Gallery Two

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Ah More Peeping Tom postcards. When the Museum first opened in 2003, there was an exhibit called Peeping Toms & Plumbers. Two & half years later, the Museum has even more of this genre. We've got a plumber, window washer, and insurance man thrown in. This topic is NOT very PC for the modern world, but was a popular comic postcard from the 1920s to 1960s (And probably still a popular topic for English humor postcards!).

1. "Things Look Good to Me". A classic Peeping Tom postcard at last. This big nosed 'tom' has a view of a lady bathing through a large keyhole. Postcard was never sent. This one is numbered 315-9. No date, but would guess 1920s - 1930s.

2. The Seven Year Itch. A Film still of Marilyn Monroe in the famous bubble bath scene during the movie Seven Year Itch (1955). In this scene the plumber is fixing the tub while Ms. Monroe is it! 1983 Postcard published by Classico San Francisco. Printed in USA.

3. "Rubber!" B & W photograph of a man opening a door on an unsuspecting bathing lady. The words Rubber! are actually hand-inked onto the postcard -- yet the card has no handwriting on the back. Very Curious!! It is unknown who wrote their own caption here, and what it means. The writing is in an old ink, so it was written about the time it was printed. On the back it says "Post Card" in 10 languages - none in English. I would imagine this card was sold in Europe originally.[Tom Sayeau has sent in a possible explanation for the curious caption: "One, it's a play on words: rubber, rub her; although honestly, I don't think much of that explanation myself. Two, it's from an old slang phrase about "have a rubber at that" [rubber, rubber-neck, look at]-which explanation I favour."]

4. Mud. The Peeping Tom is hidden in the top right corner behind the curtain. He is watching a lady in her undergarments dip her foot in mud. This postcard is one of many I have from "Gruss aus dem Moorbad" (Greeting from Moorbad) series, which I believe is some kind of German mud bath town. This postcard is unsent. The publisher is: Heliocolorkarte von Ottmar Zieher, Munchen. No date, but others in the same series are dated 1921.

5. Insurance Man. A 'Bamforth' Comic postcard that says "I'm the Insurance Man, Madam -- I called to see if you are fully covered." The suited man sticks his head in the door to the shock of a bathing blonde lady whom we see from the back. The term "to call" refers to dropping by in person, and is still commonly used in parts of English speaking Europe. This postcard was sent from Chicago to Pennsylvania in 1945 with a 1-cent stamp. It reads, "Having a swell time in Chicago. Will be seeing you soon. - Kathie." It was sent to Ed Lasky. The Postcard was published by Bamforth co. in NYC, as No. P-3.

6. Untitled. French photo postcard with tinted colors. Part of a series of three (that I know of). First postcard: Lady Bathing by herself; 2nd postcard: Man comes up behind her (shown); 3rd postcard: Man slips on her shoes, and she discovers him.   This one says in French, "Mais epris, une flamme aux yeux. Voici venir un amoureux" Translation: But in Love, a flame in his eyes. Here comes a lover. The card is also marked with the no 1138, and ELD. This card was unsent, and the back, "Postcard" is written in 7 languages, with "Carte Postale" the largest. Most likely printed for France. No date, but probably printed in 1910-20s. Perhaps this postcard series lived in someone's sock drawer for a few decades! ooh la la.

7. Assembly - the old "line up" call never had a line up like this. A serviceman sits atop of the electrical pole and gets a peek at a woman bathing next to her laundry hanging to dry. Great postcard made during World War II in 1942 by the US Services Supplies, Inc. out of Chicago. It was part of the Reveille "Bugle Call" Series. It was never sent.

8. True Blonde. A lady standing up in the bath says, "You're not a true gentleman mister! to the Peeping Tom window washer, who replies, "And You're not a true blonde miss!' Artist is Fitzpatrick. This English Bamforth postcard was probably printed anytime from the 1970s & up. Earlier postcards wouldn't show as much of the female figure!   Sent in 2004 to the Bathtub Art Museum by Adrian "Bad Art Dog" of Manchester, It says: "Hey Carye, Having a couple of days on the east coast (North Yorkshire ) - fabulous little fishing villages, very beautiful. Saw this card and had to get it for your collection! PS. My computer is dead."