Life, 1924-10-23 · page 12 of 36
Life — October 23, 1924 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page announces **Life magazine's contest** for humorous titles to accompany a center-page cartoon by Charles Dana Gibson (visible on pages 16-17). Prizes range from $500 to $50. The cartoon itself, captioned **"ARRIVAL OF THE EDITOR WHO IS ALWAYS TAKING STRAW VOTES,"** depicts an editor arriving amid chaotic voting activity. Figures hold ballots and voting materials marked "YES" and "NO," suggesting the cartoon satirizes editors who constantly poll their staff or the public rather than making decisive decisions themselves. The "straw vote" reference mocks informal, non-binding polls—implying indecisive leadership that relies on constant feedback rather than editorial authority. The humor targets editorial management style and workplace dynamics.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE - LIFE’S Picture Title Contest lor the best titles to the center-page cartoon in this issue, Lire will award prizes as follows: First Prize ...... Second Prize .. Third Prize .. Fourth Prize ....... A TITLE is needed for the picture by Charles Dana Gibson which is reproduced on pages 16 and 17 of this issue. All readers of Lire, whether they are subscribers or not, are invited to aid in the search for this miss- ing title. Those who are most successful in locating it will be rewarded with United States currency. The picture, as you will observe, concerns itseli with a group of people whose home has been invaded by that most recent and most obnoxious of all nui- sances—the Cross Word Puzzle Pest. He is the type of person who is continually asking his friends, “What is a serum for weasel bite in six letters?” Whether you have ever tried a cross-word puzzle or not, you are at liberty to take part in this Contest; --- $500 $150 the only restrictions on competition are described in the conditions below. These conditions must be rigorously observed. The titles should be applicable, brief and, if possible, funny. There is no limit on the number of titles that each contestant may submit throughout the Contest, but not more than ten answers may be included in one envelope. In past contests, we have received as many as five hundred titles in one batch; this complicates the work of the judges and delays the final decision. There is, however, no restriction on the number of laughs that each title may provoke. The Contest is now on—and the invitation is ex- tended to all comers to be just as comical as they please. CONDITIONS B Y “best” is understood that title which most cleverly and briefly de- scribes the picture referred to above. The contest is now open and open to everybody, and will close at this office at noon on Saturday, Dee. 20. Titles will be judged by three mem- bers of Lire’s Editorial Staff, and their decision will be final. Titles may be original, or may be a quotation from some well-known au- thor, and should not exceed twenty words cach, Contestants may send in more than one title, but not more than ten in one envelope. Should two or more persons submit the titles selected as best, second best, ete. each one will be awarded the full amount of the prize tied for. The final award will be announced as early as possible after the close of the contest (allowing for completion of the final reading). Checks will be sent simultaneously with the announce- ment of the award. The members of Lire’s staff, of course, are not permitted to compete. All titles should be addressed to Lire's Picture Title Contest, 598 Madison Avenue, New York, N. Y. Envelopes should contain nothing but the compet- ing titles, typewritten or very plainly written, using one side of paper only, with the name and address of the sender on cach sheet. efi ARRIVAL OF THE EDITOR WHO IS ALWAYS TAKING STRAW VOTES = c ail EE Pm comicbooks.com