Life, 1923-08-23 · page 29 of 36
Life — August 23, 1923 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **cigarette advertisement** for Pall Mall, not political satire. The illustration depicts a domestic scene—a woman attending to a relaxed man in an armchair, with another man visible in the background—establishing the marketed "Luxury Hour" concept. The ad positions Pall Mall as an aristocratic, premium product ("aristrocrat among cigarettes") while introducing a new budget option: the "Pall Mall Specials" at 20 for 30¢. The marketing strategy emphasizes efficiency gains allowing lower prices without sacrificing quality. The "Luxury Hour" framing reflects early 20th-century consumer culture—packaging leisure and relaxation as an affordable entitlement for working men. The gendered domestic setting, with a woman serving a reclining man, reflects period norms about household roles. This represents vintage advertising rather than satirical commentary on social or political issues.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ZE __ =m eA 20 of the world’ Ghest Turkish ci garette for 30°—a triumph in volume production a (Won) Try them tonight Sor your Luxury Hour -that easy chair hour when every man feels entitled to life’s best PALL MALL Specials New size-plain ends only 20 for30¢ No change in size or price of PALL MALL Regulars [cork tip] Wherever men smoke, Pall Mall is known as the aristo- crat among cigarettes. Its ex- quisite blend of the choicest Turkish tobaccos has never been successfully rivaled. Now Pall Mall comes to you in a new size package— priced so moderately that even the thriftiest may smoke it consistently—a super- value Pall Mall—made pos- sible by greater output and new efficiency in manufac- ture. “A shilling in London—a quarter here.” The world has gladly paid that for ten Pall Mall “Regulars.” But a nickel more buys 20 of the new Pall Mall Specials —slightly smaller in girth, and with plain ends, but with the inimitable Pall Mall quality left intact. Try them tonight in your easy-chair hour: that hour after the day’s work, when men demand the most from a cigarette. Give Pall Mall the “Luxury Hour” test. Soon you'll smoke them ex- clusively. New size in plain ends only. 20 for 3o0c. WEST OF THE ROCKIES 20 for35¢ comicbooks.com