Life, 1921-09-08 · page 24 of 36
Life — September 8, 1921 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page juxtaposes legitimate editorial content with satirical "classified ads" mocking fraudulent schemes common in the era. **Top image**: Children at a California beach, captioned as "Sennett Cremos" (likely Keystone Cops-style comedy extras from Mack Sennett's film studio) enjoying "jazz" before swimming—a gentle joke about California's attractions for young people. **Portrait**: "Kid Frisco," a boxer challenging Benny Leonard's lightweight championship, using the boxing phrase "the bigger they are, the harder they fall." **Fake classifieds**: The bulk of the page saririzes mail-order scams targeting gullible readers—rigged dice, burglary tools ("Second Story Supply Co."), loaded cards, dubious medical "cures," pornographic photos, and sexually suggestive literature ("Secrets of the Y.W.C.A."). The satire targets both the fraudsters and the desperate people seeking quick fixes, hidden knowledge, or illicit materials. This reflects Life's role as social commentary on American consumer culture and its exploitation of human weakness and desire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
With Apologies to the fonfom THERE'S SOMETHING BESIDE THE CLIMATE THAT LURES THE BOYS TO CALIFORNIA THESE DAYS WE'LL SAY THERE IS. THESE SENNETT CREMOS ARE EVIDENTLY ENJOYING A LITTLE JAZZ BEFORE THE DIP FORMIDABLE CONTENDER FOR BENNY LEONARD'S CROWN KID FRISCO, FAST LIGHTWEIGHT, WHO IS DISPOSING OF ALL COMERS VIA THE “KAYO” ROUTE, “THE BIGGER THEY ARE THE HARDER THEY FALL” IS THE KID'S MOTTO ~ CLASSIFIED | STEMWINDING DICE THE A NDER THE WINNER Ss WINDS They Work Like Clockwork Guaranteed Absolutely Non-Refillable For Sale in All Languages $44.91 per Long Ton. Write Now SOCIETY SALES CORP. Alameda, N. Dak. NIFTY TOOL KITS Jimmy, Drill, Saw, Blackjack, Hammer, “Soup”, ete. Most Useful Little Packet on the Market Gets You Into the Best Homes Can be Monogrammed Prepaid $' Master Keys Extra Second Story Supply Co. - - - ining, N. Y. GAMES : HONEST CRAP SHOOTERS. EXPOSED AT LAST! Ways of the Marks Shown Up Send $1.15 and learn How to Shoot the Works. Allatime, Confidentia! South African Golf Supply Depot 4441 Main St.,Dubuaue, la. LOADED PLAYING CARDS. (The Kind That Kant Go Straight) Indestructible. Unbreakable, Quick Killings. Ideal for Euchre Parties. Safer Than Work. Send Us All You Got. CINCH MFG. CO. Boonton, La HEALTH APPLIANCES _ DO YOU Suffer from Endyma—Chronie Ventriloquism? Neuremia? Typhitis? Ostentasia? Protoplasm? Dr. Hathaway’s Old Reliable Home Remedy will po: ely _ St 50 per Bot. FIX YOU UP Maretta Jet., ow. Va. Fat. Heads Reduced, Home Treatment. No operation. MAGIC CURE We Guarantee to Remove All Adipose Tissue from the Neck Up MEN — WOMEN — KIDDIES years hospital experience in large Middlewestern city . A. Kerr Drug Co. WEEK KNEES. _ART 5C—BEAUTIFUL CAVE GIRLS—50. Art Photos You Sure Will Like. Instructive. Something You Never Saw Before Le Bunque Sales Works Lock Box A29 Easton, Pa. LITERATURE “THROUGH the Keyhole.” Confessions of a Veteran Bellhop. Not for Prudes 25 Handsome Pictures. Plain Cover. The Goods, Eavesdropper Pub. Co. K769244 South Bend, Ind “SECRETS OF THE Y.W.C.A? ” Told so you “The Fudge Party.” “A Night in the Dorms.” “Pillow Fighters.” ersonal Magnetism.” ‘The 100 Best Irish Jokes.” Complete 25¢ prepaid Educational Printing Corp. lean, N. Y. can Understand comicbooks.com er. me ba sp wi all th fir he