JF Ptak Science Books
Following yesterday’s post on semi-indulgent expressions from pamphlet covers printed at the end of the Depression of business motivational ideals come these images, found as text illustrations to these marvelous non-sequitur works. Although only four pages long, these pamphlets (leaflets, really) have provided–pound-for-pound–more images of quietly bizarre, unexpected images than just about any source that I have seen. Taken out of context these posed photographs ask more questions and provide for more imaginative jungle trots than their disappointing original intentions.
A is for Annoyed, which Mrs. Harrison is, annoyed that Mr. Harrison has yet again forgotten to paint his bald spot. He thinks that his wife is over-reacting, pushed over the edge of reasonableness from her quack prescription of Neck-So-Thin dietary supplements. He keeps his opinion to himself.
B is for Bowls of Business–there is no telling what the kitchen scene means so far as business is concerned for this woman in 1937. Perhaps she is calling in a good deal from her bra-phone (the ‘phone cord seems to be going right into her heart) on a sale on bed pillows for bowls. I know that when she pushes back from the table her wooden chair will make a high-skreetching sound against the linoleum uni-fit flooring; her merchant husband, Mr. Beemish, will be awakened from his late sleep by the sound, again, and demand that she return the bowl to bed, pillow or not. Mr. Beemish was slightly feverish, wondering if he should go to his shop with window displays of nothing. The milkman–late again–shares a cigarette on the front porch with the ice man. The cigarette smoke rises to Mr. Beemish’s bedroom window as he strains against his own miniature pillow to hear what the men are saying, while thinking of nothing but his ice melting and his milk getting warm. And his pillow-less bowl.
