Sweetheart Socks

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Stereotypes of homosexuality have been a traditional source of homophobic humor. This faux advertisement for "Sweetheart Socks" originally appeared in The Black Sheep, the house organ of New York ad firm The Ethridge Company. It was reprinted in the satirical magazine Hooey in January 1931. The cartoon drawing poked fun at noted commerical artist Cole Phillip's popular "Hole-proof Hosiery Girl" ad series. In spite of the objectionable tone of the Sweetheart Socks ad, it and similar kinds of mass-culture productions give historians valuable information about how gay life has been perceived and understood.