Archives Scrapbooks

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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbooks, January 1966-May 1973

ARCH.2003.36, Rendition: 805436

Qwen, qwen.qwen3-vl-235b-a22b

This image shows a two-page spread from the November 26, 1972 issue of Pictorial Living, a color insert from the Sunday Herald Traveler and Boston Sunday Advertiser. The magazine is published by the Hearst Corporation, with Harold G. Kern as Publisher and Sam Bornstein as Editor.


Left Page: Advertisement for “Gifted Gripper Coats”

This page is dominated by a full-page advertisement for women’s nightgowns or housecoats from Jordan Marsh Company.

  • Headline: gifted gripper coats...
  • Visual: A stylized illustration of a woman with reddish-orange hair, wearing a floral-patterned, short-sleeved robe with a Peter Pan collar and front closure. She is posed with one hand behind her head and the other on her hip, accessorized with earrings and a bracelet. The background is a bright yellow-green wash.
  • Product Details:
    • Marketed as “rainbow assortment of gripper coats” designed for “easy living at easy prices.”
    • Features a short-sleeved Peter Pan collar and gripper front closing.
    • Two patterns featured:
      • Ethel (in turquoise, pink, or lilac)
      • Flamenco (in lilac or blue)
    • Prices: $4.99 for size S-M-L; $5.99 for sizes 38-52 (available in similar prints).
    • Swatches show the “Ethel” and “Flamenco” patterns — colorful, busy floral and geometric prints.
  • Store Information:
    • Available at the Boston Store and basement stores in Framingham and Braintree.
    • Order form at bottom with fields for quantity, pattern, size, color, price, name, address, etc.
    • Also includes a coupon for mail-order and a phone number list for various store locations in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

Right Page: Magazine Contents and Features

This page provides editorial content and a table of contents.

  • Top Header: Pictorial Living

  • On the Cover:

    • Discusses Toulouse-Lautrec’s famous poster, “Divan Japonais,” to be shown at the next Boston Museum of Fine Arts’ Lautrec Festival.
    • Features Yvette Guilbert on stage with black gloves and Chinese/Japanese costumes.
    • Mentions the story by critic Caron Le Brun Damkian on Page 17 and four other examples of Lautrec’s art in full color on Page 16.
  • 30th Anniversary of Cocoanut Grove:

    • Commemorates the 30th anniversary of the 1942 Cocoanut Grove fire — described as the worst disaster in Boston history.
    • Details: November 28, 1942; 492 lives lost, 270 hospitalized; panic at the main exit led to deaths by crushing.
    • Includes an account by survivor Martin Sheridan, who was accompanying western star Buck Jones. Jones died; Sheridan recovered.
    • Photos and an extraordinary 30-year-old drawing of the scene appear on Page 22; Sheridan’s account starts on Page 28. (Accompanied by a small black-and-white photo of the Cocoanut Grove sign).
  • Other Features Table of Contents:

    • Page 4: A Two-Wheel Wonder — A Vignette
    • Page 30: Food (In Color); Fit for the Gods — By Barbara Kay
    • Page 34: Smugglers, Beware! — A Science Feature
    • Page 35: Hormones Limit Girl’s Height — A Vignette
    • Page 6: The Gossip Column
    • Page 8: Jumble Quiz
    • Page 12: Dorothy Manners
    • Page 32: Marmaluke
    • Page 36: Contract Bridge
    • Page 37: Mirror of Your Mind
    • Page 38: Winning Recipe
    • Page 39: Here’s Howe

Overall Impression

The spread reflects 1970s consumer culture and newspaper magazine design: vibrant, colorful ads aimed at homemakers alongside serious historical and cultural features. The juxtaposition of a cheerful, fashion-focused ad with a somber reflection on a deadly fire is typical of such inserts from the era, blending commerce, lifestyle, and current affairs.

The magazine appears to be part of a larger newspaper (likely a Sunday paper), and the issue is dated November 26, 1972. The paper shows some signs of aging, with yellowing edges, but is otherwise in good condition.

