Back in 1949 serums were the talk of the town when combatting diseases, which lead to feats of heroism like in the above advertisment strip for Gillette safety razors (with a compartment for used blades!). And when I’m talking about heroism, I don’t mean the brave pilot who landed outside of the landing strip, but I’m referring to the rugged doctor, of course.
This strip brings up so many questions :
- How does it take 8 hours to administer 200 serums?
- Why does that doctor insist on shaving for an interview on the radio?
- “You flew the serum! Why…” — because she’s a pilot?
- What’s “M-m-m-m Handsome” and how can we get this more cringe?
- Were there antiserumers back then?
Anyway. Luckily we’ve come a long way and gender bias is a thing of the past!
(Image from Fantastic Novels vol. 2, issue 6 – March 1949)
By process of elimination (and with some comparison) I have come to the conclusion that this ad series may have been drawn by Elmer Wexler. But sadly, I am not sure and there is no way to confirm it.