Howard Scott
Closed for the Duration, Loose Talk Can Cost Lives

Lithograph
51 x 36 cm

‘Closed for the duration…Loose talk can cost lives.’

In both the United Kingdom and the United States, there was a constant fear of insider information being overheard by the enemy. As a result, there were several propaganda drives to encourage discretion among the citizens of the countries. This particular poster belongs to an American collection centring around the slogan ‘loose talk can cost lives.’ Depicting a man with his mouth taped together, his lips shut tight and sealed shut, this poster represents an aspirational antithesis of ‘loose talk’.

Howard Scott (1902-1983) was a billboard designer for many American companies in the mid-twentieth century. He was known for designing billboards with clever one liners and large pictures of friendly, everyday people on them. He was famous for his designs for companies including Heinz Ketchup, Nash Automotive, and Campbell’s Soup. During the Second World War, he joined the navy where he illustrated posters for the U.S. War Information Center, including the poster pictured here.

For other propaganda posters, click here.