Life, 1916-05-04 · page 7 of 52
Life — May 4, 1916 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **Johnnie Walker whisky advertisement** disguised as political satire. The cartoon depicts an elderly man labeled "Born 1820—Still going strong" (representing the brand's longevity) encountering a younger military recruit attempting to join the National Guard. The recruit claims he's trying to "pass the age test," suggesting he's underage. The joke plays on Johnnie Walker whisky's reputation for enduring quality: just as the brand stays strong despite its age, the recruit humorously references the product's famous durability. The advertisement emphasizes that Johnnie Walker Red Label has maintained consistent quality for over 10 years and guarantees "same quality throughout the world." The agents are listed as Williams & Humbert in New York.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Born 1820 —Still going Johnnie Walker: “ Wnat! ARE YOU TRYING TO PASS THE AGE TEST?” Enthusiastic Friend: “No. Unrortunatety I cANNOT DO THAT AS EASILY AS YOU, BUT I Aw GOING TO MAKE A BARE-FACED ATTEMPT TO JOIN THE NaTIonaL Guarv.” The “age test” is “pie” for “ Johnnie Walker ” because every drop goes into the bottle right and is safe-guarded by that wonderful non-refillable fitment. Every drop of “ Johnnie Walker” Red Label is over 10 years old. GUARANTEED SAME QUALITY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. Agents: WILLIAMS & HUMBERT, 1158 Broadway, NEW YORK. JOHN WALKER & SONS, Lro., Waisky Disriters, KILMARNOCK. comicbooks.com