Life, 1926-12-30 · page 6 of 37
Life — December 30, 1926 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Cartoon:** This depicts a nightclub scene satirizing Prohibition-era excess. An angry patron refuses to pay an inflated check ($20 for scotch), while the proprietor threatens to call police—inverting normal law enforcement expectations. The joke critiques both speakeasy profiteering and the absurdity of Prohibition enforcement, where illegal establishments operated openly with impunity. **"A Program of Progress":** This section mocks a charitable organization's fundraising proposal. The chairman proposes distributing $3 million surplus to various American institutions, including anti-Saloon leagues and short-skirt manufacturers—the latter pairing ridicules moral hypocrisy by lumping together temperance advocacy with fashion industry support. Both pieces satirize 1920s social contradictions and excess during Prohibition.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Angry Patron (to proprietor of night club): It’s OUTRAGEOUS—TWENTY DOLLARS FOR A PINT OF 1 TELL you 1 Won’? Pay Tus CHECK! scotcit! Proprietor (wearily, to headwaiter): JACQUES, WILL YOU CALL UP THR POLICE? A “CXENTLEMEN,” said the Chair- man gravely, “as you have no- ticed in our Treasurer's report, we have on hand a surplus of $3,000,- 000. By a wise expenditure of this money we can do a great deal to further our work. I have a plan, gentlemen. I firmly believe that we shall secure the greatest benefit to ourselves if we contribute the 000,000 to the support of cer! American institutions—those Ameri- can institutions on which our pros- perity most depends. Therefore, gentlemen, I propose that we ec: irst—500,000 to the Kiwanis and Rotary Club movements; “Second—$500,000 to President Will H. Hays of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors’ Associa- tion; “Third—$500,000 to the Radio Manufacturers’ Association; “Fourth—$500,000 to the Anti- Saloon League, and other groups working for the maintenance of Pro- hibition; “Fifth—$500,000 to the manufac- turers of short skirts, hip flasks, Program of Progress slickers, raccoon coats, bootleg gin, and other articles associated with the Younger Generation; “Sixth—$100,000 to the Channel Swimmers’ Association of the World Roche “iey, Pop! you AIN’T s’POSED TO GO TO SLEEP OVER MY BEDTIME sToRY.” to stimulate activi $200,000 to the producer of ‘Abie’s Irish Rose.’ which has certainly been an inspira- tion to all of us, and $200,000 to the Explorers’ Club for more Polar cx- peditions, next summer. “Of course all these contributions will be made anonymously—to pre- vent misunderstanding. But shall we make them? What is your pleasure, gentlemen?” The question brought an ear- splitting shout of approval from the assembled members of the Loyal and Protective League of Humorists of America. Two minutes later the Chairman's shrewd and far-sighted proposal was carried unanimously. Tupper Greenwald. The Line That Failed E (just introduced): What—er —do you think of—er—Wil- liam James and his views on prag- matism ? Sue: Aw, cut the stalling and play ball. HAT the Well-Dressed Woman Will Wear: LESS. comicbooks.com ar m