Life, 1924-08-07 · page 15 of 36
Life — August 7, 1924 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct pieces of humor content: **"The Man Who Always Looks Cool"** (by Gardner Rea) is a sardonic poem mocking masculine vanity—a man who claims complete emotional detachment and effortless appeal to women, yet whose boasts reveal insecurity. **"Echoes in a Used-Car Shop"** satirizes the dishonest sales tactics of used-car dealers. The dialogue shows salesmen making absurd excuses for a vehicle's poor condition while pressuring the buyer, illustrating how used-car dealers were notorious for deceptive practices. **"The Movie Fan"** (by Claude Schaffner) shows a couple discussing car maintenance using movie-production slang, poking fun at both automotive ignorance and Hollywood's influence on everyday speech. The cartoon of a boat-building scene is captioned with wordplay about knots.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE * The Man Who Always Looks Cool \M the man who always looks cool. 1 {eat affects me not. Humidity passes me harmlessly by. My collar never wilts, my face never flushes, my nose ver shines. In a summer crowd, I am the cynosure of all eyes. Women are irresistibly drawn to me. Men envy me. Crying infants leave me unannoyed. Clouds of dust serve but as telling background for my maculate linen, age never cannons against my calves. Wherever I pass I leave behind me a memory of rustling ves and brooks. 1 am the chap who always looks cool. Lam the unrealized dream of mankind. Gardner Rea, Echoes in a Used-Car Shop ES, sir; if she ain't right we'll fix her up or make a reasonable allowance.” That's the original paint; a coat of varnish'll make her ok like new.” Good rubber all around and a brand-new spare.” ir; that ain't wore off; that’s a slip cover.” She's hardly been used at all; a woman drove her.” Yes, the mileage on that speedometer is just about right + that model.’ “That tappet noise’ll iron out all right just as soon as he’s under load. “The longer you run this motor, the sweeter she gits.” PERTINENT The Skipper: THIS BOAT MAKES FIFTEEN KNOTS AN HOUR. He's busy explaining why he The Girl: wuo UNTIES THEM? The Movie Fan: aw, vor, Let’s STICK AROUN’ TILL THEY CHANGE THE PITCHERS, “Permanent? No, indeedy! You won't hear a thing—not a whisper—after we take that water knock out of the radiator.” “Oh, she'll throttle down, only the carburctor ain't right for this weather.” “Skippin’ a little maybe; wait'll she warmed up.” “Tightenin’ up them body bolts an’ a little paddin'll stop that squeak.” “Tain't good for a car to take hills like that on high, anyway.” “Of course, y’ gotta expect to spend a little gittin’ her tuned up.” “I thought you knew them wheels wasn't demountable. “We can’t keep on fixin’ her; she was O. K. when you took her out, wasn't she “Well, good night; you didn't expect a new car, did you Claude Schaffner. OU can always tell a man who has had his vacation. went where he did. comicbooks.com