Growth of the Black Market During WW2

Summary

The video depicts a time of meat rationing during a period of scarcity, where some Americans turned to black market transactions to obtain extra meat. It shows the challenges and moral dilemmas faced by individuals, like butchers and shoppers, navigating the illegal trade. The humor in the scene is reflected in an interaction about purchasing a steak under the counter, along with a comedic skit featuring Lana Turner frying a porterhouse steak. This mix of social commentary and humor emphasizes the lengths people went to during wartime shortages.

Takeaways

• 😀 The black market for meat emerged during wartime rationing, with some wholesalers selling meat illegally.
• 😀 Rationing limited meat to 2 pounds per person per week, but some Americans paid extra to access more.
• 😀 Cattle rustlers returned to the scene, stealing livestock, although their operation was disorganized and unsanitary.
• 😀 Most black market transactions involved small, under-the-counter deals between butchers and regular customers.
• 😀 Customers often negotiated prices with butchers for different cuts of meat, leading to humorous exchanges.
• 😀 The customer in the butcher shop demands a thicker cut of meat, even though it costs more than the allotted ration.
• 😀 There’s a humorous back-and-forth between the butcher and the customer about ration stamps and the price of steak.
• 😀 The government's price ceiling on meat is discussed, with some characters complaining about the costs and regulations.
• 😀 The film humorously portrays the moral dilemma of Americans, with the majority accepting the black market transactions at least some of the time.
• 😀 Lana Turner’s appearance in a comedic sketch involving an exaggerated performance with a porterhouse steak highlights wartime entertainment and humor.
• 😀 The humor in the sketch contrasts the serious backdrop of rationing, using exaggerated characters and situations to bring light to a tough time.

Q & A

What illegal activities are mentioned in the transcript?

The transcript mentions wholesalers selling meat illegally and cattle rustlers slaughtering stolen livestock, which were part of a black market operation during wartime rationing.

What was the meat ration during this period?

The meat ration was 2 pounds per person per week, which led some Americans to seek additional meat through illegal means.

What type of black market transactions are discussed in the transcript?

The transcript describes small, under-the-counter deals between butchers and their regular customers, where the customers paid extra for meat that exceeded their ration allotment.

How did the butcher respond to the customer's request for a thick sirloin steak?

The butcher initially hesitated, asking if the customer had enough ration stamps for the large steak. He later offered a smaller steak for the same price but eventually agreed to provide the requested thick steak for 80 cents a pound.

What was the price of the steak offered in the black market transaction?

The steak was offered at 80 cents per pound, which the customer found expensive but ultimately accepted.

What does the shopper’s decision in the transaction represent in the context of the film?

The shopper’s decision to purchase the steak despite the high price represents the internal struggle many Americans faced, balancing moral considerations with the desire for more food during wartime.

What percentage of Americans are depicted as following the law during this period?

The film suggests that about 70% of Americans did the right thing and followed rationing rules, while the remaining 30% engaged in black market transactions.

What kind of content is shown in the government film within the transcript?

The government film portrays a shopper grappling with their conscience and ultimately making the right choice by adhering to rationing laws, reflecting the moral dilemma many faced during wartime shortages.

What humorous scene is included in the transcript involving Lana Turner?

In a comedic scene, Lana Turner is requested by soldiers to fry a 3-inch porterhouse steak, which is humorously guarded by an armed guard, making it a dramatic but lighthearted moment in the film.

Why is the porterhouse steak in the scene treated with such care?

The steak is treated with extreme care because it is described as the only one of its kind, and the soldiers humorously highlight its value by keeping it guarded like a rare treasure.