Life, 1925-11-05 · page 17 of 50
Life — November 5, 1925 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes organized crime and safe-cracking techniques. The main article "What Makes the Crime Wave Permanent" features dialogue between "Red" Hooper (a safe-cracker) and "Gyp" Davis (his partner), discussing how criminals locate safes in businesses. They reference the *Evening Pictorial Blah*—a fictional newspaper—which allegedly revealed safe locations through photographs. The satire targets two things: (1) newspaper sensationalism that inadvertently aids criminals by publishing operational details, and (2) the prevalence of crime in 1920s America (the article notes 85,000 murders in ten years). The cartoon "A Not Too Improbable Headline" mocks the ineffectiveness of law enforcement, showing a bandit robbing the U.S. Mint itself—suggesting that even the government's most secure facility isn't safe from criminals.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
: LIFE » What Makes the Crime Wave Permanent “NJEWSPAPERS certainly help in our work,” asserted “Red” Hooper, safe-cracker and general utility hold-up expert. “You spilled a mouthful,” agreed his working partner, “Gyp” Davis. “Any tips this morning?” “That job we tried to pull yesterday, Gyp, would of come off right if we'da known where the safe is and how it looks. See, here it tells you in the Evening Pictorial Blah and shows you a photo in case you're too dumb to read. Listen, kid: ‘The safe in the rear room was screened from the view of the bandits by an ingenious false front re- sembling an ice A Thought semaine ani . Every day for Today at 2:15 the money is care- There have been 85,000 fully counted murders in the United and prepared States during the past for deposit by ten years, the proprietor.’ Here's’ the pitcher.” “Does it tell how much they usually keep there?” inquired the thorough Gyp. “Pretty soft, bo. The Blah says, ‘Af the time of the raid the safe contained money and valuables approximating one hundred thousand dollars.’ Sweet cookie, wait till we get next to it.” “Who was the gink that gave the police alarm? I'd like to bean him good and proper. Does the Blah give his name?” “Sure thing. Here it is. ‘The hero of the occasion was Albert J. Biegeleisen of 23,479 75th Street, Woodhaven. If it were not for his alertness and presence of mind—’ Oh, baby, wait until we lamp Albert!” A NOT TOO IMPROBABLE HEADLINE LONE BANDIT STICKS UP U, S. MINT First Footpad* 1 HELD UP A POET LAST NIGHT. Second Footpad: Har! HAR! WAR! THAT's A JOKE. “JOKE, HELL! IT COST ME A DOLLAR.” “Anything else we gotta know to do the job right next time?” asked Gyp. “Yeh. That Blah bird knows a thing or two. Lookahere. X shows the place where we could ’a’ come in through the back if we wasn't a pair of dumbbells. It says: ‘The hold- up men evidently overlooked an easy way of access through the yard into the rear room over a flimsily fastened tran- som.’ That guy is wasting his time being a reporter. He could be making easy money.” “We gotta wait a week or two until the fuss is over and then—hot dawg!” “You oughta be glad you and me ain't ignorant, Gyp, and can read. The Blah is ‘a paper for everybody,’ all right. Especially us.” Elias Lieberman, Conventional Endings E open season for conventions is upon us. Experts familiar with the situation have figured out that: If all speakers whose subject is “Co- operation” were laid end to end, others would arise to take their places. If all the keys to the city presented to delegates were laid end to end, they would still be totally invisible when needed. If all resolutions adopted were laid end to end, they would find their way into the waste-baskets much sooner. If all delegates carried on as their wives believe they do, they would be laid end to end. LOB. TURKISH women are now said to be completely emancipated. It will be quaint to read of a harem shooting its husband. comicbooks.com