Life, 1927-07-07 · page 39 of 42
Life — July 7, 1927 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents Life magazine's "Great Alibi Contest," a humor competition where readers submit witty explanations for awkward situations. The cartoon illustrates the contest theme: a traffic cop has caught someone committing a traffic violation, and the challenge is to complete the sentence "Well, you see, it's this way..." The featured cartoon shows someone offering an excuse to an authority figure—the humor derives from inventing increasingly implausible or clever alibis. Previous winners' entries exemplify the genre: mistaken identities, marital misunderstandings, and insulting neighbors. The Murad cigarette advertisement below uses the contest's "embarrassing moments" theme as marketing, suggesting their product helps one navigate social discomfort—a common advertising strategy linking products to social confidence. The contest itself was a popular reader-engagement feature of 1920s magazines, encouraging audience participation and humor submissions while building brand loyalty to Life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
AlibiC Conca Prize Winners Continued from page 2 Vrances A. Gotoman, New York City, for the Alibi: “LT walked inte a door—and it was the wrong door! Haronp B. Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, Alibi: “In the SMitit, for the five years since he was married Jack seems to have forgotten that he told me IT could kiss the bride.” Mus. C. O. Stunt, Florence, South Carolina, for the Alibi: “I told the old grouch next door that 1 thought his wife and he said he'd make it harder. was easy to look at Conditions of the Great Alibi Contest we will publish a dif- the ALIBI this week NUMBER E ACH wee 4 ferent picture CONTEST—the picture being marked “ALIBI THIRTY.” The first prize of $50.00 will be awarded each week to the contestant who, in in the opinion of the Jndges, and most in- to the sentence “Well, you see, it's Five second prizes of furnishes the cleverest genious which starts, conclusion this way.. ~~ Semi-Weekly Sailings between Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and Buffalo | AA sight secing cruise De Lure of over Vk gan, Huron, Saint Claire, in Bay. Visit historic Mackinac rs from the Indians at Parry, Sound, Can,, t-seeing bus at Detroit and Chicago, spend Niagara Falle—world's greatest cataract. The Big Oil-Burning White Liners North American ed South American offer you an experience similar to that of an ocean voy ouiside rooms with windows or port holes, Excellent neals daintily served. Rest in quiet deck or join in the gaiety as you pr Entertainments, Games and al Hostess to oduce you. A voyage of invigoration, recreation ind educat a eombined.& different kind of vacation. Ask for th erased, pamphlet at any Railway ee Ome wee tatee Abeeey os aris Duluth & Georgian Bay ransit Company W.H.BLACK,C.P, A.W. E. BROWN, Cen'l Ast. 110W. AdamsSt,, Chicago, Il 135. Division St..Befialo, N.Y. e—comfortable berths or parlor rooms — all | | | | yc to life’s © 1927, P. Lorillard ¢ Exar RASSING MURAD For those who feel entitled better aiious NTS nehala ghe MURAD CIGARETTE things $10.00 each will be awarded to the runners-up. Answers must not exceed twenty- words in length; however, this word limit, Je the captions under the Contest pic- tures as originally published in Lirr five is not intended te There is no limit to the number of answers to each Contest picture that Nor 1 contestant to than one of eligible any one contestant may submit is it ne for submit answers to more the Contest to for The Judges will be three of the ssary pictures u prize Editors of Lire. In the event of a tie, the full amount of the prize will be awarded to each of the tying con testants. Answers should be typewritten or arly written on one side of th paper. Every single sheet of manu script submitted must be plainly marked with the contestant’s name The to return itted in this Contest to ALIBI NUMBER should be varked, and ALIBI CONTEST ED Lite, Madison Aven ork City All answers to NUMBER THIRTY « before 12 1 ind address. Judges cannot un dertake any of the man scripts sul Answers THIRTY to sent ITOR New Y ALIBI reach Lirr’s 21, 192 the winners will | of August 11, The Contest is open to not limited Members of families, are July Announce made in the iss st all and is to subscribers to Lirr Lirr’s and their barred competi- | tion in Contest comicbooks.com