1944 Riker's Lunchrooms Help Wanted Billboard 2

1944 Riker's Lunchrooms Help Wanted Billboard 2

Huge billboards advertise that help is wanted in Riker's Lunchrooms. There was a severe shortage of labor during World War II from many men and women going away, overseas in the war.

Kosti Ruohomaa documented some of the many posters and banners informing and encouraging people to come together to do things that would help the collective effort while the United States was fighting in World War II. Some of the signs give information about supply fluctuations and ration stamps, others illustrate a labor shortage, while a few businesses seem to be using the war to get people to buy their products. Most of the posters, signs, and displays showed the commitment of businesses, families, and workers to do their part to help their country. Six images were published in the September 25, 1944 issue of LIFE Magazine on pages 96-97, 100, and 104-105.