Esquire Oct 1935 - Portrait of a Witty Hot Dog Salesman

[Anthony Jordan]

A houndstooth check topcoat.

 

[Anthony Jordan]

 

[odoreater]

That's from back when a hot dog vendor used to be able to make a decent living.

 

[edmorel]

Originally Posted by odoreater

That's from back when a hot dog vendor used to be able to make a decent living.

And back when hotdogs were made with meat.

 

[JLibourel]

Isn't the subject of the original illustration a customer of the hot dog vendor rather than the vendor himself? That's what it looks like to me, and the text seems to confirm it.

 

[Anthony Jordan]

Originally Posted by JLibourel

Isn't the subject of the original illustration a customer of the hot dog vendor rather than the vendor himself? That's what it looks like to me, and the text seems to confirm it.

Yes, I think the caption is a reference to the fact that the customers are smiling, presumably at a quip from the salesman. Is the text reasonably legible? - I can't really read it, but that may well just be my monitor.

Anthony.

 

[designprofessor]

Great illustrations, today it would feature a beer gut, tattoo and some peircing.

 

[Teacher]

Originally Posted by JLibourel

Isn't the subject of the original illustration a customer of the hot dog vendor rather than the vendor himself? That's what it looks like to me, and the text seems to confirm it.

Yes, that's true. One would have to be wearing a pretty damned thick pair of rose-tinted glasses to think that the typical hot dog vendor of 1935 dressed like that. Also, did you notice that his girlfriend is the one "with the incredible gams?"

How the hell do they know? We can't see them!

 

[Teacher]

Oh good grief...I misread the second caption by substituting an n for the s in "horsey"....

 

[Anthony Jordan]

 

[Teacher]

"The Agony of the Average!!"

Was the editor's last name "Pompous?"

PS- Great pics, by the way. Where did you pic up this old copy of Esquire, AJ?

 

[Anthony Jordan]

Originally Posted by Teacher

"The Agony of the Average!!"

Was the editor's last name "Pompous?"

PS- Great pics, by the way. Where did you pic up this old copy of Esquire, AJ?

Via the wonders of eBay from a fellow countryman of yours - they are scarce this side of the Atlantic. I was a bit shocked at the postage until I saw how big the damned thing was - plenty of print for the money!

A.

 

[Anthony Jordan]

 

[Anthony Jordan]

 

[DocHolliday]

The black and brown is lovely. I particularly enjoyed the line, "Ladies are going to write us indignant letters about this." (Along with "It's done by the very best people.")

Please keep the pictures coming. I'm really enjoying this thread.