Because when I think of Syphilis, I think of Dinosaurs.

At least, I will now.

This comes from a collection of posters advertising against Syphilis, collected at the  “The Passion of Former Days” blog, which are worth checking out if you have a moment and want to see some interesting posters. I just can’t get over the design decisions that led to this poster. Can you see a Don Draper-style meeting between a “creative” and his boss on this project?

BOSS: “Good news, Jimmy!”

JIMMY: “What’s that, boss?”

BOSS: ”The eggheads and pointdexters over in R&D have finally come up with something useful. Seems as though Syphilis is now curable.”

JIMMY: “Criminy! Can’t wait to tell the wife! She’s been on my back about getting that checked out for ages.”

BOSS: “Don’t I know it. Anywho, we need a new campaign to let the world know. Something with some whiz-bang. A real socko poster that says ‘Hey, got Syph? Not for long!’”

JIMMY: “Hmm, maybe it’s the Syphilis talking, but what about dinosaurs?”

BOSS: “A sexually transmitted disease poster featuring an extinct animal. I don’t know if it’s my Syphilis talking, but I think that’s gangbusters. Can we set the whole thing in Neuland?”

JIMMY: ”You bet your ass we can, boss.”

BOSS: “Jimmy, this is why you’re our best ad man. You really keep your finger on the pulse of things. Real cutting-edge thinking. That’s what’s gonna beat the Krauts, don’t cha know.”

JIMMY: “Now if only they’d find a way to get rid of my herpes!”

BOSS: ”That’ll be the day, Jimmy. That’ll be the day.”

And oh good, now I have the “Syphilis” tag on my website. Let’s all hope that doesn’t come up much, or if it does it goes away quickly.

Thanks to @ryanqnorth, @dirtbagg (via @annakrentz) for all the linkage that brought this to my attention.

^ 5 Comments...

  1. Susannah

    You're ridiculous.

    Love the poster.

  2. Crestlinger

    IIIITTTTSSSSS CAAATTTCCCHHHIIINNNGGGGGG…

  3. Anna Krentz

    Hahaha, love it!!

    Thanks for linking back to me!

  4. rosscott

    My pleasure! Love all the posters you post.

  5. Daniel

    "And oh good, now I have the “Syphilis” tag on my website. Let’s all hope that doesn’t come up much, or if it does it goes away quickly."

    They have antibiotics for that…

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