A slice of life in 1936, Columbus, Ohio


Although the photos on the Duke University site ROAD (Resource of Outdoor Advertising Descriptions) are all about the billboards, which is why the photos were taken, what I enjoy the most is the fact that it captures an ordinary moment in time, which I like to call a "slice of life". Like one of my favorite humorists, James Thurber, who just happens to be from Columbus, Ohio, I prefer to speak largely about small matters and smally about great affairs. So if you're expecting anything in the photo to be spectacular, or historically significant, sorry, there's nothing like that. But let's take a look, anyway.

Just to keep the record straight, it's 1936 and we're on High Street at 5th Avenue looking south. Well, the point of view of the photographer is looking that way. But since this is a journey of imagination, I'm gonna look the other way. Here, I'll zoom in on me - trying to listen to someone who is going on, and on, and on, and on...


Yeah, I'm girl-watching, or at I'm least trying. Mr Suspenders there has me cornered, and has just started his fifth "Well, anyways..." while I'm trying to see some ankles. I wish he would put his arm down! It would be so much easier if I was the guy in the straw hat, his view isn't obstructed.

I have no idea what he's talking about, maybe how things were better back in his day, that sort of thing. Maybe if I told him the lady in the hat was someone that I knew from high school, I could run up to her, and get away from this talkative fellow. Gab, gab, gab! Maybe she wouldn't even see me if I came up on her right side, with that big hat in the way.

Here I go. "Say! Maudie! Hold up! It's me, Clem!"



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