Qwen, Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-7B-Instruct

This image appears to be a scanned page from a magazine named "Pictorial Living," a publication by the Sunday Herald Traveler and Boston Sunday Advertiser. The magazine seems to be from November 26, 1972, as indicated at the bottom of the page.

The page is divided into several sections:

  1. Advertisement for "Gifted Gripper Coats": On the left side, there is an advertisement for "Gifted Gripper Coats." It describes the coats as a "rainbow assortment" and highlights features such as a Peter Pan collar and a gripper front closing. The advertisement mentions the availability of the coats in sizes S, M, and L, with prices ranging from $4.99 to $5.99. The coats are available in patterns named Ethel, Flamenco, and similar prints.

  2. Article: "On the Cover": This section discusses Toulouse-Lautrec's famous poster "Divan Japonais," which is set to be featured at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts during the Lautrec Festival. The article provides details about the poster, mentioning its dancer, model, and other notable figures.

  3. Article: "30th Anniversary of Cocoanut Grove": This article commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Cocoanut Grove fire, which was the worst disaster in Boston's history. It recounts the night of horror and the heroic efforts that saved many lives. The article includes a detailed account of the events and the number of lives lost.

  4. "Other Features": The right side of the page lists other features in the magazine, including a two-wheeled article, food fit for the gods, smugglers, hormones limiting girls' height, gossip columns, quizzes, and crossword puzzles.

The magazine also includes a coupon for ordering the gift coat, which provides details on how to place an order, including a phone number and address for Jordan Marsh Company. The overall design reflects the style and content typical of mid-20th century magazines.

Qwen, Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-72B-Instruct

This image shows a page from the "Pictorial Living" section of the Sunday Herald Traveler and Boston Sunday Advertiser, dated November 26, 1972. The page is divided into two main sections: an advertisement on the left and a magazine article on the right.

Left Side: Advertisement

  • Title: "gifted gripper coats..."
  • Description: The advertisement promotes a rainbow assortment of gripper coats, described as specially designed for easy living. It mentions short-sleeved Peter Pan collar and gripper front closing.
  • Patterns: Two attractive patterns are highlighted: Ethel in turquoise, pink, or lilac, and Flamenco in lilac or blue.
  • Prices: The advertisement lists prices at $4.99 for sizes S-M-L and $5.99 for sizes 38-52 in similar prints.
  • Store Information: The ad mentions that the coats are available at the Boston Store's main basement and other locations like Framingham and Braintree basement stores.
  • Order Form: There is a form at the bottom for customers to fill out and mail their orders, including their name, address, and payment details.

Right Side: Magazine Article

  • Title: "ON THE COVER"
  • Content: The article discusses Toulouse-Lautrec's famous poster "Divan Japonais," which will be on view at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts during the next month's Lautrec Festival. It describes the poster and mentions other galleries participating in the festival.
  • 30th Anniversary of Cocoanut Grove: The article also commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Cocoanut Grove fire, the worst disaster in Boston's history, which occurred on November 28, 1942. It provides details of the event, the number of lives lost, and the heroic actions of some individuals.
  • Other Features: The bottom part of the page lists other features in the magazine, including articles, puzzles, and columns.

The page is a mix of vibrant colors in the advertisement and black-and-white text in the magazine article, providing a snapshot of both fashion and historical events from 1972.

Amazon, amazon.nova-pro-v1:0

The image shows a magazine page with text and illustrations. The left side of the page features an illustration of a woman wearing a dress with a floral pattern. The dress is described as a "gifted gripper coat," and the text provides details about its design and pricing. The right side of the page has a section titled "Pictorial Living," which includes various articles and illustrations. One of the articles is about the 30th anniversary of the Cocoanut Grove fire, a tragic event in Boston's history. The page also includes other features and advertisements.

