Life, 1915-08-19 · page 48 of 48
Life — August 19, 1915 — page 48: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **tobacco advertisement**, not a political cartoon. It occupies the full page from Life magazine (August 19, 1915). The image shows three military figures in uniform near a warship, appearing to share a celebratory moment. The ad's headline—"The Great American Smoke"—uses patriotic language ("red-blooded," "national spirit," "star-spangled") to associate Bull Durham tobacco with American masculinity and military service. The satirical implication, likely clear to 1915 readers, is that this product represents authentic American identity. The military setting suggests durability, camaraderie, and strength. The "roll your own" concept appeals to self-reliance and craftsmanship. By modern standards, the advertisement is striking for its casual promotion of smoking to soldiers and its unironic use of military imagery to sell tobacco—practices now considered unethical. The page demonstrates how thoroughly tobacco marketing once permeated American culture without health disclaimers or restrictions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Avgust 19, 1915 The Great American Smoke—“Bull” Durham Fall in line with hundreds of thousands of red-blooded smokers of the good old U.S.A. Smoke the cigarette tobacco that’s been an American institution for three generations—‘‘Bull” Durham. The rich, relishy, star-spangled taste of “Bull” puts the national spirit of get-up- and-hustle into your hand-rolled cigarette. “Bull” is the freshest, snappiest, liveliest of smokes. GENUINE ‘BULL DURHAM ...... age of “‘papers” SMOKING TOBACCO ; with each Se sack “Roll your own” with “Bull” Durham and you'll find.a far greater if satisfaction in smoking your cigarette than you ever did before. The rich, mild tobacco leaf “Bull” is inade: has that delightful nilap sects 7 which suits your taste toa “T”. And its | aromatic Regrance is supremely unique. | DURHAM) Men who never smoked cigarettes before ! are now “rolling their own” with “Bull” Durham. An llustrated Booklet, showing; Cigarettes, and a package of ciga rette papers, will both be mailed, free, to any address in the United States on request. “Address “Bulk” Ducham, Durham, N. C., Room 1295. GENUINE THE AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY comicbooks.com