Wings of Angels and Video Games

 

It was the time of Mom, apple pie and patriotic fervor. Glenn Miller and his band and Frank Sinatra topped to charts, Abbott and Costello wowed movie goers with their shenanigans, the 'Road' pictures teamed Bing and Bob, the Lennon Sisters and Betty Grable were America's sweethearts and Americans pulled together to fight the war against the 'ratzi Nazis' and those 'dirty Japs'.

 

America was in the midst of WWI and the future of freedom and democracy were endangered.  Freedom loving young men volunteered or were drafted into the armed services and wives and girlfriends worked in factories and were dubbed 'Rosy Riveters.

The U.S. war machine was in full swing with hundreds of aircraft, tanks and  other military vehicles and supplies being pumped out weekly.  America was out to win the war and nothing dare stood in her way.

Patriotism was at an all-time high from buying war bonds to serving in the U.F.O. and Civil Guard.  Signs of patriotism were everywhere. Flags and banner adorned homes and businesses, paper drives and scrap metal drives helped fuel the war machine and Americans learned to live frugally in order to aid the war effort.

One very important sign of patriotism shown up on military aircraft.  Pilots, crew and ground support would decorate their assigned aircraft with logos and mascots.  Pretty girls were especially favored mascots and the more risqué the better.

Calendars and photos of scantily clad women reminded the men at war who was waiting for them when they got home and one of the reasons they were overseas fighting.

As a tribute to the art of WWII pinups and aviation mascots comes Volume 1 and 2  by Michael Malak and Schiffer Publishing that recreate classic pinup and aviation 'good girl' art using today's top models, print and photography techniques and illustrations to represent the art that 'brought our boys home.'

Lovingly created with gorgeous photos and art, each book brings the war years back (in slightly updated form) with stunning clarity as created by many of today's top photographers and artists.  

In Brett Weiss' new book from Schiffer: The 100 Greatest Console Video Games 1977-19787 readers get to travel down digital Memory Lane and learn everything there is to learn about the early years of video games, the advances in technology, game mechanics and innovations and much more.

Pages are filled with fascinating text, photos, screen captures and more about each genre of video games developed during this important decade.

Break out your controllers, plug in your console and get ready to relive the genesis of an entire entertainment industry.