• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Key Artists
    • Rolf Armstrong
    • Mahlon Blaine
    • Henry Clive
    • Gil Elvgren
    • Cardwell Higgins
    • Earl Moran
    • Charles Gates Sheldon
    • Arthur Prince Spear
    • Bunny Yeager
  • About
  • Browse by Topic
  • Contact

Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

  • Gallery Blog
  • Golden Gallery
  • Fine & Decorative
  • Illustration & Advertising
  • Paperback & Pulp
  • Pin-Up & Glamour
Illustration & Advertising Art

The Soda Jerk

Artist:Ray Johnson
Date:1946
Medium:Gouache on Illustration Board
Dimensions:Sight Size 10" X 10"
Condition:Excellent
Original Use:Interior story illustration for Argosy Magazine - July, 1946
Full view
Artist’s monogramed signature lower right

A fun and breezy interior magazine illustration for Argosy magazine – July, 1946 by Ray Johnson illustrating a story titled “My Son’s Old Man” by Fred Malina. A classic Americana image featuring a soda jerk performing his then coveted job at a snappy modernist Art Deco styled soda fountain much to the delight of two lovely females admirers, one a brunette and the other a blonde. The lad is clearly living the dream, retains a verso label from Popular Publications with print usage clarifying that this spot interior illustration appeared on page 28 in the July 1946 edition of Argosy, a long running title which started as a pulp and later transitioned as a mens action magazine title. The gouache painting is initialed in the lower right corner and has been professionally matted and shrink wrapped.

Verso Popular Publications attached label view
Matted view

The Soda Jerk

Artist: Ray Johnson

Filed Under: Illustration & Advertising Art, Sorry, It's Sold
Tagged With: 1940s, Argosy, art deco, glamour, Golden Age, original illustration art, original interior illustration, soda fountain
Added to Gallery: August 5, 2017

 

Contact Grapefruit Moon Gallery



    Primary Sidebar

    Join our mailing list

    Grapefruit Moon Gallery Around the Web

    • Facebook
    • Instagram

    Copyright © 2025