A Cat Named After V-J Day?
by mc
V-Jay, at home, 1950 (click to enlarge)
The name of the cat in this 1950 snapshot makes me wonder if he was perhaps born on or around V-J Day. ‘Victory Over Japan Day’, which marked the end of WWII, is celebrated in the United States on September 2, after the day in 1945 the surrender document was signed by Japan (although it also applies to August 14 or 15 — depending on whether one takes into account the time zone — which was the day the surrender was announced). The cat looks to be about the right age to me. If he was indeed named after the end of WWII — wow, what a great way to choose a cat name, and in some small way, perhaps a marker of how happy/significant a day that must have been for so many who experienced it.
V-J Day, by the way (the Aug. 14 version), was also the day the famous Times Square kiss photo was taken. The Leica camera that Alfred Eisenstaedt used to take that iconic shot was auctioned earlier this year in Vienna for about $150,000. The camera used to snap “V-Jay” is of course probably long gone, although who knows — perhaps it is sitting in a closet or attic somewhere. And as a final thought, how nice that someone chose to note the subjects and date. Even the “At Home” has something nice about it.
I particularly like the level of attention each animal is giving the photographer and their situation…….
I particularly like the level of attention the cat and dog are paying to the photographer……as well as their situation…..
Yes — nice observation…
Great found photo, now with plenty of context. I featured the kiss photo in a post of my own on Photo-Sleuth not long ago.
Thanks, Brett… will check that out.
They’re right next to the fridge. I’m guessing something appealing has been taken from the fridge which has them entranced. For my cat it’s the can of whip cream.
Great shot.
That’s a pretty good guess, I’d say. Had not thought of that…though we house several of the creatures ourselves.