Life, 1926-03-11 · page 13 of 40
Life — March 11, 1926 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes a movie star's financial ignorance. The sketch shows a salesman presenting a book to the star, who initially balks at its $2,000,000 price tag—substantial even for a wealthy entertainer. The joke centers on the star's bewilderment about basic accounting: he doesn't understand tax deductions, bank deposits, or financial documents. When the salesman explains various financial obligations totaling over $84,000, the star remains confused about his own money. The inset caption "NOW YOU TELL ONE" presents the salesman's sarcastic response, suggesting the star's ignorance about his finances is laughably implausible—implying that even wealthy entertainers should understand fundamental money management. The satire targets both celebrity financial naiveté and the gap between earning power and fiscal literacy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
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