Documenting and Presenting the Posters of the WPA
(U.S. Works Progress Administration 1936 -1943) |
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Fun Stuff
Spotted on "Happiness for Beginners"
You never know when you might spot a WPA poster! The rom-com "Happiness for Beginners" chose some gems for this hiking-themed scene.
Spotted on Succession
Check out what our friend Michael Norris, Executive Director of the Carpenter's Company at Carpenters Hall spotted on an episode of Succession!
Our friend Sheila Ballen spotted the famous Philadelphia Zoo hippo poster in this real estate listing. Thanks for sharing, Sheila!
Spotted in the movie Dark City
Check out what our friend Laura Stroffolino, Curator of the Print & Picture Collection at the Free Library of Philadelphia spotted! From the 1998 file Dark City. See the original below it.
Spotted in the Dolemite Movie!
The Devil Passes - See the original
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Big White Fog - See original
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UArts WPA Poster Class 2020 - End of Class Virtual Art Show
Funny National Park Illustrations Based on Worst Reviews
These definitely made our day! Check out the full set here.
Happy Birthday Alex Peltz!
In celebration of this milestone birthday, we thought Poster for the People co-founder Alex W. Peltz deserved his very own "AWP" poster in the spirit of the WPA. We celebrate his time in Philadelphia and his role as visionary for this project and the Creative Director of Social Impact Studios! We got some inspiration from a poster that celebrates being surrounded by the outdoors, which is where Alex is now in Vermont! Happy Birthday, Alex!
Stranger Things
Check out this obscure WPA poster that team-member Cindy Ngo spotted in the 3rd season of Stranger Things!
The Shape of Water
Can you spot the WPA posters that showed up in The Shape of Water movie background set?
(click photo to link to the poster record)
(click photo to link to the poster record)
Some Philly Eagles Trivia
DID YOU KNOW? The 2018 Super Bowl champs are named after the New Deal "National Recovery Act" Blue Eagle? It's true! When owners Bert Bell and Lud Wray bought the Frankford Yellow Jackets in 1933, they named their team the Philadelphia Eagles after the symbol of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal!
The Crown on Netflix
Can you spot the WPA posters that showed up in The Crown? Not the right time or place, but still fun to see! ;-)
(click photo to link to the poster record)
(click photo to link to the poster record)
Skate Decks from @municipalskateboards
Inspired Spoofs & Appropriations
Click anywhere below to launch gallery
Agents of W.P.A.
The set designers on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. have good taste! We spotted two posters in Season 3.
(click photo to link to the poster record)
(click photo to link to the poster record)
Posters for the Muppets
The Muppets called us up in 2010 to find some vaudeville posters for background. Here's what they did!
NASA Travel Posters for Exoplanets
WPA travel posters inspired these celebrations of newly discovered planets
Travel Posters for Lazy People
Hilarious modern send-ups of classic WPA travel posters
Check out all seven design here
Check out all seven design here
For Trekkies
During the New Deal, "NRA" stood for the National Recovery Act. Businesses across the U.S. signed up to do their part by hiring more workers to boost the economy. Can you spot NRA poster in this scene from Star Trek? (and the original for reference).