I don't get these jokes!

L

ldeez

New member
In the Merrie Melodies short "The Weakly Reporter", there were a bunch of period (WWII) jokes, but there were some that I have a hard time getting the joke. Here are some:

*The woman getting aroused over the steak. I think that has something to do with meat being valuble and scarce in wartimes.
*The man with the Nazi spy. He gives her two small steaks, again a meat rationing joke?
*Kaiser: back in two minutes. The final scene means what?
*The robbery scene: The thieves stealing the alarm clock may be a scrap metal rationing joke?

HELP ME OUT, HERE!!!
 
"The Weakly Reporter" is definitely one of those shorts that haven't aged well with time, as most of the short's jokes centers around the huge amount of rationing that was happening at the time (which explains most of the jokes that you're asking about).

As for the Kaiser joke: that's a reference to Henry J. Kaiser, who was known at the time for the shipyards that created the various "Liberty ships" used in the war and setting up a medical plan that would a precursor to HMO's. As for the "back in 2 minutes" part, it's most likely a joke about him attending the launch of one of his ships.
 
I used to have a link that listed a bunch of pop culture and satirical references in Looney Tunes that would be lost on modern audiences. I didn't even know a lot of them on that list were even meant to be jokes.
 
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