A set of Japan Airlines PR photos from 1954 taken aboard a Douglas DC-6 shows the nascent airline’s First Class only (!) trans-Pacific route in decadent detail. One gets the sense that no shoes were removed, no bosoms were felt up and no tubes of toothpaste were transferred to transparent plastic bags upon embarkment. As for the excess radiation, it was delivered by altogether different means than via TSA-style backscatter X-ray.
This movie still world of bow ties, cigars, kimonos, cocktails, sushi platters, bunk beds and silk pajamas was located by Okinawa-based photographer Rob Oechsle, who scanned and retouched the original 8×10 prints. Enjoy! Perhaps with a martini and a cigar.