Amazon, amazon.nova-lite-v1:0

The image is a page from the November 26, 1972, issue of Pictorial Living magazine. The page features an advertisement for "gifted gripper coats" designed for easy living, with a drawing of a woman in a floral dress. The magazine's cover story is about the 30th anniversary of the Coconut Grove fire, which occurred in Boston in 1942 and claimed 492 lives. The article includes photographs of the scene and a survivor's account of the tragedy. Other features in the magazine include articles on food, smuggling, hormones, and a gossip column. The magazine is published by the Boston Sunday Advertiser and is a division of the Hearst Corporation.

Amazon, us.amazon.nova-2-lite-v1:0

The image depicts a vintage magazine page from Pictorial Living, a publication by the Sunday Herald Traveler and Boston Sunday Advertiser. The page is dated November 26, 1972, and features a variety of content, including advertisements, articles, and editorial sections.

Main Visual Elements:

1. Advertisement for Gripper Coats:

  • Central Image: A colorful illustration of a woman wearing a vibrant, patterned dress. The dress features a mix of floral and abstract designs in shades of pink, blue, green, and yellow.
  • Text: The advertisement promotes "gifted gripper coats" with the headline "Start your holiday festivities early with gripper coats." It highlights the following details:
    • Designs: Rainbow assortment of gripper coats, specially designed for easy living.
    • Features: Easy-to-price Peter Short-sleeved tops, front collar closing, and gripper patterns.
    • Patterns: Ethel (featured in turquoise, pink, or lilac) and Flamenco (in lilac or blue).
    • Pricing:
      • S-M-L: $4.99
      • 38-52: $5.99
    • Availability: Similar prints available.
  • Additional Information: The advertisement includes a coupon section at the bottom, listing store locations and contact details for Jordan Marsh Company, with branches in Boston, Framingham, and Braintree.

2. Article on Toulouse-Lautrec:

  • Title: "ON THE COVER"
  • Content: Discusses the artist Toulouse-Lautrec, highlighting his famous poster "Divan Japonais," which will be on view at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts during the next month. The article mentions Lautrec's recognition by art critics and his famous works, including "Le Brumisateur" and "Danseuses au Moulin Rouge." It also references his exceptional works of art during the Lautrec Festival and describes four other examples of his art on display.

3. 30th Anniversary of the Cocoanut Grove Fire:

  • Title: "30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COCOANUT GROVE"
  • Content: Recalls the tragic Cocoanut Grove fire, which occurred on November 28, 1942, in Boston. The article describes the fire as the worst disaster in Boston's history, resulting in 492 lives lost and 270 others hospitalized. It mentions Jim Morse's efforts to recreate the event through newspaper files and photographs, detailing the horror and heroism of the night. The article also references Martin Buckley, who survived the fire, and Sheridan Jones, who was ill-starved and recovered after extensive surgery.

4. Other Features Section:

  • List of Articles: A column titled "OTHER FEATURES" lists various articles and columns, including:
    • 4: A two-wheel wonder
    • 30: Food (In Color); Fit for the Gods
    • 34: Smugglers Beware!
    • 35: Hormones, Limit Girl's Height
    • 6: The Gossip Column
    • 12: Dorothy Quiz
    • 32: Humble Manners
    • 36: Marmaduke
    • 36: Crossword Puzzle
    • 36: Contract Bridge
    • 37: Mirror of Your Mind
    • 38: Winning Recipe
    • 39: Here's Howe

5. Magazine Header:

  • Title: Pictorial Living
  • Publisher: Harold G. Kern, Publisher
  • Editor: Sam Bornstein, Editor
  • Publication Details: A Division of the Heart Magazine Corporation

Overall Context:

The page combines commercial advertising with cultural and historical content. The gripper coat advertisement is vibrant and eye-catching, aimed at holiday shoppers, while the articles provide historical reflection and artistic commentary. The layout is typical of mid-20th-century magazines, balancing promotional content with informative and engaging editorial pieces.

