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Sugar Bar: 1940

November 1940. "Boys in soft drink parlor. Central City, Kentucky." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size.

November 1940. "Boys in soft drink parlor. Central City, Kentucky." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size.

 

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Today’s Top 5

Time Traveler

Anyone else look at the fella on the right and his loose haircut and longish sideburns, and think he might have stepped out of a club on Carnaby Street, London circa mid to late 1960's? Not what I expected of pre-WWII Kentucky styling for gents.

Re: Re: Big Payoff!

You could actually win cigarettes if the right combination came up! Winnings were provided by the fellow behind the bar.

Everybody got a gumball if they wanted one, regardless of the combination on the reels. This enabled it to be legally considered a vending machine, rather than a gambling device. A clever way to get around anti-gambling laws in many places.

In reply to Mountainrev

It was curious how references to Boys, and age, as in this photograph, has changed in perception. In movies of these decades 30s to 60s, there are many references to boys or girls, who look the better part of 30 or 40. In 'Sunset Bvd' (1950) the William Holden character speaks of hanging out with 'kids my own age', and he looks over 40!
He's supposed to be the younger man, the object of affection of the 'much older' Norma Desmond character, who is only 50.

Why stay at the counter

I can’t speak for the rest of you, but one look at that soda jerk tells me why I would stay at the counter. As they used to say, “hubba hubba!”

Re: Big Payoff!

Apparently you would win gum depending on how many cigarette packs came up!

The perils of smoking

Our cigar smoker keeps his Zippo in his left coat pocket. The pocket flap is tucked in and the material above it is grubby from frequent hand contact. He has recently overfilled the lighter; the excess has found its way to the bottom of the jacket. This will quickly evaporate, unless the cigar ember finds it first.

Cigars, Cigarettes ...

and a wedding ring - that's what I see while reading these fellas from right to left.

No Beer, No Girls

It's not clear what's keeping these three guys at the counter.

By the way, Central City calls itself "Home of the Everly Brothers."

Either ...

Either the definition of "boys" has changed over the years, or they grew up real fast back in the good old days.

Big Payoff!

Love that penny slot machine on the bar!

"Soft" drink Parlor?

What's with the Cook's Goldblume Beer case behind the counter? These boys would be "good old boys", I reckon. https://harmeyerauction.hibid.com/lot/64719-232883-221775/cooks-goldblum...

“Slip”, ”Sach” and Bobby

Hangin’ out at Louie’s sweet shop.

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