Life, 1927-03-10 · page 14 of 38
Life — March 10, 1927 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes apartment-hunting in the early 20th century. An agent shows an apartment to a prospective tenant while a woman (likely the agent's wife or colleague) stands nearby. The caller's caption reveals the joke: "So, my little boy just wanted to see a disappearing bed." The satire targets a common sales pitch of the era—apartments marketed with space-saving "disappearing beds" (Murphy beds, which fold into walls). The humor lies in the gap between the agent's professional marketing and the practical absurdity: the prospective tenant's child simply wanted to *watch* the novelty work, not actually lease the apartment for housing purposes. This reflects anxieties about cramped urban living and deceptive real estate marketing tactics of the period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Thanks Just the Same Agent: so you DON’? Wisi TO LEASE TIS APARTMENT? Caller: No. MY LITTLE BOY JUST WANTED TO SEE A DISAPPEARING BED. ‘The Wednesday Night Program T 8:34 he said, “I love dear.” At 9:13 he said, “You know I love you, de At 10:02 and again at 10:47, 11:07 and 11:32 he said, “Darling, you know I love you. At 12 sharp, however, she looked at him and asked: “Do you really love me, John?” Literary Note ORD is received that a prominent business man who has steadfastly refused to sell goods on the instal- ment plan is to be made the subject of Bruce Barton's next book, “The Man No- body Owes.” Overheardat That Crooked Chess Tournament “BAH! How come you take der bishop mit de pawn, peeg! You move der pieces while I’m not look- ing!” “Epplesass! Ven I check mit my qveen, I move mit KBP7!” “Yah! Storyteller! Liar! Crook- edness! Bum! First I move knight to KR+ and you move QN6! Then I play my rook mit KR6ch! Did you move out of der check? Ach, no! While I drink der coffee you switch der positions!” “I move to QR7, didn’t I'm? And P x P, don’t it? Am I der bum?” “Bummer! B x QBP on Ké6, peeg! I move der bishop and you check! For why KB to QR6? Bah! KBP x QB, don’t it?” “KB to QR4ch!” “KBP x KB!" “QRP x KBP!” “KB!” “QB!” “Liar!” rookedness ! For the last time I say der KBP to KN6! P x B!” “T sit here for cleven hours and let P x B mit KR6? Pah! Right now I move der KB and take der rook. KB to QB7ch!” Paul S. Powers. Where There’s Smoke As Originally Produced LD- FASHIONED FATHER: Have you been smoking corn- MABEL: What do you think of silk behind the barn? Doris’ husband? you, Mavoe: I don’t know—I've never . (wielding barrel stave): . ant to impair your health? (Whang!) Do you want to stunt your growth? (Slam!) Do you want to grow up to be a ruffian? (Bang!) been married to him. Do you The Revival Mopern Mortiter: Have you been smoking my cigar cttes in the garage? Davo So sorry you weren't invited, old timer. M. M. (severely): Do you want to set fire to the place? Do you want to burn up your new car? Do you want to expose our still? Bill Sykes. “pocTor, 1 CANNOT SLEEP NIGiITS.” “wa! insomnia?” “NO, NOT EXACTLY, MY HUSBAND I8 A VENTRILOQUIST HE man AND HOLDS CONVERSATIONS WITH HIMSELF ALL NIGHT who woul rather be right than pre s- ident is usually left. \ / comicbooks.com