Life, 1927-06-23 · page 36 of 38
Life — June 23, 1927 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **not a cartoon or satire**—it's a full-page advertisement for a legitimate travel service. The "Ask Mr. Foster" agency was a real, nation-wide travel information bureau operating in the early 20th century. The ad emphasizes that the service operates **without profit motive**: it accepts no commissions, charges no fees, and operates no tours. Instead, 150 trained employees provide free travel planning assistance at office locations in major American cities and resort areas. The service had support from government agencies, hotels, railroads, and department stores where branch offices were located. The copy stresses reliability and expertise, positioning it as a civic-minded enterprise. For modern readers: this represents an era when such **philanthropic business services** were marketed as virtuous alternatives to profit-driven commerce—a concept largely absent from contemporary corporate culture.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Ghe » “Ask Mr. Foster Travel Information Service “ Ask Mr. Foster." Have you sometimes questioned the meaning of these words which you see with increasing frequency? They stand for service given freely, joyously and without charge or hope of direct reward, by a hundred and fifty people who have been carefully trained for their jobs, and who are happily associated in this work of service. Literally millions of people ‘‘ Ask Mr Foster” because they appreciate expert help in making their plans for journeying to the nearby camp or resort, or to the uttermost pars of the earth. This nation-wide service has the cordial support of State, County and City Governments and community organizations; of hotels, banks and department stores where offices are located; of the railroad and steamship lines; and of the departments of the National Government; in supplying complete and unfettered information and service in connection with travel everywhere and by all methods. The “Ask Mr. Foster” Service operates no tours; receives no commissions from hotels; accepts no fees from the public. We get real happiness in giving service and we shall be glad to aid you in planning your summer vacation. You are cordially invited to “ Alsk Mr. Foster” at any office, but you must come to the office— we have no facilities for giving suitable attention to inquiries by mail. WARD G. FOSTER, General Manager. Offices of the “.AsK Mr. Foster” Service BOSTO: GRAND RAPIDS SAN_DIEQO The Cortey-Plasa Hotel Herpolsheimer Co. Store The First National Bank Statler Hotel MACKINAG ISLAND DEL MONTE. BRETTON WOODS The Grand Hotel (summer) Hotel Del Monte Hotel Mount Washington (summer) CHICAGO CINCINNATI MANCHESTER, VT. Carson Pirie Scott & Co. Store " Pe Store The Equinox House (summer) Palmer House The tt 81S. Popie Co: NEW_ORLEANS PORTLAND, ME MINNEAPOLIS ROG, (wi Congress Square Hotel (summer) S. Donaldson Co. Store ” ie pete Hotel (winter) BURLINGTON, VT. stv. Louis =L. PAS& ; fotel Vermont (summer) Scruggs-Vandervoort-Barney Store Hotel Orndoril (winter) NEW YORK DENVER JACKSONVILLE Lord & Tayler Store The Denver Dry Goods Co. Store 19 Hogan St Hotel Pennsylvania SAN FRANCISCO Bus Station, Cor. Bay & Hogan Ses. (winter) Hotel Roosevelt u Se AUGUSTINE BR Metick Loeser & Co. Store belace Peet Dears Balidics (oie) NEWARK SACRAMENTO . z ‘ L. Bamberger & Co. Store Hotel Senator ‘ ann = — St. (winter) ALBANY PORTLAND, ORE ALM BEACH i ‘ Hotel Ten Eyck (summer) Meier & Frank Co. Store Opposite Hotel Royal Poinciana (winter) PHILADELPHIA SEATTLE WEST PALM BEACH ct lothier Store Hotel Olympic jotel El Verano (winter) SALT LAKE CITY ML At Foster iad, Board alk and Michigan Utah Hotel Foster Bldg , 106 E. Flagler St. (winter) _ Avenue LOS ANGELES ST. PETERSBURG BUFFALO W, Robinson Co. Store Central Ave. & ? i Wm. Hengerer Co, Store Hotel Roslyn enirel Ave: 8 2nd St, (winter) =TRO The Ambassador Hotel TAMPA . DETRO TF ets Ca'seore PASADENA Hillsboro Hotel (winter) LAND Hotel Maryland (winter) ORLANDO | Higbee Co. Store LONG BEACH The Angebilt Hotel (winter) TOLEDO Buflum’s Store MONTREAL The Lion Dry Gcods Co, Store WASHINGTON, D. C Hotel Mount Royal (summer) PITTSBURGH Woodward & Lothrop Store TORONTO, Joseph Horne Co. Store Mayflower Hotel Hotel King Edward (summer) Executive Offices NEW YORI 130 W. 42nd Sr. WesTERN Division Mip-State Division SouTHERN Division Los Angeles Chicago Jacksonville 329 Title Insurance Bldg. 1372 Pure Oil Bldg. 1623 Barnett Nat. Bank Bldg. comicbooks.com