Life — February 26, 1925 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is the cover of *Life* magazine from January 26, 1925 (price: 15 cents). The dominant visual is simply the enormous text "Life California Number," suggesting this is a special issue devoted to California. The bottom illustration depicts a satirical scene of California promotion. Small figures hold signs reading "Boating of Iowa Gollect" (likely "Boating of Iowa Collect") on the left and "Station WHAC World Hear About California" on the right. These appear to mock California's aggressive self-promotion to the rest of America—the joke being that Californians were relentlessly broadcasting their region's attractions to outsiders, particularly to the Midwest. The radiating lines suggest broadcasting or widespread publicity campaigns typical of 1920s boosterism.