Life, 1927-07-07 · page 35 of 42
Life — July 7, 1927 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains several distinct elements: **Main Story: "A Lunatic at Large"** presents a humorous anecdote by magician Howard Thurston. His assistant, carrying a butterfly net in frigid Winnipeg, is stopped by police who believe him mentally unbalanced. The joke hinges on the absurdity of catching butterflies in winter—the policeman's concern for public safety versus the assistant's innocent explanation. **Satirical Cartoons** mock 1920s social pretensions: - A fortune teller's prediction about movie stardom, with a flapper's cynical response about young women's material expectations - "Priscilla had to coax John Alden"—likely referencing the historical Pilgrim couple, adapted to mock modern dating dynamics **Advertisements** for Pickwick Pale & Stout beer, Allen's Foot-Ease, and Wetzel tailoring occupy significant space, typical of *Life*'s revenue model. The humor targets period anxieties: urban eccentricity, female materialism, and romantic role-reversals—all presented with the mild satire characteristic of 1920s American magazines.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Lunatic at Large “Oxe day last winter,” said Howard Thurston, the magician, 5 of my assistants with my pi atel net to have itr red—the same that I used to catch live pigeons any the audience. As the weather was low zero—we we t in Winnipeg chap must have Is rying a butterfly net with a six-foo dle through the streets. He had not gone a block before a policeman stopped him. ‘What's the a? asked the officer. My assistant was in a playfu mood. He held his finger to his lips, looked cautiously about him and re- ‘Shhbh! Don't tell any one, I'm to cateh butterflies.” ‘ome with me, said the policeman, .tand TH show you a wonderful to cateh the Pink ones—gold d ones—big ones . “My assistant decided to explain mat- he laughed. “This net belongs gician! “The policeman grabbed his arm. I know you're crazy Fortune Teller: you ane aBovt To ME DISCOVERED HY MOVING PICTURE DIRECTOR AND ELEVATED TO STARDOM Flapper: wer viar’s THe sant THING You MY FRIEND Koss Fortune Tellers 1 Cast eee at THE YOUNG LADIES WON'T ItEAK OF ANYTHING EASE NOWADAYS —Fliegende Blatter (Mu Answering the Ad. Estate Acest (proposing): Marry me, darling! Vs 1 lovely Moores ted parent, the In a Pinch, use ALLEN'’S FOOT-EASE Consolation T Anemica’s intern with fliers." —Ner Prifcilla had to coax John Alden To speak for himself. As a. press agent for Miles Standish he turned | out to be a flop, but Pris was sold onhisline, There's one thing about PICKWICK-it does speak for itself ICKWICK ALE end STOUT The Tang of Good Old -Ale At the better Clubs, Hotels and Restaurants Harrenrerrer & Co., Boston HE prestige || of WETZEL || ' as tailors for gen- lemen is recog ed through out the world. comicbooks.com