Life, 1921-03-10 · page 5 of 36
Life — March 10, 1921 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily an **advertising contest page**, not satirical content. Life magazine is running a $250 prize competition asking readers to write dialogue (35 words maximum) for an illustration showing several figures around automobiles. The illustration depicts what appears to be **1920s racing or automotive scenes** with well-dressed men and women near vintage cars. The contest asks: "Do you know what well-known product it advertises?" This was a common magazine engagement tactic in the 1920s—readers would guess which brand the advertisement promoted and submit winning dialogue. The contest rules specify entries must be received by May 15, 1921, with winners announced in the September 8th issue. The page contains no political satire or caricature—it's straightforward commercial content leveraging reader participation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
$250.00 Prize Contest This picture is an advertising illustration. It is similar to the pictures that have been used in like advertisements during the past year. Do you know what well-known product it advertises? If you do, you may win $250.00. Read the Conditions Below O complete this advertisement we need a dialogue or monologue of not over 35 words which will represent the conversation of the characters in the picture and will bring out some desirable feature of the product advertised. Whatare the people in this picture saying? For the most apt and most cleverly worded dialogue or monologue that completes this advertise- ment and that is submitted to us by May 15, 1921, we will pay $250. Anyone may enter this contest except professional advertising writ- ers. Should the winning advertisement be submitted in identical word- ing by more than one person, each will be paid $250. The prize- winning answer together with the name and address of the winner will appear in the September 8th issue of this magazine. However,a check will be mailed to the winner as soon as the contest can be decided. CONTEST EDITOR, 16th Flocr, 150 Madison Ave., New York comicbooks.com