Recently I had a customer and blog follower email me Gil Elvgren’s illustration titled “Potluck”. I’ve always loved this image for a number of reasons and thought it would be interesting to comment on it briefly. Elvgren produced countless pin-up images, with the most famous images coming from the 1940’s to the 1960’s. The one relevant to this blog is the beauty shown above. It was put into Brown & Bigelow calendars and other advertising items during 1961.
While doing a little research on the image I ran across the original black & white photo Elvgren took of model Janet Rae. I also found the photo of the slot machine used as well. Both were really cool to see and how they matched up with the finished product of Potluck. Elvgren typically always took photos of models in similar poses to use as reference for his art. Janet Rae was used as a model over 75 times during the 1950’s and 1960’s. In almost every case Elvgen brought out even more life and excitement in his illustrations from those photos, including Potluck.
The photos tell us that Ms. Rea was originally standing in front of a light – not nearly as exciting as a slot machine. The photo also shows a nice original 1948 Mills High Top Jewel Bell – now we are talking! With the two images put together Elvgren whipped out another classic in 61’. He even drew in a fairly accurate representation of a period slot machine stand as well, not bad Gil.
If you have been following my other posts, you may be wondering the same thing as me – where in the world did Gil get that evil slot machine for his photo shoot? Didn’t he know slot machines in 1961 were highly illegal to own, especially in Florida where these images were taken? Maybe Mr. Elvgren knew one of those resourceful law enforcement officials that would “lend” him the machine to take photos of – like in my previous Twilight Zoon posting. Hopefully Janet Rea wasn’t mixed up in some illegal gambling which then gave Mr. Elvgren the inspiration for the art?
All kidding aside, I’m sure glad Gil Elvgren decided to immortalize the all American girl with a true piece of American mechanical history. His creation has hopefully inspired other beautiful women to wear super low cut outfits, use those incredibly complicated panty hose and collect their winnings in anything but a plastic cup!
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