Life, 1918-03-21 · page 18 of 56
Life — March 21, 1918 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page announces a **title-writing contest** for a photograph showing what appears to be a WWI-era airplane with figures on or near it. Life magazine is offering $500, $200, and $100 for the best titles, with **bonus prizes for soldiers and sailors**—reflecting America's involvement in World War I (the contest closes May 6, 1918). The detailed conditions emphasize strict rules: titles must be 25 words or fewer, submitted separately with name and address, and sent to Life's New York office. The page also includes two brief satirical items mocking contemporary attitudes: one about a reverend preferring battlefields to pulpits (suggesting naive enthusiasm for war), and another joking about an actor's ambition to "star in a service flag" (a dark joke about dying in service, represented by memorial flags displayed in windows). The contest reflects how magazines engaged readers during wartime while the satirical bits critique civilian attitudes toward combat.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
458 Life’s Title Contest For the best title to the picture on this page Lire will award prizes as follow First Prize, . . $500.00 Second Prize, . $200.00 Third Prize, . $100.00 With Special Prizes for Soldiers and Sailors The contest will be governed by the following CONDITIONS Contestants are advised to read these con ditions carefully, and to conform to them exactly. Lire cannot undertake to enter into correspondence or to reply to inquiries. By “best” is understood that title which most cleverly and briefly de- scribes the situation shown in the pic- ture. No title submitted shall consist of more than twenty-five words. Hyphen- ated words will be counted as one. Contestants may send in more than one answer, but each one must be on a separate sheet, with name and address plainly written. The contest is open to everybody. In case a prize is won by a Soldier or Sailor $100.00 extra will be added to the first prize, $50.00 extra to the sec- ond and $23.00 extra to the third. By the term Soldier and Sailor is meant anyone, no matter what the rank, in the uniformed forces of the United States government. In case of any dispute as to the status of a winning contestant under these terms the Editors of Lire will be the sole judges. But a liberal interpretation will be placed on the conditions. The contest is now open. It will close at noon on May 6, 1918, no manu- scripts received after that time being considered. All manuscri; should be addressed to the Contest Editor of Lire, 17 West Thirty-first Street, New York. En- velopes addressed in any other way will not be considered. Envelopes must contain nothing but the competing title and the name and address of the send- er, plainly written, all on the same sheet. If you have anything else to say to Lire, send it in a separate letter. The Editors will not be responsible for beds roe ey For the Best Title to this Picture $800 will be given in Prizes See conditions on this page the loss of manuscripts. Contestants are advised to keep duplicate copies. No manuscripts will be returned. Titles may be original or may be a quotation from some well-known author, but in this case the source must be accurately given. It is not necessary to be a subscriber to Lire to be a contestant. In case of ties the full amount of the prize will be given to each tying con- testant. The final award will be announced as early as possible after the close of the contest. Of this due notice will be given. Checks will be sent simultane- ously with the announcements of the award. The earlier you send your title the better. In previous contests many ar- rived too late. Battlefield Wanted “T WOULD rather be on a battlefield any day than in a pulpit,” declares the Rev, Samuel S, McKibben of Bay- onne, N. J. There should be no difficulty in ac- commodating this good sir. Battle- fields are plentiful these days, almost as plentiful as pulpits, and all of them are fitted up with the comforts and luxuries which are necessary to a modern up-to-date battlefield. So all Mr. McKibben has to do is pick the one that suits him best and go to it. Laudable Indeed “| KNOW able ambition.” “What is it? “ He wants to star in a service flag.” a young actor with a laud-