Figure 1.--Guarding installations around the country were makeshift in the ealy days of the War. The World War I type helmet the actual soldier is wearing shows that this photpgraph almost certainly was taken in 1942. Notice the boys long ants torn at the knee. Most boys wire jeans and other with double knees and mom became very expert in pathing pants torn at the knees. Peter Stackpole for "Life". |
I'm not sure to what extent girls' play was affected by the War, but boys' play was changed amost over night. Boys in the 1930s might play cowboys and Indians or cops and robbers. After Pearl Harbor it was warfare full tilt. I know in the late 1940s and 1950s this was still the case, at least until Davey Crockett appeared on television about 1956. I know that among my friends the popular target was the Germans. I remember my real (and very heavy) stell-pot helmet and tou Colt 45. I am not sure that this sas the case during the War as Pearl Harbor may have inspired a desire to fight the Japanes. That certainly was the case for the public at large that wanted to focus on the Japanese in contrast to the war planners who from the very beginning adopted a Germany first policy. Hopefully our HBC readers will provide some details about their play in the 1940s.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to Main American World War II displaced children page]
[Return to Main American 1940s page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Satellite sites]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]