Life — June 9, 1921 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is a satirical cartoon about automotive safety and skepticism. The scene shows what appears to be a car accident or collision at a gas station under a "Keep Shilling with Kellys" sign. One character asks another, "You don't believe in signs, do you, Cuthbert?" The joke plays on a double meaning: the sign advertises Kelly tires/automotive products, but the character's skepticism about "signs" refers to warning signs or omens. The implication is that ignoring warning signs—whether literal safety signs or intuitive warnings—leads to accidents. The cartoon satirizes consumer attitudes about automotive safety products and the tendency to disregard cautions. The vintage car styles and gas station setting suggest this is from the early-to-mid 20th century, when automobile safety was an emerging concern.