Life, 1927-04-14 · page 15 of 38
Life — April 14, 1927 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate satirical pieces typical of Life's humor: 1. **"Force of Habit"** (top left): A Vaudeville comedian's monologue about mistaking a washboard for a mirror—a joke playing on repetitive stage routines and how habit makes performers see familiar props everywhere. 2. **"The Want-Ad Editor Goes Crazy"** (center): Satirizes absurd classified ad requests, mocking the desperation of Depression-era job seekers offering increasingly ridiculous services and trade goods (like vacuum cleaners or uncut diamonds). 3. **"Don't Ask Me Another!"** (bottom right): A visual gag where a woman questions her husband about Easter egg coloring logistics, then an illustration shows a man overwhelmed by an avalanche of flowers or chaos—suggesting marital exasperation with endless questions. All employ slapstick humor and everyday domestic/workplace frustrations typical of 1920s-30s American comedy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Force of Habit VAUDEVILLE COMEDIAN (meeting another vaudevillian) : Whatta y’ know, Ed, I was standin’ in front of my stamp-size, crackle- finish hunk of silver-backed wash- board what passes for a mirror, this mornin’, shavin’, and all of a sudden I says to myself: “Wonder what ever become of Eddie Wipple?” Whatta y’ know about that? “ “You say you was standin’ in front of your stamp-size, crackle-finish hunk of silver-backed washboard what passes for a mirror, this mornin’, in’, and all of a sudden you says to yourself: ‘Wonder what ever be- come of Eddie Wipple?’” “Yeh, I was standin’ in front of my stat ize, crackle-finish hunk of silver-backed washboard what passes for a mirror, this mornin’, shavin’, and all of a sudden I says to myself: ‘Wonder what ever become of Eddie Wipple? Whatta y’ know about that?” y, ain’t it?...How’s the big time treatin’ you, THIS BEIN’ EASTER, COULDN'T WE COLOR JUST ONE EGG FOR THE CHILDREN? WE COULD WASH IT OFF TO-MORRER AN’ SELL IT JUST THE SAME, Joe, now that you don’t have to carry no scenery or use any make-up?” “You ask me how the big time’s treatin’ me, now that I don't have to carry no scenery or use any make-up?” “Uh-huh, How's the big time treatin’ you, now that you don’t have to carry no scenery or use any make-up?” “Oh, so-so....Well, I gotta be gettin’ along, Ed.” “You say you gotta be gettin’ along?” ch. I gotta be gettin’ along.” “You ain’t the only one. Well, over the river, Joe.” “Over the river?” “Uh-huh. Over the river.” E. B. Crosswhite. CAN THIS BE WHY THEY CALL THEM EXHIBITORS? The Want-Ad Editor Goes Crazy SUNNY furn. apt. driven less than 5,000 miles for nh school grad. with live leads and liberal com- missions a few minutes’ walk from R.R, station to close estate of Swedish masseuse very skilful and equipped with bumpers all around a real opportunity to rush home Minnie Grandpa has chilblains beautifully furnished throughout why not become independent in your spare time by selling female parrot with white mark on chest and full balloon tires vacuum cleaner in Al shape to trade for steam yacht or uncut diamonds by bright young Bolivian who understands high explosives and Yiddish must be able to drive Ford truck come on over George husband has gone on business trip. Robert Lord. R. FRE D- ERICK COOK, about to be released from prison, may go on a lecture tour, in which case we ad- vise all communi- ties to lose no time in reviving Na- tional Apple Week. Don’t Ask Me Another! No. 5 Inquisitive Clara: wHy po MAIL CLERKS CARRY REVOLVERS? (Answer on page 35.) comicbooks.com