Photo Op Circa 1958

As far as I know, there have been photo ops as long as there have been photos. Never a slouch at keeping traditions alive, Howard often contrived photo ops to amuse us through long childhood summers.

Case in point, the movie musical Lili , based on a Paul Gallico story about a bitter puppeteer and a naïve girl.  The movie* was produced the same year I was, 1953. I’m guessing we had the soundtrack or maybe Lili was in rerelease around the time this photo was taken.

Howard had no intention of directing or producing a Flannery Lane production of Lili but that didn’t stand in his way.

How to create photo op, circa 1959, Ashman edition:

Create poster – check

Make puppet – check

Get kid sister to dress up (easy one) – check

Convince Dad to lend his Brownie camera and get someone (name now lost to history) to take shot - check

Photo Op – Check mate

*(Lili was also the basis of the later Broadway musical, Carnival).

**(Extra credit for eagle eyed obsessives – Howard, or part of Howard, appears in the shot.)