You Have to Show When This Show is Over?
A cartoon of a seated man outside an 'Employment Agency' says 'I've got some lovely memories', under the question 'What will you have to show when this show is over?'. The postscript says he will be better off with a savings backlog. The tell is the postwar joblessness scene with a single remedy, buying War Savings Certificates (fear appeal).
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1939
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Issuer not printed (War Savings Certificates appeal); artist 'Ricky'
- Region
- North America
- Country
- Canada
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Mackenzie King Government
- Leader
- William Lyon Mackenzie King
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Fundraise
- Themes
- Economy and finance, Home front
- Event
- World War II
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Foreign Posters, retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- Held by NARA, Unrestricted; Canadian wartime publication (Crown copyright, if any, expired); hosted by owner decision
Issuer not printed (War Savings Certificates appeal); artist 'Ricky'. National Archives and Records Administration, 44-PF-729.
Text on the object
WHAT WILL YOU HAVE TO SHOW WHEN THIS SHOW IS OVER? [speech bubble:] I'VE GOT SOME LOVELY MEMORIES -- [sign:] EMPLOYMENT AGENCY PS. BUT YOU'LL BE BETTER OFF IF YOU'VE GOT A SAVINGS BACKLOG TOO - BUY War Savings Certificates [signature:] Ricky