OpenAI, gpt-4o-2024-11-20

This is a scanned image of a vintage magazine page from November 26, 1972, featuring advertisements and editorial content. The left side promotes "Gifted Gripper Coats," which are described as colorful, comfortable housecoats featuring short sleeves, Peter Pan collars, and floral-patterned designs. Two patterns, named "Ethel" and "Flamenco," are highlighted alongside swatches showing various floral and geometric prints. Prices range from $4.99 to $5.99, and additional purchasing information is provided at the bottom.

The right side includes part of an article from the "Pictorial Living" magazine, discussing artistic and historical features. Notable topics include a mention of Toulouse-Lautrec's artwork, the 30th Anniversary of the Coconut Grove fire, and an overview of various magazine features such as advice columns, crosswords, and other articles.

The scanned page exhibits an old paper's yellowish tint and minor wear, characteristic of archived materials.

OpenAI, gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07

  • A two-page spread from a vintage magazine/catalog, printed on slightly yellowed paper, with a mix of ads and articles (probably from Pictorial Living).
  • Left page features a large fashion illustration of a woman in a long floral coat. The figure’s face is obscured by a beige block. Surrounding text promotes “gifted gripper coats,” rainbow color options, and small fabric swatch previews labeled ETHEL and FLAMENCO, plus an order form at the bottom.
  • Right page has a newspaper-style layout with the header Pictorial Living, short articles, a small black-and-white photo, and a section titled “Other Features.”
  • The overall look is very 1970s-era advertising/journalism, with a collage-like feel and a mix of images and text.

OpenAI, gpt-4

The image displays an open magazine or catalog spread with content on both the left and right sides. On the left side, there is an advertisement for children's coats named "gifted gripper coats" with illustrations of two coat designs and swatches of colorful fabric patterns below with labels "Ethel" and "Flamenco." The coats are priced at $4.99 and $5.99, and sizes 3-8/2 are available. There is also an order form from the "Boston Store Co." for readers to fill out and mail in, indicating a pre-digital era approach to shopping.

On the right side, the page is titled "Pictorial Living" and is from a section of the "Sunday Herald Traveler and Boston Sunday Advertiser." Notable text mentions a '30TH ANNIVERSARY OF COCOANUT GROVE,' and other featured articles are listed under "OTHER FEATURES," including titles such as "A TWO-WHEEL WONDER," "SMUGGLERS, BEWARE," and "HORIZONS LIMIT GIRL'S HEIGHT," amongst others, suggesting a diversity of content in the magazine. The date at the bottom of the left page says November 26, 1972, which provides a historical context for the content and layout style.

OpenAI, gpt-4.1-mini-2025-04-14

The image shows an open magazine spread from "Pictorial Living" dated November 26, 1972. On the left page is a colorful vintage advertisement for "gripper coats," which are short-sleeved dresses with a Peter Pan collar and gripper front closing. The ad encourages readers to start their holiday festivities early with their assortment of gripper coats, specially designed for easy living and easy prices. The coats come in several patterns, specifically Ethel (featured in turquoise, pink, or lilac) and Flamenco (available in lilac or blue). The sizes available are 38-52 for $4.99, and a similar print is available for $5.99. The ad mentions that the coats are available at Boston Stores, Main Basement, and also at Framingham and Braintree basement stores. There is an order form at the bottom of the ad for customers to fill out.

The right page is the magazine page titled "Pictorial Living," with articles and features including:

  • "On the Cover," discussing Toulouse-Lautrec’s poster "Divan Japonais" and its exhibition at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
  • "30th Anniversary of Cocoanut Grove," discussing the 30th anniversary of the tragic fire at Boston’s Cocoanut Grove nightclub.
  • A list of other features and articles, like "A Two Wheel Wonder," "Food (In Color): Fit for the Gods," "SMUGGLERS, BEWARE!," and others.

The page layout is clean, with a small image accompanying the cover article and the Cocoanut Grove piece, and a table of contents at the bottom.