For men with Yen: A guide to the Japanese hostess system

First a confession... I can't remember if I bought this book or if I found it. It's quite possible, that I bought it because I thought the cover was hilarious, but it's really anyone's guess at this point.

The Japanese Hostess System, not to be confused with Japanese Comfort Women, is an interesting part of Japanese culture. When I was in college, a friend of mine told me that she was working as a hostess in a Japanese club in L.A. She told me this in hushed tones, most likely expecting me to be shocked and embarrassed or perhaps, she was embarrassed for me. She went out five days a week and got paid to drink and chat up Japanese business men. After she reassured me, that this was indeed a "thing," I asked if she was safe (she was) and if she enjoyed it (she didn't really). Apparently the money was really good. I think, if I had been able to, I probably would have worked as a hostess myself in college. What could be wrong with getting paid to drink? Yes, maybe the guy you're chatting with is boring as hell, but there are definitely worse jobs. I spent a summer working at DMV office next to a porn studio with a pregnant former stripper.



Published in 1962, "For men with Yen" was probably a huge insight for American businessmen. 1960s Japan, was probably what 1990s China was... Japan was home to cheap manufacturing and Westerners were still being incredibly racist... For whatever reason, I thought this book would be racist and horrible. However, it's very straightforward. It's sexist, but I'm pretty sure that's just par for the course for that time period.

I kind of wonder who Keiko is too...

The following chapter makes so many references to prostitutes, I think he forgets the point of the first paragraph. Although, maybe his/their experiences began and ended with "Keiko, whoever she may be." 

Most of this book is about how much money you are going to lose to a hostess. 

Not sexist at all...

Finally, a handy guide...

How to train dogs: for the home, stage and moving pictures

"If you care to launch your dog successfully on a motion-picture career, it is necessary to remember that he must do what he is told---when he is told.  Motion-picture producers do not like to waste time and film on an animal who is uncertain about his action.  No matter how clever a dog he may be, he will be useless as a picture performer unless his actions are under your control at all times.  New things will be asked of him in each picture; but if your dog has been well-grounded in obedience, he will learn any new piece of picture business in a very short while.

Even though you and your dog understand each other thoroughly after learning the lessons contained in this book, you can, and should, think of new things to teach him each day.  When you have the fundamental ideas of dog training, and know how the dog should be handled to get the best results, you are perfectly equipped to carry his education farther. 

If he begs by waving his paws while he sits up, cue him "Beg!"

Plan routines for him to do.  Make up a motion-picture scene of your own and have someone help you by portraying a part with the dog. Place a box or chair to represent a motion-picture camera and mark out lines from the camera to show which area is being registered in the scene. Then place boxes where they will designate entrances and exits.  Rehearse your action several times and be sure that you do not get within the lines while you are working the dog.  When you think the scene is perfected, pretend that you are ready for a "take."  Keep in mind that you must waste as little film as possible, and try to make your dog perform his part correctly the first time. 

It is well to have your dog make the acquaintance of cats, mice, squirrels, rabbits, chickens, goats and horses.  Do not allow him to harm any of them.

Let your dog ride on the back of a gentle horse and hold the bridle reins in his mouth.  Also teach him to lead a horse by the reins or by a rope."
An excerpt from Henry R. East's 1933 dog training masterpiece.

As soon as I saw this book in the garbage pile, I HAD TO HAVE IT. I think I've said that before about titles, but this book is not only a vintage gem, but it's actually practical! If, of course, I had a dog to train. 

I tried to find more information on Mr. Henry R. East, but alas found none. I would not be surprised, however, if he was in some Hollywood archive...

 See, even a child can train a dog! Even if said child, is Jackie Cooper.

Sometimes, they just do it themselves...

I think my favorite chapter of this book, is the chapter on Admonition.

DON'T WHIP YOUR DOG!
I love this because not only is he stating, that it's wrong, but that it shows that you are a douche bag if you do it. "You want your dog to work for you because he loves you, and not because he fears you."


Will Rogers would never beat a dog, and neither should you.

SIT

Get on the box! (This definitely won't lead to getting on the counter).

SHAKE!

Take a ride! and stuff...

More than SHAKE, you have SHAKE IT UP... pre-Elvis naturally

HOWL! (followed by shhhhhh) 

Eat your foot and go to sleep

In 1936, Miss Mary Kelly wrote the book, "How to make a pageant" and mentions East's book, "HOW TO TRAIN DOGS 

For the Home, Stage, and Moving Pictures. 

Large crown 8vo, cloth, 196 pp., fully illustrated. 5s. net. 

By HENRY R. EAST, Owner and Trainer of Many Famous 

Motion-picture Dogs. 

Makes the training of the household pet an enjoyable task. 

With information on the choice of breed, and instructions 

fpr teaching many amusing tricks." 

