Life, 1926-03-04 · page 11 of 40
Life — March 4, 1926 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece mocks a conversation between a "Citizen" and a "Bandit" criminal character. The joke hinges on labor union politics: when the Citizen accuses the Bandit of being a "Lone Wolf" (working independently), the Bandit defensively explains he's "not even a member of the Jazz-Mad Younger Generation" — suggesting organized crime had unionized or formed collective operations. The satire targets 1920s anxieties about both labor unions and organized crime syndicates. By portraying a criminal defending his "non-union" status as if apologizing for being unorganized, Life ridicules the era's perception that even criminal enterprises were becoming institutionalized and collective, reflecting broader concerns about organized labor's growing power and legitimacy during this period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE - The Perfect Radio Program This is Station MEOW. You are about to hear a tenor. Before you tune out we want it known that he is permitted to sing to-night only because he signed a pledge that he would not interrupt his rendition of “Oh, How I Miss You To-night” to tell us that he hasn't done right by his mother and that he’s going back and tell her before it's too late. Non-Union ELL, it seems there w Wise Citizen who we Stroll one evening City But chance. W for, anyway?” ‘oice commanded, “We " asked the Citizen sort of need the ho are you pleasantly. “I'm a Holdup Man,” answered the = “Ar Voice, which, it turne to a Middle-Aged Person of no very realize nobody goes Striking Attributes. into Crime these “Bandit,” corrected the Citizen. days from Sordid “Bandit,” the other agreed. “[m \ es? They do sorry,” he apologized, “but I haven't it for the Thrill. had much chance to read the Papers So long. friend.” lately.” Tip Bliss. money Jo, ho, ho!” roared the ( self a Be dd you call yor out, belonged poor boy, don't you “I should say you hadn't,” said the Citizen severely. “I don't believe you're a Bandit at all. You aren't at all Gruff and Guttural. Aud where's your Bobbed Hair Pal? “I haven't got one,” apologized the Bandit humbly. “And I might as well ess, too, that I'm not even a Lone I'm supposed to be working with a Friend, but I couldn't tear him away from the radio to-night.” “Well, well, you mustn't feel too badly,” said the Citizen with Ready Sympathy. “We all make Mistakes you know. Where's your High Powered Car?” The Bandit broke into Tears. “I knew I'd overlooked something,” he said. “However,” he added, brighten ing, “I might Commandeer a Taxi.” “That's what the Police do,” the Cit zen warned him sternly now. You aren't Roughly Dre even Dapper. That's against you Your hair isn't slick enough for you to be the Super-Crook of the Century You're too old to be a member of the "Let's see ed or Jazz-Mad Younger Generation and too young to have been Driven to Despera- “on, Look! THE SPIDER HAS PUT UP HIS AERIAL AND NOW IF’S COMING DOWN TO tion in Crushing Grip of Heartless LOOK FOR A PLACE explained the Bandit TO FASTEN Poor Grade of Irish Confetti nearly are time he prop kil UND What w Casey Casty : Oi was ¢ t this holl ng material WIke.” 9 comicbooks.com