Life, 1922-10-12 · page 35 of 36
Life — October 12, 1922 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **hotel advertisement**, not political satire or comics. It promotes the Statler Hotels chain, announcing new locations in Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, St. Louis, and Boston opening in the early 1920s. The illustration features a well-dressed headwaiter addressing the reader directly. His monologue emphasizes the Statler chain's distinctive service philosophy—positioning the headwaiter as both "host" and employee, claiming to understand guests' preferences better than traditional hotel service. He references published "Statler Service Codes," suggesting the chain marketed itself on detailed, guest-focused protocols rather than conventional hospitality standards. The Hotel Pennsylvania location is touted as "The Largest Hotel in the World," a boastful claim typical of 1920s hotel advertising. The page reflects the era's emphasis on modern hospitality standards and the competitive luxury-hotel market of the Jazz Age.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Hotels Statler Buffalo —- Cleveland ~- Detroit ~- St. Louis, A new Hotel Statler (1100 rooms, 1100 baths) is now building at Buffalo, to open early in 1923; 500 more rooms will be added later There is to be another HOTEL STATLER in the Park Square district of BOSTON. It will have 1100 rooms and 1100 baths; opening date to be announced later. I'm a Statler headwaiter. When you’re in one of my dining-rooms I’m your host as well as your employee, and you'll always find me trying my hardest to live up to my instructions. Maybe you have seen those instructions (published in some of our ads, and in The Statler Service Codes); if so you know that they take a different view from the usual one of what a headwaiter’s for and what he ought to do. [believe in them, for I think I know what you like; and I second Mr. Statler’s prom- ise to you of the kind of service you'll appreciate. I l Opp. Pennsylvania Terminal, New York. The Largest Hotel in the World comicbooks.com