 The lesson here is to always remember to bring a beach chair.  
These two summery Technicolor lithographs featuring unknown models on uncomfortable perches were made in the mid-1950s. The first is called “Queen of the Surf” and the second is “Beach Beauty” (showcasing the always lovely summer headscarf look), both from the A. Scheer Company.
Edit 2022: The second model is now identified as U.S. actress Vera Miles.
 When the photographer called her a living doll she didn’t suspect he’d turn her into one. 
This is a really striking Technicolor lithograph. Produced by Corp. A. Fox (or Fox A. Corp, or Copr. Fox A.) in 1955, it could be mistaken at first glance for a painting, but it’s actually a retouched photo—the details in the towel give it away. Even though the image is arresting, we don’t think the photographer/artist quite got the look he/she was seeking. To us, there’s an unpleasant and sinister edge to the scene, mainly due to the model’s expression shading more into horror than mere surprise. Don’t think so? Take a closer look below. Now imagine that face when you turn out the lights to go to sleep tonight. But if you think she looks horrified now, just try to imagine her expression when she saw the final result and realized she’d been turned into a lifeless porcelain figurine. 
 Which came first—the nightgown or the nudity?  
Above, two Technicolor lithographs of an unknown model against a blue velvet backdrop. These were published separately, with the bottom shot “Blue Mood” appearing in 1951, and the top shot entitled “Red Hot & Blue” appearing much later in 1966. Strange that the clothed image came later, but in any case they complement each other nicely, with the second featuring an almost “ta-dah!” pose from the model. It’s as if she’s saying, “You wanted the nightie gone—it’s gone.” Chronologically speaking, it would be more accurate to say she started naked and got dressed, but where’s the fun in that? Using old negatives was common practice for the makers of Technicolor lithos—Champion Line, U.I. Co., A. Scheer, J.S.I., Corp. A. Fox (also referred to as A. Fox Corp.), and others. It was Fox that published these, and we’ll have more of their output later. You can see about a dozen more Technicolor lithos by clicking here.
 And now, ladies and gentlemen, behold as—alakazam!—my lovely assistant’s breasts vanish. 
Above is a lovely Technicolor lithograph of an unknown model being sucked headfirst into a hole in the spacetime continuum. Or is that a hat? The shot is called “Black Magic,” and what has really disappeared here is the model’s breasts beneath some artist’s lacy paint job. We like it, though—it gives the shot a bit of quirkiness. No date for this, but we’re thinking early 1960s.
 They're supposed to be the windows to the soul, but we think of them as the keys to model identification. 
Above is a 1966 Technicolor lithograph featuring an unidentified model. Well, she’s officially unidentified, but looks to us a lot like 1963 Playboy Playmate/1964 Playmate of the Year Donna Michelle. Trivia time: did you know she posed for the magazine when she was seventeen? Anyway, we can’t be sure this is her, but the resemblance is strong, especially around the eyes. See for yourself below. That's Michelle from her Playboy layout. The same shot as above also appeared on the cover of Caper magazine in November 1964, but the model does not appear inside, and is not credited.
 
 A string of pearls is always the perfect accessory—it even works with nothing. 
This is one of the nicer Technicolor lithographs we’ve run across from Corp. A Fox, a nude redhead in a wicker chair. She’s unidentified, sadly, but we’ll see what we can dig up. The shot is from 1955.
 Scientific denialism with a smile. 
Did you know scientific studies have conclusively proven that horizontal stripes are fattening? The solution, it seems, is to look excellent already so you can wear anything you want. This truth is demonstrated by Arlene Dahl, above, who starred in movies such as Reign of Terror, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Fortune Is a Woman, and appears here on a Technicolor lithograph from 1953. Who knew scientific denialism could be so fun?
 Who asked where have all the flowers gone? Well, we wish these would go too. 
The above Technicolor lithograph featuring model Maria Stinger shot by Bunny Yeager is entitled "Aloha," though we have doubts it was shot in Hawaii. Yeager was based in the Miami area, so the image may have been made there. It has a nice, summery vibe, which we think is appropriate as the weather warms (for those of you that actually have winter). Maybe if it gets hot enough Stinger will ditch the flowers. No date on this, but probably from between 1955 and 1960. Want to see more Technicolor lithos? Click here.
 In this case a scale of one to ten isn’t high enough. 
Most of the times we post a Technicolor lithograph the model is unknown to us, and this redhead about to step onto a scale is no exception. However, we have gotten good at identifying them after the fact, such as with our most recent post, so maybe the same will happen here. Whoever she is, we recommend she ditch the robe and heels to get her true weight. 1956 on this one.
 Take... picture quick. Can’t hold this pose… much longer. 
Above, a familiar looking but as yet unidentified model posing for one of Corp. A. Fox’s Technicolor pin-ups. This makes the eleventh one of these we’ve shared and you can see the others by clicking its keywords below. Update: It's Madeline Castle, who was a Playboy Playmate of the month back in October 1954 and a popular pin-up model for many more years. The shot above isn't the most flattering of her, so we've uploaded another one below, from Folies de Paris et de Hollywood #288, 1964. Yes, we know the two look like different women entirely, but they aren't, we promise. She just looks better below, and as a bonus she's smiling instead of grimacing. Update on our update: Turns out she was under our noses the entire time. We shared a Man's Life featuring Castle back in January 2013. You know when you have so much stuff you can't keep track of it? Yeah, exactly.
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The headlines that mattered yesteryear.
1920—Negro National Baseball League Debuts
The first game of Negro National League baseball is played in Indianapolis, Indiana. The league, one of several that would be formed, was composed of The Chicago American Giants, The Detroit Stars, The Kansas City Monarchs, The Indianapolis ABCs, The St. Louis Giants, The Cuban Stars, The Dayton Marcos, and The Chicago Giants. 1955—Williams Wins Pulitzer
American playwright Tennessee Williams wins the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his controversial play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, which tells the story of a southern family in crisis, explicitly deals with alcoholism, and contains a veiled subtext concerning homosexuality in southern society. In 1958 the play becomes a motion picture starring Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman. 1945—Germany Announces Hitler's Death
German radio in Hamburg announces that Adolf Hitler was killed in Berlin, stating specifically that he had fallen at his command post in the Reich Chancery fighting to the last breath against Bolshevism and for Germany. But in truth Hitler had committed suicide along with his mistress Eva Braun, and both bodies were immediately thereafter burned. 1960—Powers Is Shot Down over U.S.S.R.
Francis Gary Powers, flying in a Lockheed U-2 spy plane, is shot down over the Soviet Union. The U.S. denies the plane's purpose and mission, but is later forced to admit its role as a covert surveillance aircraft when the Soviet government produces its remains and reveals Powers, who had survived the shoot down. The incident triggers a major diplomatic crisis between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. 1927—First Prints Are Left at Grauman's
Hollywood power couple Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, who co-founded the movie studio United Artists with Charlie Chaplin and D.W. Griffith, become the first celebrities to leave their impressions in concrete at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, located along the stretch where the historic Hollywood Walk of Fame would later be established.
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