Content note: A caricatured burlesque dancer stripping on stage, watched by leering men. This object is shown as it was published. Why
Don't strip "trade-ins"
Verse cartoon for soldiers: a gaunt burlesque dancer on a stage, shedding a dress hung with stripped parts, is watched by leering men below. The stage-show scene stands for vehicles stripped of parts, and 'Don't be a dope!' labels the part-swiper (name-calling). The poster uses an adult-entertainment scene as its device.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1945
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Ordnance Department, U.S. Army (Will Eisner)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Own forces
- Purpose
- Warn or inform
- Themes
- War and the military, Science and technology
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- 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 Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
Ordnance Department, U.S. Army. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1143B (NAID 514689).
Text on the object
Don't be a dope! DON'T STRIP "TRADE-INS" No more good than the bag at the left Is a "trade-in" of parts quite bereft Like the "teaser" above Only mother can love The Joe Dope who at part-swiping's deft! [imprint:] U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1945-O-631775
