Life, 1915-12-09 · page 42 of 48
Life — December 9, 1915 — page 42: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **magazine advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes Vanity Fair, positioned as a modern, sophisticated publication for culturally engaged readers. The cartoon figures flanking the text represent **fashionable urbanites**—a woman on the left reading, a well-dressed man on the right. They embody the magazine's target audience: socially ambitious people wanting to stay current with modern culture. The ad mocks **social obsolescence**, warning readers not to become "old fogeys" or "social back numbers" left behind by modern progress ("moving on all eight cylinders"). It promises that Vanity Fair covers cutting-edge topics: theater, opera, art, fashion, Paris gossip, and motor cars—all markers of sophistication and worldliness. The phrase **"Dollar Diplomacy"** plays on Theodore Roosevelt-era foreign policy but here means getting premium entertainment cheaply ($1 versus $2 for theater tickets). The underlying message: reading Vanity Fair signals you're modern, witty, and culturally aware—not dull or provincial.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The most successful of all the new magazines Don’t Be a Social Back Number — If you are out of step with the whirling progress of our time; if you are removed from its magnetic influences; if, despite your youth, you are be- coming an old fogey, or an old maid, or an old bachelor, or an old bore; if your joie de vivre is dying at the roots—then you must read Vanity Fair, and presto! you will be nimble-witted and agile-minded again— the joy of the picnic—the life of the grill-room—sunshine in the home. Six months of Vanity Fair will enable you to ignite a dinner party at fifty yards Don’t settle down comfortably in the ooze. The world is moving, moving on all eight cylinders—some folks are even moving on twelve—and you might just as well move along with them. Don’t stall yourself on life’s high- road and be satisfied to take everybody else’s dust. Hop up and take a little joy ride on the red and yellow band-wagon—Vanity Fair’s band-wagon.. Every Issue of Vanity Fair Contains: THE STAGE: Entertaining first-night and behind-the- the newest plays— with ayers. THE OPERA AND MUSIC: Stories and portraits of the new singers, composers, conductors, and whatever ia new about the old ones. THE ARTS: Illustrated news and criticisms of the most discussed pictures, architecture. Seka, scolpere and poetry. HUMOR: The most original and amusing work af our young and humorous writers and artiste in a fresh and unconventional vein. PEOPLE: Striking sod oman tities who help to. mak cinating merry- nits of the celeb- ‘a brilliant and fas- ESSAYS AND REVIEWS: By the most intellectually ttigulating ewayists, entice and authore—both domestic td imported. PARIS AND LONDON: The latest diverting news fron both of ery European capitals—and occasonally u well BANCING: New. Saas, outdoor i danese, bow dears, Eoerrmtink esd enomic desea - FASHIONS: From Paris, London and New York for all discriminating American men and women. POGs AND MOTORS: 5, Photoeraphe of the best bred dogs and the best built ‘with descriptions and timely discussion of If you want to de in the social and artistic swim, tear off the coupon in the lower left-hand corner of this page—and mail it. SPORTS: As ‘up-to-date, illustrated bisexual panorama . tennis, football, racing. polo, flying. swimming, EES SN dace ected gal inlaw ares Try a Little Dollar Diplomacy! You think nothing—in your poor deluded way—of paying $2.00 for a theatre ticket, or $1.35 for a new novel, but you can secure, for $1.00 (half the cost of a single theatre ticket, and less than the cost of a single novel) an entire winter of Vanity Fair and with it more entertainment than you can derive from dozens of sex plays or a shelf-full of problem novels. ss SHOPPING: An index to the best shope: what tell end a shopping ofer that bi bound te intizet ale ocr nd woanen. Stop where you are! Tear off that coupon! yf. t your brain hept powdered and wel groomed for six months, Just tar oF. Silin ond matt the little couson below. We Promise You, Solemaly that Vanity Fair is not just one more magazine; or even anew magazine of an old kind—but an ALTOGETHER NEW KIND OF MAGAZINE. It is an entertaining Magazine for Moderns. We are not going to print any pretty girls’ heads on its covers. We are going to spare you the agony of sex discussions. We shall publish 90 dreary serial stories. No diaries of travel." No hack articles on prepared: ness. No gloom. No problem stories. No articles on tariff, or irrigation, of railroad rates, or pure food, or aay other statistical subjects. Condé Nast, Publisher Frank Crowninshield, Editor 25 Cents a Copy Three Dollars a Year comicbooks.com