Life, 1926-05-20 · page 37 of 44
Life — May 20, 1926 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
It advertises White Rock Ginger Ale, bottled in Wisconsin. The illustration shows two elegantly dressed figures at what appears to be a social gathering—a woman in a short dress being served ginger ale by a man in a suit. The art style and language ("jazzy fox trot," "old time waltz") reflect 1920s Jazz Age culture. The ad's appeal is purely social: the product is positioned as sophisticated, modern, and essential for entertaining friends. The "social favorite" tagline and references to serving it "in restaurants and clubs" suggest it's a status symbol for the leisure class. There is no political commentary or satirical point—this is straightforward commercial advertising using contemporary design and cultural references to market a beverage.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
White Rock Gi nger Ale The Social Favorite 4, N= y, i Amber — sparkling — bubbling over XO with all the vivacity of a jazzy fox trot, the flavor of White Rock Ginger Ale lingers like an old time waltz. It is indeed the sensation of mod- ern social beverages —a compliment to friends—a treat for those at home. Order it in restaurants and clubs. Keep it on the ice. Bottled only at The White Rock Spring Waukesha, Wisconsin comicbooks.com