Cocoanut Grove, New York 1942 Minnesota when the world was teetering

when the world was teetering on the edge of the Second World War

this is not a cruise ship menu but one that came from the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo

the baby shark steak in its high chair and the rather sinister-looking catfish – every illustration shows the creative mastery of the unknown artist

Unlike many other restaurants Cavanagh's survived the Prohibition years because it never had a bar and didn't rely on alcohol sales

Cocoanut Grove, New York 1942 Minnesota when the world was teeteringTheres a whole lot going on in this marvelous vintage menu print from the Cocoanut Grove nightclub at the Park Central Hotel in New York. The jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald sang here regularly with the Chick Webb orchestra. The cover charge to drink, dine and dance was 75c on weekdays and $1. 50 at weekends. The menu is dated 1942 and this Cocoanut Grove was probably modeled on the original nightclub in Los Angeles Courtesy Private Collection. Each print