Life, 1926-12-23 · page 13 of 37
Life — December 23, 1926 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page announces the second week of Life's "Great Alibi Contest," a humor competition inviting readers to create witty explanations (alibis) for awkward situations. The featured cartoon shows **"Alibi Number Two"**: a stern parent confronting a daughter about breaking curfew. The parent says: "you told me definitely you'd be home before twelve!" The daughter responds: "Well, you see, it was this way..." Readers were challenged to complete the daughter's alibi in 25 words or less. The contest offered $50 for first prize and five $10 second prizes, with winners announced the following week. This reflects 1920s concerns about youth social behavior and parental authority—particularly around dating and curfews—making alibis (excuses) a relatable, humorous topic for contemporary readers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Conditions of the Contest Read these carefully: ZACH week we will publish a 4 different picture in the ALIBI T —the picture this week arked “ALIBI NUMBER The first prize of $50.00 will be awarded each week to the contestant who, in the opinion of the judges, furnishes the cleverest and most con- vineing conclusion to the sentence which starts, “Well, you see, it was Five second prizes of ch will be awarded to the runners-up. Answers must not exceed twenty- five words in length; this word limit, however, is not intended to include the captions under the Contest pic- tures as originally published in Lire. lhere is no limit to the number of answers to each Contest picture that any one contestant may submit. Nor is it necessary for a contestant to submit answers to more than one of the Contest pictures to be eligible for a prize. The judges will be three of the Editors of Lire. In the event of a tie, the full amount of the prize will be awarded to cach of the tying contestants. Answers should be typewritten or clearly written on one side of the paper. The judges cannot under- take to return any of the manu- scripts that are submitted in this Contest. Answers to ALIBI NUMBER TWO should be so marked, and sent to ALIBI CONTEST EDITOR, Lire, 598 Madison Avenue, New York City. All answers to ALIBI NUMBER TWO must reach Li e before 12 noon on January 6, 1927, Announcement of the win- ners will be made in the issue of January 27, 1927. The Contest is open to all and is not limited to subscribers to Lire. Members of Lirr’s staff, and their families, are barred from compceti- tion. Pibe $100 in Prizes HIS is the second week of the Great Alibi Contest. Even though you may have missed the first Alibi Picture, you can enter the Con- test now and be eligible for this udy carefully the situation de- d by John Held, Jr., below. Try to evolve an Alibi for the daugh- ter which will assuage the wrath of the stern parent. xpress this Alibi in twenty-five words (or less) and send it in to the Alibi Contest Editor. Remember— the twenty word limit applies only to your Alibi, and does not in- clude the printed caption beneath the picture. ach contestant may send in as many answers to this Contest as he or she desires. But all answers to ALIBI NUMBER TWO must reach Lire’s office not later than twelve noon on January 6, 1927. The prizes are as follows: First Prize, $50.00 Five Second Prizes of $10.00 each These prizes will be awarded to those who, in the opinion of the judges, submit the cleverest and most convincing Alibis to fit the situation in the accompanying picture. ALIBI NUMBER THREE will be published in Lire next week, with a new set of prizes offered. Read the conditions carefully— and go to it! ALIBI NUMBER TWO Daughter: / \ } 1h 4 Jt4 Stern Parent: you TOLD ME DEFINITELY YOU'D BE HOME BEFORE TWELVE! WHAT HAPPENED? WELL, YOU SEE, IT WAS THIS WAY... comicbooks.com