Life, 1920-07-01 · page 53 of 56
Life — July 1, 1920 — page 53: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a straightforward **food product advertisement**, not political satire. Curtice Brothers Company of Rochester, New York promotes their Blue Label Foods line through this Life magazine page. The ad emphasizes **food safety and quality control**—highlighting "spotless, sunshiny kitchen factory" conditions and careful selection of ingredients (Spanish oranges, pure cane sugar). This messaging reflects early 20th-century consumer anxieties about food purity following scandals like those exposed in Upton Sinclair's *The Jungle*. The image shows canned goods (marmalade, turkey, chicken) and a scene of workers preparing food, meant to assure buyers of wholesome production. The ad promises convenience ("always ready for your instant use") and variety ("from soup to sweets"). There is **no political cartoon or satire here**—it's commercial advertising aimed at homemakers seeking reliable, safe canned foods.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Real Turkey — and Real Chicken! —not spiced too much—just salted a bit and cooked to tender perfection, carfeully boned and packed in a spotless, sunshiny kitchen factory. Marmalade made of oranges from Spain, and pure cane sugar. This same care in selection and cleanliness in preparation is exercised in the production of every Blue Label Food. Soups, Chili Sauce, Ketchup, Canned Fruits and Vegetables, Boned Turkey and Chicken, Jams, Jellies and Preserves. These wholesome Blue Label Foods are always ready for your instant use, From soup to sweets you can serve a complete and perfect meal of Blue Label Foods. Write for our booklet, " It contains many good menus pleased to send it if you will me CURTICE BROTHERS CO. ROCHESTER NY. comicbooks.com