It looks like the bookie has a newspaper and magazine stand to make him look respectable. That reminds me of the early 1960’s when my dad mentioned that the news stand at the front gate to Crane Co., a major plumbing manufacturer in Chicago was sold for an exorbitant amount of money. He worked at Crane and when I questioned that he said it wasn’t about the newspapers, it was about the book.
Always like this image of the 56 Chevy's. Thought it was missing something, I had it fixed and it now proudly hangs in my home.