A Boy’s Room, Los Angeles, CA, 1957
A young man waves the Texas sate flag while posing at his mid-century modern desk. An American flag hangs on the wall. He is allegiant to both state and country. Beside the flag hangs a primitive snow scene painting. A corner radio keeps him informed and entertained.
Army barracks style bunk beds with chenille bedspreads keep him warm and rested. On his desk sits a globe and a model of a P-80 Shooting Star jest fighter – just like the ones involved in the massive air raid that never ceases on his wallpaper. He is being psychologically predisposed to participate in warfare. His bedroom is his command center. He practices his aim by shooting darts into the trashcan in front of him. It’s his patriotic duty.
Here’s to Jet fighter wallpaper, our patriotic duty and YOU!
It appears that the lower bunk is on wheels so it can be moved out to avoid conking your head a la tour bus bunk style…
I have that desk. Well probably not the same desk he is sitting at, but at least one that has the same lines, and still has the original formica desktop over wood. I got it for $2.00, and drove it home in the back seat of my 1962 Mercury Comet, which I still drive around Pasadena.
THose slippers he has on look like “opera slippers” that are still made today. They are made of soft brown leather, usually with a soft sole and sometimes a hard sole. His socks look like argyles.
Yes he throws darts, but I’d call them Intra-Residential Ballistic Missiles.
A boy in those days wanted some Nikes, but they weren’t shoes!
The footwear looks like some leather slippers that my Dad wore in the 50s. Not that I remember him wearing them then because I was born in 1958, but they were in the bottom back of my closet growing up.
Also, look at the great venetian blinds behind the sheers!
He’s a cute kid.
Thanks for the nostalgia. I grew up in Compton from my birth in 1944 to the age of 10 when we moved to Palos Verdes Estates in 1954.
How bout those socks beneath the shoes or perhaps they are slippers and only a midget could fit in that bottom bunk.
This boy looks familiar….
Charles,
You’re right.He is a patriot but I wanted to know mopre about his footwear…where did he get those socks? Are they multi-colored? They have a fight of their own going on I hink.
Hey Charles. This could be your “Mini-Me” All he needs is a Fez and some rhinestones on there ! Hope all is well. It has been to long my friend. Chris (Red)
What about his footwear??????
CHARLES! i am shocked and disappointed that you did not mention fighter jet boy’s socks and footwear. what was up with them?
great site
Great photo and your usual attention to detail. Speaking of detail, it would be a nice feature if we’d be able to click on the photo to enlarge it to really see the details.
RE: A Boy’s Room, Los Angeles, CA, 1957 – I didn’t want to wake the baby, so I couldn’t actually Laugh-Out-Loud, but I did shed tears Laughing-To-Self over this one. Thanks! – David
Close on the plane, but not quite – the swept-back tail surfaces and thick rear fuselage peg it as a Lockheed F-94C Starfire all weather interceptor, a development of the T-33 trainer, which was a modification of the F-80 fighter, which was known as the P-80 before the designation changed in 1948 – ok, stop rolling your eyes at me…
Charles, if I didn’t know that you’re much too young to have been alive in 1957, I might think that this is a shot of you as a young man!
(With all due respect, of course.)
I want some of that wallpaper for a nursery. So cool!!
The poor kid never had a chance!
Charles. 1957 was a marvelous year. I remember. I liked this picture. The flags of US and Texas.Yes, the young, the schoolboys were patriot too.God bless America. Thanks.
…and how about them shoes?????
What’s on his feet?