Life — October 9, 1919 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Fly-by-Night" This Life magazine cover from October 9, 1919 depicts two figures in what appears to be an aircraft at night, with a crescent moon visible. The title "The Fly-by-Night" is a pun suggesting both literal nighttime flying and the colloquial term for someone unreliable or evasive. The illustration likely satirizes early aviation's dangers and novelty, or possibly references contemporary concerns about aircraft. The formal dress and goggles suggest these may be notable figures, though without additional context, their specific identities remain unclear. The nighttime setting emphasizes the adventurous or risky nature of the scenario. The 10-cent price and "Out-in-the-Air Number" designation indicate this was a themed issue celebrating aviation's growing cultural prominence in 1919.