Life, 1926-11-04 · page 26 of 40
Life — November 4, 1926 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1920s *Life* magazine page satirizes Prohibition-era moneymaking schemes. The main article describes creative (often illegal) ways women earned extra income during alcohol prohibition: - One writer admits to bootlegging alcohol from "Rum Row" (offshore smuggling operations) via swimming and her father's car - Another reconditions used oil derricks and resells them - A third walks neighbors' pet turtles for pay The large cartoon depicts a crowded vehicle labeled with letters (A-D), likely representing bootleggers smuggling contraband into "Little Neck" (a real location, humorously called "home of the famous clam"—a winking reference to hidden illegal goods). The smaller comic strip "Mr. and Mrs. Frosting" jokes about gender stereotypes unrelated to the main theme. The page mocks how ordinary people, especially women, ingeniously exploited Prohibition's economic opportunities and legal loopholes. The tone is conspiratorial humor—acknowledging criminality while treating it as clever entrepreneurship.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Life Where That Extra $27.39 Comes From Or, Jack Without Tears IRLS, do you want to make a little pin money? Don't ll answer at once, and stop Look over the hints be- low; and if you can’t equal or bet- ter the success enjoyed by your enterprising — sis- ters, why, I'm ashamed of every last one of you— that’s what I am! M. . writes: “IT am a mode ately strong swim- mer, and a little jaunt out to Rum Row on a sun- shiny day is prac- tically nothing to me. Once there, I load up with a few cases of you- know - what and swim back. With the help of father’s car, I coat was only fit for a duster, Then I hit upon the plan of recondition- ing derricks. I fitted up our spare room as sort of a machine shop and bought a package of hairpins and set to work. I find you can re- condition the av- erage derrick in a few odd _ hours, and with a fresh coat of paint and a few pink rib- bons it is as good as new—that is, if you don't go around and look at it from the back. Perhaps you have seen some of my ‘babies,’ as I call them, puffing away, reliving a useful life, each one in itself an Lg ad for what a find no difficulty mercer sen in disposing of it to my — friends. Of course you may lose a dear friend now and then, but for a girl that makes friends His Sister: 1 sily, 1 don’t know of a more refined way of picking up a little ‘c dulic Try it yours how the orders come in.” “I was nearly desperate,” writes . G. F., “and my last year’s sable y spon- nd see Mr. Eisman: wuat po you THINK OF PRESIDENT COOLIDG DIDN'T KNOW HF HAD REGAINED IT. (Reprinted by request.) girl with light, quick fingers can do.” “Have you ever thought of how many people pet turtles, won't trouble to exercise theni found that my turtle-loving neigh- bors were only too glad to have some one take them out for a daily walk, and what’s more, pay good sPeRcH? money for the service. So now [ have twelve or more of the dear things, and three expected in the spring. With each on his or her little leash, we do have the most glorious romps! You should sce us all wound up in a traffic jam! Even if I weren't getting any money for it (and I am—don't forget that for a minute), it would repay me just to see the fat, rosy cheeks and merry, sparkling eyes I have built up on my little charges.”—( Mas.) Annie M. Kraus. The Surly Adventures of Mr. and Mrs. Frosting 10. “IF you HAD TAKEN MY Apvice AND HAD A BOY INSTEAD OF A GIRL,” SAID MR. FROSTING, “THIS NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPE . (Continued on page 25) = last time I saw you, Min- » you were having trouble with a front tooth.” “Oh, that came out all right.” Announcer: WE ARE NOW ENTERING LITTLE NECK, HOME OF THE FAMOUS CLAM. Unidentified Voice in a Rear Seat: 1 WONDER TO WHOM HE 18 REFERRING. comicbooks.com