Magically Delicious
Happy confusing St. Patrick’s Day! Yes, you are looking at what is essentially an informational comic book style publication put out by the US Army called Preventive Maintenance Monthly. How long have they been publishing these? SINCE 1951! A huge chunk of these (especially in the first few decades) feature a pinup style art of a blonde woman, usually looking out of place, sometimes in a military environment, sometimes not. In issue #304 from May of 1978, they decided to add a leprechaun to the mix. Bonus miscleaneous leprechauns on skateboards at the end of this post.
PS Preventive Maintenance Monthly #304. It’s a smallish size at 5″x7″, but it’s pretty thick at 66 pages and has a heavy, sturdy cover. The inside pages are heavier duty than comic books as well. It’s a fascinating publication filled with lots of useful tips such as how to charge the battery in your TOW missile gear, how to check the connections from your AM-3349 RF amplifier to your AB-652 mast-base, and how to set your spade cylinders when storing your M107 self propelled artillery.
Most of the comic is printed as a duotone, but there are a couple full color spreads in the middle with a little bit of levity. Flipping through the comic, this image doesn’t immediately register as a skateboard because of the odd form factor of the deck and the dark wheels that disappear int to the background.
Turns out leprechauns enjoy shenanigans, even when there’s no cereal around. “Shenanigans” sounds like an Irish word, come to think of it.
Turns out the recurring blonde lady’s name is Connie or Constance, if you wan to be formal.
Miscellaneous leprechauns!
Remember this guy? He’s a vintage cardboard cutout decoration from Beistle, said to be produced during the 70’s. Here’s what he looks like before he has been punched out.
A lucky dinosaur leprechaun on a greeting card. Looks like clip art.
Speaking of clip art…