Because nothing says PAGEANT like a dog trained to howl and put himself to bed!

Now if you want this awesome book for yourself, you can buy a copy... Or you can download a copy. NOTE: I do not know ANYTHING regarding the validity of this download link, or its quality, OR its legality. 

Now get the hell out there and TRAIN THAT DOG!

"Lifelines of Success" By Joseph R. Gay 1913

I’ll be completely honest with you. I had no idea what I grabbed when I picked this book up out of the trash pile. I didn’t look at the publication date, I barely read the cover (it needs new binding), and I just threw it on my desk thinking, I’d look at it later. (Just like the other piles of books I will look at later). What I have found, however, is a treasure. This book is an AMAZING glimpse into the past. The writer, Joseph R. Gay, was an African American writer looking to improve the lives of his fellow African Americans. Some of the scans I am providing here are definitely funny as they are dated. Science has changed, social norms have changed. However, I think many people, who are not white, are still struggling in America, so in a way… Not much has changed. I didn’t find much information on Gay, but what I did find through Google, I am posting here. If I had more time (not much of that these days), I’d do some actual research and try to find more information beyond Google. The scans I am providing are just a short snippet of what is in this book. I hope, someday, that someone scans the entire book as it is AMAZING. Some scans are funny. Some are strange. Some document the struggle of African Americans at the beginning of the last century. Yet all of them are interesting look at the past. I just wish this book was complete (a few of the last pages are missing) and that I had the money to rebind it.

From “Black Conservatism: Essays in Intellectual and Political History” edited by Peter R. Eisenstadt p. 143

"Lifelines of Success" By Joseph R. Gay 1913

A Practical Manual of Self-Help for the Future Development of the Ambitious Colored American: The Whole Embracing an Inspiring Symposium on Our Present Day Opportunities, Lessons from the Ancient and Glorious History of the Race and The Wonderful Civilization of Our Ancestors as an Example to the Rising Generation: Words of Wisdom from the Wiseman's Philosophy as a Guide to a Happy and Successful Life, To Which is Added Life Lines of Knowledge, Presenting a Series of Valuable Instructions for the Self-Improvement of Those Who Desire to Keep Step with The Progress of the Race. An uncommon self-help book that was marketed to African American households, presumably by salesmen (or book agents) going door-to-door soliciting subscriptions. (6B) http://www.aahmsnj.org/docent/docent14.html 

The cover

Title page

Descriptions of other races weren't very kind.

This was inserted in the book along with a dried flower, which I tossed. You'd be surprised (or maybe you wouldn't), what people leave in books.

This section had a LARGE amount of information. The author would tell you to save money, to educate your kids, to be kind to your wife, and so on and so forth.

Phrenology: extremely scientific

Don't mix races!

Don't mix races, but it's cool to marry your cousin.

Don't MASTERBATE!

Extremely scientific.

Don't wear fake crap!

And lastly: Tar and Turpentine for Diphtheria!

Yes... it's been a while, but I've been busy

You, dear reader, will be so happy to see my latest find:

Yes, you read that correctly. An entire book, published in 1960 about bathrooms found in Europe. YOU have been waiting your ENTIRE life for this! I know! I have too. Who would have thrown this treasure away? Well, after reading this, I know you'll want your own copy (that doesn't smell musty).

Each informative illustration is accompanied by an equally informative piece of poetry. Take for example, the entry on unisex toilets:

Had this book been written today, "BI-SEXUAL JOHN..." would have a whole new meaning. Including various sexual fetishes, which tend to accompany anything "sexual" and toilets. However, you can Google that yourself. I work in strictly "safe mode" when writing about my book finds. 

The following image and poem caught my eye, not only because I hate European showers, but because I absolutely LOVE the band, Katzenjammer. 

According to my trusty source, "Katzenjammer German pronunciation: [ˈkaʦənˌjamɐ] is a German word literally meaning "cat's wail" (caterwaul) and hence "discordant sound", sometimes used to indicate a general state of depression or bewilderment. It has also been used as a term for a hangover, with the sufferer's groans of discomfort being humorously likened to a wailing cat."

One of my favorite bands on the planet is called Katzenjammer. I can't even just link to one youtube video, I have to link to the search results to ALL of them. Seriously, go... They rock. Not only do they rock, but there's a stand-up bass balalaika. They apparently named themselves, not after the "hangover" or "discordant sound," but after the American comic The Katzenjammer Kids. Of course neither should be confused with Katzenjammer Kaberet, a French cabaret/death metal band (Wikipedia's description, not mine). 

This illustration is probably the most useful:

I remember first coming across one of these. I was so intrigued/disgusted, that I took a picture of it. The one illustrated is probably the cleanest I have ever seen. Seriously. These squatters are gross. I know, that before outhouses and actual indoor plumbing, mankind did his business in the woods in a similar fashion. However, I am pretty sure that it was more sanitary than this. I don't ever remember using one that actually flushed. Ever.

