Life, 1927-03-24 · page 13 of 38
Life — March 24, 1927 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features Life magazine's "Alibi Contest"—a humor competition asking readers to submit creative excuses (alibis) for embarrassing situations. The top cartoon shows "Alibi Number Ten," depicting a stenographer caught in a lie by his boss, who discovered the employee falsely claimed to have corrected every mistake in his work when he actually hadn't. Below is "Alibi Number Fifteen," illustrated with a cartoon of a man caught shopping at Ritz Brothers' clothing store while telling his wife he was elsewhere. The joke plays on the common domestic scenario of a husband caught in an obvious lie about his whereabouts. The contest offered $100 weekly in cash prizes, encouraging readers to submit creative excuses for various awkward social situations—essentially monetizing everyday human dishonesty for entertainment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PRIZE WINNERS | Ll hit~ ALIBI NUMBER TEN He: you FAULTLESS STEN LETTER IS SHOT FULL WHAT'S THE IDEA? Shes w ELL, YOU SEE, it’s THIS WAY My last boss said that in three days he had corrected every mis- take it was possible to make, se I thought I must be perfect. TOLD ME YOU WERE A RAPHER, BUT THIS OF MISTAKES. ibi, which wins the first prize of $50.00, was submitted by H. A. Matuews, Lewisburg, West Virginia. Five second prizes of $10.00 cach have been awarded to the following: Ev, L. Astin, New York City, for the Alibi: “Whenever I take dic- tation for the first time from a hand- some man, I lose my ‘e’s’ and drop my “i's.” Guvce Boswett, Portsmouth, Vir- ginia, Alibi: “I was referring to my character, not my characters.” Fiona Drennan, Woodbury, Ver- mont, for the : “My chair low that I have to sit on the diction- ary. - R. Gu ‘ov Texos, for the Alibi ployer was a phys takes were all covered up. Greorce Taccart, Charleston, South Carolina, for the Alibi: “When I quits me other boss, I asts him could he find any fault wit’ me an’ he sez lic couldn’ find any more.” Dalhart, Ty last em- n and our mis- ALIBI CONTEST Conditions of the Contest on page 32 $100.00 Weekly in Prizes LIBI-TOSSING is the new na- tional sport—and here’s a per- fect chance for the amateur Alibi artist to turn professional. Study the painful situation pic- tured by Leonard Holton below; put yourself in the position of Archie, the dressy young man who has been caught in a lie. What would you say to the haughty damsel who mects Archie at this embarrassing moment? Send your Alibis (any number of em) to Lire, and you will be in line to win one of the handsome cash prizes. Read all the conditions care- fully and be sure to write legibly, using only one side of the paper. The Judges will be grateful if you will write only one Alibi on each sheet of paper. This Contest is open to every one. Even if you have submitted no answers to previous Alibi pictures, you can enter the Contest now and be eligible for the prizes, which are as follows: First Prize, $50.00 Five Second Prizes of $10.00 each ALIBI NUMBER SIXTEEN will be published in Lire next week, with a new set of prizes offered. Read the conditions carefully— and go to it! ALIBI NUMBER FIFTEEN LEVI & LEVI GENTS SUITS PA’ Y WHILE You WEAR She: wity, anciie! you TOLD ME YOU GOT ALL YOUR CLOTHES FROM RITZ BROTHERS, WHAT ARE You DOING IN there? He: weitt—you see, 17's THIS WAY... comicbooks.com