Rob Price
Gutbrain Records
rob + gutbrain.com = email

2019 February 08 • Friday

When we picked up the November 1954 issue of Esquire, our first thought was to wonder why we had it in the first place.

The reason is that it had a Walter Tevis short story in it, never published anywhere else as far as we know, and it was even about pool hustlers.

Also in that issue was a fairly longish biographical piece about Red Norvo, this being a high point for jazz as a popular cultural force.

Near the back of the magazine, the ads become much smaller and somewhat more dubious: Half-price accordions, .12 caliber pistols, various massage things, "a fireside bikini" (velveteen with rhinestone initials of your choice).

And then there's this one:

It could be for something totally innocent but, like we said before, it seems dubious.