Life, 1927-04-07 · page 23 of 59
Life — April 7, 1927 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical pieces from *Life* magazine (circa 1920s, based on references to "flappers" and ukuleles): **"Truth in the Advertising Department"** mocks corporate hypocrisy through a fake recommendation letter for a departing stenographer. The joke: the company praises her incompetence ("spells well...with considerable originality" means she misspells creatively) and annoying habits as office assets. It satirizes how businesses use flattering language to obscure unflattering truths. **The cartoon below** features two women, one calling another "dumb" because she mistakes "hold-up men" (robbers) for "swimming instructors"—a visual gag playing on the era's flapper stereotype of ditzy young women. **"A Movie Organist Plays for a Wedding"** lists incongruous silent-film accompaniment: playing "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp" (a marching song) when guests arrive, or "Don't Cry" for the groom's mother. It satirizes the absurdity of fitting pre-recorded music to weddings without regard for context. All three pieces target 1920s social pretension and disconnect between appearance and reality.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ly ies; iif fi THE GLORY THAT WAS GREECE. Truth in the Advertising Department EAR Sm: This will serve to introduce Miss Vitt (stenographer), who has been forced to sever connections with us because of matters over which she seemed to have no control. We are sorry to lose her, and feel, in her ab- sence, that a decided fragrance has gone out of our lives. Her person- ality and reconditioned chewing gum have pervaded the whole room, and have often stayed with use when we left the office. We wish also to com- mend her literary taste. During office hours she reads only the best magazine fiction, Regarding her work we have found that she spells well and with considerable originality. In reading her dictated letters there is the same fascination one feels in working out a crossword puzzle, This, as any advertising manayer will tell you, holds the interest. of the customers by arousing the curiosity instinct. When you consider that, in ad- dition to the above, she is an expert on the ukulele and has a beau- tiful soprano voice which she exer- cises over the ‘phone for the benefit of her many out-of-town friends and the telephone company, you will realize that no office is complete without her. Sympathetically yours, Grimm & Grimmer, Inc. Albert F. Byers. BELLE REALLY so DUMB?” “Is suk? wity, sie’s so DUMB SHE THINKS HOLD- UP MEN ARE SWIMMING INSTRUCTORS!” QN Strotbm ae A Movie Organist Plays for a Wedding FUE Ushers the “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, Boys Are Marching.” Arrival of Poor Relations: “Hail, Hail, the Gang’s All Here.” Arrival of Groom's Mother and Fathe There, Little Girl, Don't Cry.” Changing to “What You Goin’ ter Do When the Rent Comes Roun Bride’s Mothe Am Growing Old. Groom and Best Man Ap ch of the Wooden Aisles: the on Darling, I Clergyman: “There A-Waiting at the Church.” The Bridesmaids: “Three Little Maids from School.” Bride’s Father with Bride: “Yes, Sir, She's My Baby.” Changing to Wedding March from “Lohengrin.” 4d. I. F. LL a flapper needs nowa- days to become known as a linguist is the ability to speak one language flippantly. comicbooks.com