Life, 1915-09-23 · page 48 of 48
Life — September 23, 1915 — page 48: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **cigarette advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes Bull Durham rolling tobacco, marketed as an affordable, quality product for hand-rolling cigarettes. The illustration depicts a fashionable social scene—well-dressed men and women in an elegant interior—to associate the product with sophistication and leisure. The phrase "Roll Your Own!" emphasizes that Bull Durham was sold as loose tobacco and papers, allowing smokers to hand-roll cigarettes cheaply rather than buying pre-made ones. Key marketing claims include that Bull Durham has a distinctive "mellow-sweet" taste from Virginia-North Carolina tobacco, appeals to "live smokers," and provides "genuine satisfaction." The advertisement offers a **free instructional booklet** on rolling technique and cigarette papers to encourage new customers. The bull logo (visible at bottom left) was the brand's identifying mascot. This reflects early 20th-century tobacco marketing before modern health warnings—promoting smoking as normal, pleasant, and economical for all social classes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
manking tls 6h — This offer appites onty to new suUOsCTiplions “Roll Your Own!” A fresh, hand-rolled cigarette of ‘Bull’ Durham makes a smoke that’s as lively and brisk as a pure-ivory billiard ball. “Bull” Durham has the alert, healthy, youthful taste—the snap and sparkle that gives the “punch” to a cigarette. That's why so many more thousands of live smokers have become “‘roll-your-own”’ enthusiasts during the last few years. GENUINE ‘BULL DURHAM | SMOKING TOBACCO teceat alk each Se sack No other tobacco has the unique, mellow-sweet mildness and the delightful aromatic fragrance of “Bull” Durham. Made exclusively from mild, ripe Virginia- North Carolina “bright” tobacco leaf, “Bull” Durham has that distinctive quality which has made it the favorite smoke of three generations. “Roll your own” cigarette with “Bull” Durham and get more genuine satisfaction out of smoking. An Illustrated Booklet, showing correct way to “Roll FRE Your Own” Cigarettes, and a package of cigarette papers, will. both be mailed, free, to any address in U.S. on request. Address “Bull” Durham, Durham, N. C., Room 1295. THE AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY