Untitled (neon sign for drive-in theater) 1948

Editor: So this is Jack Gould's "Untitled (neon sign for drive-in theater)." It's a small photograph. What strikes me is the way this sign romanticizes the drive-in experience. What do you see when you look at this? Curator: The signage reflects how drive-ins were marketed as affordable entertainment havens, particularly for families during the postwar boom. Notice the towering figure of a carhop, juxtaposed with names like "Joanne Dru," promising escapism through celebrity culture. Editor: That makes sense. So it's about selling the American Dream? Curator: Exactly! It catered to a specific social desire for leisure and community, while subtly reinforcing gender roles of the time. Consider the car itself, almost another character promising freedom. Is that something you picked up on? Editor: I didn't, but now I see the cultural narrative. Thanks for pointing that out! Curator: My pleasure. It's fascinating how a simple sign can reveal so much about societal values.