Life, 1921-08-11 · page 35 of 40
Life — August 11, 1921 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **cigarette advertisement**, not political satire. It features Raymond Hitchcock, an American stage actor and comedian popular in the 1920s, endorsing Omar cigarettes. The ad uses wordplay: "Omar Omar spells Aroma / Omar Omar *is* Aroma," emphasizing the cigarette's supposedly distinctive scent from its blend of Turkish and domestic tobaccos. The photograph of Hitchcock's hand holding the cigarette serves as celebrity endorsement—his appearance lends prestige to the product. The pairing device ("Ham and Eggs, Jack and Jill, Peaches and Cream, and OMAR and AROMA") presents complementary things that "always go together." The money-back guarantee at bottom was a common marketing tactic of the era, suggesting consumer confidence. This reflects early-20th-century advertising practices: celebrity endorsement, lifestyle association, and product differentiation through claimed sensory qualities. Modern readers should note the frank cigarette promotion—advertising tobacco to the general public was entirely legal and common in 1921.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
This is an actual photograph of Raymond Hitchcock's hand holding an OMAR. @© 1921, A. T. Co, In Raymond Hitchcocks hand OMAR is entirely at home Omar Omar spells Aroma Omar Omar 7s Aroma Aroma makes a cigarette; They’ ve told you that for years Smoke Omar for Aroma. Thirteen kinds of choice Turkish and six kinds of selected Domestic tobaccos are blended to give Omar They always go together— its delicate and distinctive Aroma. Ham and Eggs Jack and Jill Peaches and Cream OMAR and AROMA @Qxrx. Meee —which means that if you don’t like OMAR CIGARETTES you can get your money back from the dealer and comicbooks.com