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'Classy Chassy'
This is a book of reproductions of paintings the art historians have missed.
American pop art, which reflected the commercial art forms of the 1950s and 1960s, had its origins in the World War II boom in mass-production, in machinery and in magazines, from which came another, unsung, school of painting: the Girl Art which appeared on US Military Aircraft of World War II and Korea.
American pop art, which reflected the commercial art forms of the 1950s and 1960s, had its origins in the World War II boom in mass-production, in machinery and in magazines, from which came another, unsung, school of painting: the Girl Art which appeared on US Military Aircraft of World War II and Korea.
92 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 26, 2024
I have never had any interest in aeroplanes but I dare say if I had seen some of them decorated with attractive pin-ups in diaphonous negligees as in this delightful book I might have been more drawn to them!
The title of the book came from the 1940 Raoul Walsh film 'They Drive By Night', in which trucker George Raft is seen leaning on the counter of a diner, remarking on the "classy chassis" of the waitress Ann Sheridan, as he proposes to "finance it". And the title of the book, slightly changed for aesthetic purposes, is most apt, for the selection of aircraft, and I won't go into technical details as they are secondary to the main act, are tastefully decorated with pin-ups done by very good amateur artists in the American forces.
There are many pastiches of the Peruvian master of the genre, Alberto Vargas but there are also many very good originals, which are also reproduced on many of the aircrew's flying jackets.
The US Post Office did at one time try to censor the Vargas' girls, contending they were 'obscene, lewd and lascivious' and attempts were made within the US Army Air Force to similarly censor the Girl Art but common sense prevailed and they were permitted as doing otherwise could seriously have damaged morale.
So we can admire Flamin' Mamie, Baby Lu, Miss Yourlovin, Harriet Z, Lorilei, Sally B, Diamond Lil and many others generously, and in various states of deshabille, displayed on the side of the American aircraft flown in World War II and in Korea.
The painters, the ground crew, to which many of the artists were attached, and the flyers all enjoyed the experience of having these decorated aircraft in their squadrons and there was no doubt that the pin-up imbued the aircraft with a personality that no serial number or name could ever have given.
A great book to look at, with the image of 'Night Mission' my top pick of the artwork!
The title of the book came from the 1940 Raoul Walsh film 'They Drive By Night', in which trucker George Raft is seen leaning on the counter of a diner, remarking on the "classy chassis" of the waitress Ann Sheridan, as he proposes to "finance it". And the title of the book, slightly changed for aesthetic purposes, is most apt, for the selection of aircraft, and I won't go into technical details as they are secondary to the main act, are tastefully decorated with pin-ups done by very good amateur artists in the American forces.
There are many pastiches of the Peruvian master of the genre, Alberto Vargas but there are also many very good originals, which are also reproduced on many of the aircrew's flying jackets.
The US Post Office did at one time try to censor the Vargas' girls, contending they were 'obscene, lewd and lascivious' and attempts were made within the US Army Air Force to similarly censor the Girl Art but common sense prevailed and they were permitted as doing otherwise could seriously have damaged morale.
So we can admire Flamin' Mamie, Baby Lu, Miss Yourlovin, Harriet Z, Lorilei, Sally B, Diamond Lil and many others generously, and in various states of deshabille, displayed on the side of the American aircraft flown in World War II and in Korea.
The painters, the ground crew, to which many of the artists were attached, and the flyers all enjoyed the experience of having these decorated aircraft in their squadrons and there was no doubt that the pin-up imbued the aircraft with a personality that no serial number or name could ever have given.
A great book to look at, with the image of 'Night Mission' my top pick of the artwork!
December 12, 2015
The art is okay but it mainly made me feel like pilots were a bunch of dirty old men.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews