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August 1963. My nephew Jimmy (who you may remember as the Suburban Cowboy) watching a cartoon on TV in South Gate, California. He's three here, and I was 17 when I shot this Kodachrome. I haven't been able to nail down the cartoon, but it has a mid-1930s look to it. View full size.
One of the figures looks like the Grasshopper in "The Grasshopper and the Ants," a Silly Symphony from 1934.
I sure hope Jimmy was potty trained when that picture was taken.
I distorted the image in Photoshop to provide a "straighter" view of the TV screen. It looks like something on a tree stump on the right side of the image. I can't figure out what the rest of the items are.
[Looks like a camping scene -- canoe, stone fireplace, a barrel. - Dave]
Those onion-head haircuts still exist; I give my kids one every month or so.
Is cover art for some band's CD. Possible iTunes immortality.
Can't make out the tv's brand. Probably built 1951-56 or so.
I thought it might have been a Packard Bell or Hoffman (both California brands), but www.tvhistory.tv has brochures for both brands, and the center control covers on both are metal with the logos stamped on. The cover on this tv appears to be plastic, so it might have been a private label, maybe from Western Auto or some other retailer.
I can't make out the cartoon either.
I love that he was watching cartoons (by all appearances) unclothed! Mom definitely was not home for the naked face-in-the-TV cartoonfest.
This photo is phenomenal. Kids in front of a TV have the same look on their faces no matter what the decade.
According to the prevailing wisdom of the time, the poor kid "ruined his eyes" by sitting so close to the TV.
Jimmy, back up before you go blind!
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