Life, 1927-06-09 · page 13 of 39
Life — June 9, 1927 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features "Life" magazine's "Alibi Contest," offering $100 weekly in prizes for clever excuses. The main cartoon (Alibi #26) depicts a man confronting a woman about a pedigree dog she's holding. The joke hinges on the dog's poor condition—the man says he bought it as a genuine Boston Terrier, but now questions whether the woman misrepresented it. The sidebar showcases winning alibis from readers, humorous excuses people gave their bosses or spouses for various transgressions (arriving late, borrowing money, etc.). This reflects the magazine's satirical tradition of mocking everyday dishonesty and the creative lies people tell to escape consequences—a timeless human activity presented as entertainment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ALIBI CONTEST Conditions of the Contest on page 33° $100.00 Weekly in Prizes rtion pers ALIB| NUMBER TWENTY-ONE The Stenographer: wy, reco! you SAip YOU COULDN’T TAKE ME OUT BECAUSE YOU WERE LUNCHING WITH THE BOSS AT WIS CLUB, WHAT ARE YOU DOID 1k The Bookkeeper: weu, you see, rs Tus way... The boss is lunch- ing at his fraternity club to-day, and I refuse to eat in one of those Greek joints. This Alibi, which wins the first prize of $50.00, was submitted by Gr T. Hersurn, 1688 North Broad Street, Bloomfield, New Jersey. Five second prizes of $10.00 each have been awarded to the following: Ausxe M. Batxrarp, Dearborn, Michigan, for the Alibi: “The club bid was no good, because his wife ‘took him out.’ Marsornie Barrett, Seattle, Washington, for the Alibi: “The boss ran into his sweet mama and had to take her to lunch so he borrowed all my money except two bits.” Esiry S. Cort, Pensacola, Flori- da, for the Alibi: “I'm just filling up first so that I can seem to be too uch interested in his conversation to eat.” C. R. Love, Jr., Brooklyn, New York, for the Alibi: “He was taking me out in my best suit but revoked on the club with some trumped-up excuse of heart trouble, so I re- nigged.”” Cuartes P. Knagper, New Haven, Connecticut, for the Alibi: “L heard the boss tell his wife he was having a fish for lunch, and I don't like fish so I called it off.” “BY, a pup,” said Mr. Kipling— “And your money will buy Love un! hing that cannot lic... .” Not a few of us have been made to realize that our money will also buy a pup which turns out to be, eugenically speaking, a complete flop. Observe, below, the pup that started out to be a Boston terrier, but couldn’t scem to hold the pose. Spot by spot, and paw by paw, he has furnished his fair owner with reasons to believe that she has been gypped. The vendor of this canine misfit must supply an Alibi, or excuse; and this is where you come in. If you can assist him, in twenty- five words, or less, to deliver a clever and ingenious conclusion to his an- swer, you are in line for one of the cash prizes which are ax follows: First Prize, $50.00 Five Second Prizes of $10.00 each ALIBI NUMBER TWENTY- SEVEN will be published in Lire next week, with a new set of prizes offered. Read the conditions carefully— and go to it! ALIBI NUMBER TWENTY-SIX TR SEEDY TPEDIGREED [7 DOGS fz “WHEN YOU SOLD Mk THIS PUP YOU SAID IIE WAS A GENUINE BOSTON TERRIER, AND LOOK AT 11M Now!” “WELL, YOU SEE, IT’S THIS WAY... comicbooks.com