Pulp Fiction, 1931 · page 45 of 68
10-Story Book, July 1931 — page 45: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 43: Story Prose with Illustration This page contains interior fiction prose alongside a black-and-white illustration. The story depicts a dialogue between two characters named Michael and Peter, with Michael apparently famous and Peter feeling he's been neglected. The conversation turns to martinis and radio reception. The illustration shows what the caption identifies as "Pitheacanthropus Erectus"—a prehistoric creature examining a Neanderthal maiden in a cave setting. The caption includes whimsical text about a "100-Girl Photo Revue" from the year 1,913,845,897,000,000 B.C., appearing to be humorous pulp-magazine content blending fiction with absurdist humor about prehistoric times.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
10-STORY BEGINS ITS 30TH SUCCESSFUL YEAR! chin that he had seen the picture of Robert, and he felt at once glad and sorry that Michael had seen it. Peter said, “Sorry to have left you so long alone, old man, but I never trust anyone else to make a dry martini for me. Not my man, at any rate. He thought, I would give anything to know what Michael is thinking. Michael said, “Quite all right, Peter. I’ve been listening to the radio. The reception is really remarkably clear.” He thought, He hasn’t got a man; Peter, you bluff. “What is that number they’re playing now?” he asked. Peter listened a bit and said, “TIsn’t that the Brahms’ Rhapsody in B-Minor?” Michael nodded. “Your mar- tinis are first-rate, Peter.” He looked at Peter from between lowered lids and wondered why he hadn’t called before. ‘Why didn’t you ever call me before this, Peter?” he asked. Peter shrugged his_ shapely shoulders. “I don’t know, really. I think it was because felt you were too busy for me.’ Michael said, “Frankly, I can’t believe you thought that of me— a friend of thirty years’ stand- ing.” Peter said, “Perhaps I did, old man. You're famous now, you know.” be able to stand that. sentiment, I believe. Michael said, ““That’s inexcusable, Peter.” He thought, I wish he’d open up and say something. What’s keeping him? I won- He thought, I hope to doesn’t begin to get sentimental. I’m afraid of his 43 This prehistoric portrait shows “Pithecantropus Erectus” lightly tapping a Neanderthalic maiden over the head with his eolith. Pithy has just finished gazing upon the first known copy of the 10-Story Girl Photo Revue, published in the year 1 ,913,845,897,000,000 B. C. After a few looks at the babies in that number he started making the rounds of the caves. In the above picture he’s shown in the act of ditching Maiden No. 546 so that he can pick up the dinosaur by the tail and sock his wife over the ear. Yessir, friends, that first copy of the 100-Girl Photo Revue was the peppiest collection of two-ton rocks the archeologists have ever uncovered! And by the way . . . the current issue, 1931 model, is now on the newsstands. It weighs considerably less than its famous predecessor, but it’s guar- anion to give you the same kick old “Pithecantropus” him- self got! God he I shan’t der. Peter, say something; say something I want to hear, but thinking of himself, he thought, Why don’t you say something he wants to hear? “How is everybody, Peter ?” he asked. “Really, haven’t heard since my sister married,” Peter said. CONRIMNEMOOO© HalC (0)