Life, 1924-08-21 · page 23 of 36
Life — August 21, 1924 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several satirical pieces mocking contemporary society through classical and biblical retellings: **"If It Happened To-day"** presents three humorous scenarios imagining famous historical events in modern times. The "Helen of Troy" segment jokes that Helen refuses to elope because she can't find a good barber—satirizing modern women's vanity and the prevalence of beauty services. The "Aaron" piece mocks labor unions by suggesting even Moses couldn't part the Red Sea without union authorization and proper cards. These pieces ridicule modern bureaucracy and commercial culture by imposing them on ancient narratives. **"Hell and Advertising"** satirizes how Hell has become culturally ubiquitous through constant talk and reference, receiving more "advertising" than actual vacation destinations, yet nobody wants to visit it. This critiques American advertising's pervasiveness and irrationality. **"The Coolidge Influence"** appears to joke about President Coolidge's famously taciturn nature, suggesting one needn't speak at dinner parties. The large cartoon at bottom illustrates "The Press Club," depicting journalists in a crowded, chaotic setting—likely satirizing newspaper culture.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
If It Happened To-day Helen of Troy ARIS, about to leave Greece, has lecided to take Helen with him. sure that Menclaus has gone to nks for the afternoon, he steals » Helen’s room. love you,” he cries. to Troy!" wish I could,” sighs Helen, “but t know I'd never find a barber in y who could shingle my hair prop- “Fly with Paris goes off to Atlantis and ics a mermaid whose hair is always t in curl by the dampness, and the an’ War is averted. eee laren teps before Pharaoh and be- Two minutes \vkox > to wave his. wand. Egypt will be covered with s. locusts, service stations and other sues. But before Aaron can utter ord, three members of the Ma- ins’ Union, Local Number 146, step ward. Where's your card?” they a [ haven't any,” Aaron replies. Ile ain't got a card!" they ery. “Come on, lawyer, do your turn.” » the Union's lawyer hands Aaron opy of an injunction, and the Chil- f Isracl are forced to go back bricklaying until there is a the real estate business and np in Egyptians are only too glad to lay m off Bertram Bloch, Hell and Advertising ys JU hear more talk about Hell than any other place in Creation it’s hot as Hell; last win- ld as Heil. think that Czecho-Slo- a new cigarette. Memphis a veral water, and the Ruhr a potato ht; millions seem never to have heard of California, Banff, Yokohama, Monte Carlo, or London, but every- dy knows all about Hell. This Hell craze is mostly publicity yene you know has ever been there. No one really knows where it is. Some suggest it's down below and int to Vesuvius. Some say it’s in vew York and point to the thermome- ter. Some insist it's inside themselves d take to drink. Just no 1 Mm was © Lots of p But it’s all a question of advertising. - * LIFE : You first heard about Hell when you were in long clothes, and you have been hearing about it ever since. Everybody, from the bootblack to the minister, talks about Hell. Hell has had more free advertising than any resort on the timetables, but no one wants to go there. Almost every one prefers Atlantic City FO S38. The Coolidge Influence IFE: Charming dinner this eve- ning, wasn't it? Hussanp: Rather! say a word! I didn’t have to Here's a great ideo LRN {or 2 cartoon: Have learst with a spear labeled Yellow Journalism’ and call it “Hoist with his ee Q Copy, ' @ APES al Contrariwise OF all glad words of tongue and pen (The saying to reverse), The gladdest are: “It might have been— It might have been—much worse! La T.H. Erratum ARBER (to regular customer): 1 made a terrible mistake to-day while I was shaving a fellow. Recutar Customer: What did you do; cut him? Barper: that wouldn't have mat- tered so much; I cut myself. aoe! INTIMATE GLIMPSES OF FAMOUS CLUBS THE PRESS CLUB comicbooks.com