BUT, at least there were grids on the floor so you didn't slip and fall in. 

Lastly, the most confusing item of plumbing for an American:

I've never personally used one, but I could have. My mother had one in one of the condos she lived in about 20 years ago. At the time, she was living in a 55+ condo complex on a golf course. The condo itself, was okay. The bathroom... oh the bathroom... Wall to wall carpet, gold veined mirrored walls and upon its own pedestal, a bidet. This book had quite a few suggestions on how to use a bidet: 

My mom had artificial plants in hers. 

Fannie Freakin Farmer

First published in 1896 at the age of 39, Fannie Merritt Farmer published the first edition of The Boston Cooking School Cook Book. According to Wikipedia, “ Her cookbook introduced the concept of using standardized measuring spoons and cups, as well as level measurement. A follow-up to an earlier version called Mrs. Lincoln's Boston Cook Book, published by Mary J. Lincoln in 1884, the book under Farmer's direction eventually contained 1,850 recipes, from milk toast to Zigaras à la Russe. Farmer also included essays on housekeeping, cleaning, canning and drying fruits and vegetables, and nutritional information.

The book's publisher (Little, Brown & Company) did not predict good sales and limited the first edition to 3,000 copies, published at the author's expense.^[1][2] The book was so popular in America, so thorough, and so comprehensive that cooks would refer to later editions simply as the "Fannie Farmer cookbook", and it is still available in print over 100 years later.”

Fannie died in 1915 at the age of 57 and was buried at the Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, MA. If you want to go pay Fannie a visit, she’s laying in repose in Lot 206 on Central Ave.

The year is 1945. The “Last Great War” is coming to a close, Rod Stewart is busy being born, and Americans everywhere are still conserving rubber and rationing meat and pantyhose. Over 2 million copies of The Boston Cooking School Cook Book have been published by this year and if G. I. Joe’s wife can afford it, 2 million more will be bought by the time their children have turned into stinking, communist, hippies.

I saved this book from the trash because I am probably going to recycle the pages. It really is in horrible condition and there isn’t really a good reason for it to be saved. I plan on giving it new life as wrapping paper or maybe as placemats because who doesn’t want to read about aspic at a wedding party? Because I really don’t know much about cooking, I couldn’t tell you if anyone makes these recipes anymore. They probably do in some hipster corner of Brooklyn where the mustachioed masses have moved on from drinking out of Ball Jars to making ramen burger cronut hybrids. Oh wait, that’s already so last month.

So I don’t really cook. I eat. My foodie vocabulary stops at the word bechamel and I’m pretty damn proud of the fact, that I remember what that is. I will also eat just about anything, so there isn’t much that will gross me out. I have been trying to get my partner to crack open some of the cookbooks I have bought her over the years from the 50s and 60s. You know it’s true love when they will make you a jello mold. (Still waiting on that jello mold). So, I give you some random scans of recipes, which tickled my fancy or that I just found somewhat interesting. I’m sure some of these still exist in the latest version of the Fannie Farmer Cook Book, as everything old is new again.

Luncheons

Dinners 

Not sure why this is "Virginia" Eggnog. Is it the extra whisky? The dozen bullets of cholesterol?

Adult beverages for your local hipster.

This is probably the worse recipe in the book. Mush? Although there is bacon fat, so it can't be all bad.

Throughout the book there are obvious tried and true recipes. This is one of about 10. It made me wonder how much Ellen and Eddy actually used this book.

NO. No one should EVER have to stuff a grape. Or an olive. There are machines for that. This is ridiculous.

This is one of those things, that I have always wondered about. Why would you need mock turtle? Did real turtles become hard to find? I've had turtle soup once and it was really salty. Other than that it had the consistency of hamburger and no flavor. Not sure mock turtle would be better or worse. Where does one procure a calf's head these days anyhow? Is that more or less appetizing than a turtle?

What makes this Russian? The horse-radish? There's no vodka. 

Ellen has some advice regarding these meat balls.

This is something I actually thought was a Lithuanian dish as my grandmother used to make this a lot. Balandeliai (which literally translate into "little doves") are Lithuanian stuffed cabbage. This is pretty much my grandmother's recipe. However, I think she used a mix of beef, pork and veal.

Just "good." I think it's the buttered cracker crumbs that does it.

Delicious! Also some confusion on the 3 Tablespoons of rice in the backed rice pudding.

Also good! Looks basic.

And here is your choice of frostings for the above "good" One-Egg Cake. Also... what makes this frosting Japanese? I have many questions about the names of these things.

One of the most important things you can learn in cooking are the various substitutions you can use in your cooking. However, you shouldn't listen to me because I know how to make three things. One of these things is tacos. I never substitute. 

Oh and I found this recipe for sweet and sour pork. Let me know how it turns out.