I will soon get back into "false-equivalence" coverage of the filibuster and similar depressing themes (on which there is a very good update at 'Poison Your Mind,' including a link to this incredible piece). So let's forestall that with something different: updates on "adjusting our eyes."
One reader says:
And about Jackie Gleason himself, whose relative svelteness even as the "fat guy" on The Honeymooners I had mentioned:
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One reader says:
I share your surprise at how we've re-calibrated the size of Jackie Gleason and Raymond Chandler. But one actor of the period, who seemed fat even on the radio, was J. Scott Smart who played "The Fat Man," a radio detective series (late 40s) that produced one movie (1951), and he played the title role in both.
Here's a picture of him on the scale, a weigh-in that preceded each episode and that was carried over to the film. He's not in Henry's class, but he qualifies for the title of the series.
I share your surprise at how we've re-calibrated the size of Jackie Gleason and Raymond Chandler. But one actor of the period, who seemed fat even on the radio, was J. Scott Smart who played "The Fat Man," a radio detective series (late 40s) that produced one movie (1951), and he played the title role in both.A little while later this reader wrote back:
![Hardy1.png]()
But wait! I just listened to an old episode, and at the opening weigh-in he the Fat Man tips the scale at [only] 239 pounds. Not extraordinary today. And now I'm heading to the gym.Another offers the counterexample of Oliver Hardy, of Laurel and Hardy fame, shown here in a shot apparently from the 1930s:
And about Jackie Gleason himself, whose relative svelteness even as the "fat guy" on The Honeymooners I had mentioned:
Many people of the Boomer era wrote in to mention an early soft-drink ad. As one put it:Your point about our evolving sense of what obesity looks like is well taken. But your reference to Jackie Gleason reminded me of the movie "Soldier in the rain" made in 1963, which really illustrates the dangers of being overweight. There's a fight scene where one is sure that Gleason will collapse from heart failure before it's over - it's difficult to watch. This link features pictures of Gleason with Steve McQueen [including the one at right, as they sat between takes].
The weight contrast is clear.
Your point about our evolving sense of what obesity looks like is well taken. But your reference to Jackie Gleason reminded me of the movie "Soldier in the rain" made in 1963, which really illustrates the dangers of being overweight. There's a fight scene where one is sure that Gleason will collapse from heart failure before it's over - it's difficult to watch. When I was young in the 50's the standard Coca Cola bottle was 6.5 oz. Pepsi Cola had a jingle, "12 full ounces -- that's a lot!"Finally, about adjustment in the other direction, an American who has lived for a long time in China writes:
I work around a lot of fashion models over here, and it occurs to me that our eyes have adjusted to thin as well as fat. That is, if you pull out a picture of a fashion model from the 40s, 50s and 60s, many of them look positively plump compared to a contemporary fashion model. They would never get work today. It's funny how our eyes can adjust to two contrary trends, one in real life and one in photos. Maybe we're getting used to extremes?And, fittingly:
"Our eyes have adjusted" is clearly the nutritional equivalent of the boil-the-frog idea. Except this time it's our children who are in hot water and don't know how to get out before it's too late.
