---
title: What d' ya mean - you ain't gonna buy no bonds?
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/what-d-ya-mean-bonds-1941/
description: 'War-bond poster from a theatre chain: a photograph of a scowling seven-month-old baby, headed BUY BONDS AT YOUR NEAREST SKOURAS THEATRE and captioned'
section: Collection
---

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3. What d' ya mean - you ain't gonna buy no bonds?

[![What d' ya mean - you ain't gonna buy no bonds?, 1941 US poster: War-bond poster from a theatre chain](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/what-d-ya-mean-bonds-1941.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/what-d-ya-mean-bonds-1941.jpg)

# What d' ya mean - you ain't gonna buy no bonds?

War-bond poster from a theatre chain: a photograph of a scowling seven-month-old baby, headed BUY BONDS AT YOUR NEAREST SKOURAS THEATRE and captioned as a question to the viewer. The baby is presented as an ordinary child acting as a salesman, using humour and the family image to make the request feel everyday (plain-folks).

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
BUY BONDS AT YOUR
NEAREST SKOURAS THEATRE!
WHAT D'YA MEAN-
YOU AIN'T GONNA BUY NO BONDS!
[imprint: OWEN MURPHY Jr., AT 7 MONTHS IS SUPER SALESMAN FOR UNCLE SAM. HIS DAD COMPOSED "IT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING", USED TO WRITE JOE COOK'S SHOWS.]
```

[← War Traffic Must Come First](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/war-traffic-must-come-first-1941/) [Your Ears & Eyes Can Save Lives: Volunteer! For Civilian Defense →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/your-ears-and-eyes-can-save-lives-1941/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Trois Tetes sous l'meme bonnet (three heads under the same cap)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/trois-tetes-sous-le-meme-bonnet-1789/) (France · 1789 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['This log cabin was the first building erected on the North Bend', Whig print by T. Sinclair, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/harrison-north-bend-log-cabin-sinclair-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [Treeing Coons (pro-Polk cartoon), 1844](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/treeing-coons-polk-1844/) (United States · 1844 · Name-calling, Plain folks)
- [Zachary Taylor, People's Candidate for President (Currier banner), 1848](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/taylor-fillmore-peoples-candidate-1848/) (United States · 1848 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['Little Mac.' (from the Democratic presidential campaign songster)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/little-mac-song-sheet-feeks-1864/) (United States · 1864 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The peoples' choice, H. Greeley G. Brown](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/peoples-choice-greeley-brown-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The working-man's banner. For President, Ulysses S. Grant, 'The Galena Tanner.' For Vice-President, Henry Wilson, 'The Natick Shoemaker.'](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/working-mans-banner-grant-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [The Chappaqua farmer](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/chappaqua-farmer-1872/) (United States · Jul 1872 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)