Life, 1921-06-30 · page 39 of 41
Life — June 30, 1921 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **commercial advertisement**, not political satire. Norman Rockwell painted it for Orange-Crush soda. The image shows three people enjoying drinks with straws at what appears to be a soda fountain, while an elderly gentleman in the background reacts with exaggerated surprise or delight. The caption "—like oranges? drink ORANGE-CRUSH" plays on a simple premise: if you like oranges, you'll enjoy this carbonated fruit drink. The humor is gentle and domestic rather than satirical. Rockwell's illustration emphasizes the product's appeal across generations and social settings. The ad highlights that Orange-Crush flavors use genuine fruit ingredients—a selling point emphasizing quality and authenticity to consumers concerned about pure food standards (the Pure Food and Drug Act had passed in 1906). This represents early 20th-century beverage marketing using wholesome Americana imagery and celebrity artist endorsement.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Ar i ccm well © 1921,0.-C,Co, All nghts reserved. One ol a series painted by Norman Rockwell for Orange-Crush Co, —like oranses? ag tink QRANGE-CRUSH] Deliciously carbonated drinks, each distinctive with the tang of the fruit itself—such are Ward's Orange-Crush, Lemon-Crush and Lime-Crush. Flavors are genuine— real blends of fruit oils, fruit juices and citric acid from oranges, lemons or limes, purest sugar and carbonated water. At fountains or in bottles Guaranteed under ali pure food laws, Federa’ Send for free booklet," How the’ Crushes’ Are | Prepared by Orange-Crush Co. Plant and Laboratories, Chicago. Research Laboratory, Los Angeles comicbooks.com