Life, 1924-02-14 · page 25 of 36
Life — February 14, 1924 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the rampant oil stock promotion schemes of the early 20th century. The mock circular from the "Army & Navy Oil & Gas Company" parodies fraudulent investment pitches that made absurd claims—locating oil in Washington D.C., claiming politicians and military officers as backers, and promising impossible returns (200,000 barrels daily). The satire targets how such schemes exploited investors by: - Name-dropping politicians to appear legitimate - Making obviously false claims - Blaming previous investors' failures on their own incompetence rather than the scheme's fraudulence - Creating artificial urgency ("Don't Delay!") The accompanying cartoons mock gullible investors: one shows someone skiing off a building (reckless investing), another depicts someone being knocked senseless by financial loss. The "Business First" section adds ironic commentary on misplaced priorities. This reflects Life magazine's role exposing financial chicanery during an era of widespread stock market speculation and fraud.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE - How Our Oil Stock Promotion Circulars. 9 [~~ May Soon Read OIL! OIL! OIL! This is Your chance. Get in on the gr 1 floor is too late Tue Army & Navy On & Gas Comrany We are owners of the largest oil fiek the world! Located at Washi mn, D.C.! Is there oil in Washington? You'd be surprised!!! Listen! in two cabinet officers! Both proved taking out 200,000 barrels a day from these ty Swonderful! And that is not all! We ther Federal officer to-morrow and expect to have a dozen influential politicians open Propuctnc On. before the first of next month! The supply is limitless!!! Don't be dise ed because previon ments in the oil business by u have not bee a ‘obably the companies in which you inve not look for oil in the right bu ! Maybe they drilled the «officials! We are Ix Ricut! We operate only in bui officials we KNow have On We call your at on bonanza oil well: SeNaTos Oris Witt Graneitt! We Tarren Tats May Two Years Aco axp Ane Gettixe On Out or Hist Stunt! We are not fakers! With NOTICE! NOTICE We have been ir ill time only opene There was a reas Wuat Have Y Seno Tuat Cueck To-pay! Don’t Detay! Do It N OIL! OIL! OIL! OIL! OIL H. 1. Phillips Business First USINESS Maw (te wholesale hot T have has just insulted me Voice on Orner Ex then throw him TAKE OFF THOSE SKATES! pO YOU THINK PANTS GROW ON TREES? comicbooks.com