My dream man? My dream office? Both.

Guy Bogart in 1955, sitting and working at his desk at 545 Euclid Ave. Source: Beaumont (California) Library District, via Calisphere.

Guy Bogart is seen here hard at work at his desk. By the many pictures and figurines of cats on and around his desk, it is evident that Bogart is quite the admirer of cats. In 1924 Guy Bogart was elected to the Beaumont City Council, and belonged to virtually every other organization in the town of Beaumont. Bogart also served as the Mayor of Beaumont and the President of the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce.

More about Guy here.

Red Kerce: “Mittens” and Southern toad watching each other, October 23, 1953. Source: State Archives of Florida, via Florida Memory.

Stanley Kubrick: Betsy Von Furstenberg holding a cat in a restaurant, 1950. Source: Museum of the City of New York.

Carl Van Vechten: Robert Downing with his cat, Ginger, October 1959. Source: Museum of the City of New York.

“‘Tarzan,” 180 pound great dane; ‘Happy,’ kitten,” May 1951. Source: Los Angeles Examiner Collection, Doheny Memorial Library, University of Southern California.

“Cats drink from bowls where goldfish swim around unconcerned and in no danger,” 1952. Source: Los Angeles Examiner Collection, Doheny Memorial Library, University of Southern California.

No. 1. ‘Francis’ (the cat) quenches thirst while ‘Toby’ (the goldfish) swims nonchalantly under tongue. ‘Francis’ disdains drinking from dish on floor, prefers to lap water from ‘Toby’s’ bowl and never molests fish. This has been going for several months in the home of Tamara Lee, 11, 3702 Dolphin Street, San Pedro, whose pets they are.

No. 2. ‘Blondie’ (the cat) and ‘Willie’ (the fish) likewise get along without fish becoming a ‘snack.’

“‘Tippytoes,’ mother cat, and her two kittens in teacup.”  April 1958. Source: Los Angeles Examiner Collection, Doheny Memorial Library, University of Southern California.

George Silk, Los Angeles cat show, 1952. Source: LIFE Photo Archive, hosted by Google.

Murray School Pet Day, 1952. Dublin, California. Source: Dublin Heritage Park and Museums, via Calisphere.

Since most of the children attending Murray School at this time lived on ranches or farms, taking care of animals was a commonplace experience for them. Once a year, they would bring and talk about those animals they considered pets. Pictured here are cats, chickens, rabbits, horses, dogs, sheeps, and dogs. 

“Composer Alan Hovhaness, working in score littered studio with black cat nestling amongst the papers on the piano.” Photograph by Gordon Parks, December 1955. Source: LIFE Photo Archive, hosted by Google.