Life, 1927-03-31 · page 28 of 35
Life — March 31, 1927 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page collects brief satirical jokes from various newspapers and magazines, mocking contemporary social behaviors and absurdities of the 1920s era. Key targets include: **Social pretension**: A hotel guest crushing silk top-hats searching for his collapsible one; a wealthy Hollywood bride surrounded by accountants and lawyers rather than genuine attendants. **Modern technology confusion**: A Parisian man requesting a hydroplane for his boat because it's "more practical"—satirizing how new inventions were adopted without understanding. **Women and modernity**: Jokes about female golfers swearing, women drivers (presented as incompetent), and American female tourists abroad as "the wickedest thing in Paris." **Post-war American identity**: Fake Texas cowboys in New York; confused small-town residents; references to the 1926 Sesquicentennial. The humor relies on incongruity and social observation typical of 1920s satirical magazines, with most jokes targeting newly affluent or pretentious Americans and modern social changes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
x Our Foolishg#)7-<Contemporaries “Aut Scissors aut Nullus” WE DON’T ALWAYS ITAVE 80 MANY PEOPLE ‘TRAVELLING BETWEEN MUDFORD AND SLOCOM nocr. Punch (London), by permission. “aust Revived He. emerged from the dining-room of the fashionable hotel and went to the cloak-room, where he nonchalantly proceeded to crush one silk top-hat after the other, The attendant, sur- prised at this behavior, demanded the reason for his action, whereupon the other replied: “I'm looking for my own. It's a col- lapsible, you know. None of these here seem to be it."—Tit-Bits (London), ‘That's Where the West Begins A caretenta in Emporia placards the information: “This is a 5-cent cafeteria homecooking—save your mone haircut."—Kansas Ci Manson. (receiving her first golf les- son): MUST [swear if LE miss. it, Daddy ?—London Opinion. Thoroughly Low Comedian: 'ut10, cure! WHOSE RADIATOR CAP DID YOU DROP OFP OF? —Hareard Lampoon. WET YOU ske Tins 1s THE Evraytinxe will be all right until American flappers start calling up the Prince of Wales.—Toronto Telegram. “WHat! you CAN'T HAVE FUN WITH YOUR POAT ANY MORE? WrIt, THEN, witat do you WANT?” “aA WYDROPLANE—1T’s MUC MORE PRACTICAL.” L'Illustration (Paris). Those Sesquicentennial Stamps Tire issue of postage stamps put out by our accommodating government to ad- vertise the Sesquicentennial is not yet exhausted and we should think it would make a citizen of Philadelphia mad to get a letter with one on, just when he is trying to forget—Ohio State Journal. Another Ulysses S. “Jim Clardy came home from Wyoming Tues: day evening on the train, where he had been all summer.”—Colorado paper Fiautixa it out, apparently, on that line —New Yorker. By far the most scathing remark we have yet heard concerning women drivers was this: “Here comes one now!" —Toledo Blade. Ir seems to us the movie “Faust” has missed a popular title. “When a Fellow Needs a Fiend” would have put it over with a bang.—Chicago Daily News. Sia~ on a Ford: “On with the dents.” —Michigan Gargoyle. Where Men Are Men Aur P. James, the Mexican bandit in “Rio Rita, Is of a fake Texas cow- boy who roamed around Times Square claiming to be attached to a Wild West show playing Coney Island. One day while bragging to a crowd of open-mouthed yaps he bumped into a real cowpuncher, who promptly stood him on his head. After picking himself up and running to a safe distance, he defiantly shook his fist and yelled back: “You can assault me here in the crowded city, but wait until [ get you out on the plains.” —New York Morning Telegraph. The Spirit of Competition He had found himself paired with an extraordinarily partner in a Charleston competition. “L have never competed in one of these tournaments before she said, pausing to recover breath. “Then perhaps you didn't know I was your partner?” he remarked bitterly, rubbing his ankle. . “Good gracious, no- drawn as opponents while I thought we were —London News. Wedding (In the Later Hollywood Manner) “Munirt Mascara, film extra, and Ar- thur Chestheaver, millionaire screen hero, were married yesterda The bride was attended by a maid of honor, four brides- maids, a general agent, an attorney and two certified public accountants.” —Detroit News. Exit, Wes! Ap. in Mercyville (Ia.) Banner: “NO- TICE—I am good and damned through with this town. If anybody wants to buy my stuff see Ed. Taylor. Wesley Lap- ham."—Buffalo Courier-Express. “Wutat’s the wickedest thing in Paris?” “An American tourist.” —Cornell Widow. City Girl: witat’s worrytxa you, DAVE, DEAR? Dave: 1 Was 3ust wonpeRt IP DAD WOULD BE SPORT ENOUGH TO Do TH’ MILKIN’ WEN WE'RE ON OUR HONEYMOON $’PpOsIN’ YEH SAID “YES” IF 1 ASKED YER. —Bulletin (Sydney). comicbooks.com