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January 1943. "New York. Italian meat stall in the First Avenue market at Tenth Street." Medium-format safety negative by Marjory Collins. View full size.
I think a color photo would be gruesome.
The OPA in the United States didn't get involved in rationing meat until the end of March 1943. For comparison meat rationing in Canada started in May 1943, despite the fact that we had been at war since September 1939. In Britain meat rationing started in March 1940, largely because of the large amounts of food that was imported by sea, and the effects of the German submarine blockade.
My grandfather had a butcher shop for many a year. Take that cigarette out of that man's mouth and replace it with a cigar and that would be granddad ! The paper over the chickens neck is waxed and is there to prevent any fluids from leaking out while hung. Also it gives a better presentation of the chicken!
I'd trust the meat and poultry there, even if it is not refrigerated while on display. It was kept in large walk-in refrigerated rooms prior to being put out for sale. Today's livestock and poultry's feed is loaded with all sorts of steroids and chemicals. So what if that guy's ashes happen to dust a piece of meat. It's only a bit of carbon that is easily washed off.
and I'll take 15 pounds of whatever it is, and cancel the cigarette ashes.
Who happens to know the etiquette for covering the heads of fowl indoors? I note that these are all discreetly topped with paper.
that those hats are streetwear! Oh dear, what would USPH make of that?
It would be interesting see what lies behind the half-smile of the guy on the right, assuming he's of Italian descent. Things aren't going so well in the motherland in January 1943. Perhaps it's a nervous smile. PS not sure if the cig on the right would fly these days.
It being 1943, how many OPA points, in addition to cash, did those ribs cost?
Now thats what I call a steriod-free slab of ribs!
Isn't that lady in the middle from the 1980's Wendy's commercial? Of course she was a tad younger then. Meat counters are still fooling us with that "Special Today" tag in front of her. We never do ask what makes it special, nor do we want to know.
UN-refrigerated meat, butchers without gloves, and SMOKING behind the counter! The HORROR!
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