Life, 1927-08-18 · page 9 of 36
Life — August 18, 1927 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical sketch depicts a working-class scene at a beach hot-dog stand, where a large woman vendor argues with customers over pricing and product quality. The humor centers on a dispute about vanilla ice cream versus other flavors, with the vendor insisting on vanilla while customers demand alternatives like orange and lemon. The satire targets consumer haggling and vendor resistance to customer preferences—common friction points in early 20th-century street commerce. The characters' heavy dialect and working-class appearance emphasize class-based humor typical of *Life* magazine's satirical approach. The crowded, boisterous scene mocks both vendors' stubbornness and customers' petty demands, reflecting broader social attitudes about commerce and class distinction in the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Scene: A hot-dog stand at a bath ing-beach. The sistant is Fetrow with his as waiting upon the Crown, from woman who leans heavily upon the counter. HE FELLOW: Tir Lares Something? Woman: What kinda ice cream yuli got? Tie Peenow: Just vanilla. Tie Lance Woman: What? No choclut ? The Peecow: Just vanilla Tir Lance Woman: No razz- bury? Tie Fenrow: No, just vanilla Tie Lance Woman: No peach? Ture Fecrow: Just vanilla Tur Lance Woman: No walnut? The Feccow: Just vanilla Tir Lance Woman: No straw bury? Ture Fecrow: Just vanilla Tine Lance Womax: No maple? Tur Feccow: Just vanilla Tur Lance Womss: Why! What have you got? Tie Feniow: Just vanilla, Tur Lance Wosax: Just va nila? Tue Feniow: Just vanilla Tur Lance Wosax: Oh, T see Well, gimme cight cones Tir Fenrow: Yes, ma'am, Tur Lance Wosax: No, wait You'd better make that) seven—ah just aminute, (She calls over toa parked at the side of the Minnie, d'yuh want just va cream cones because that's yy want? SEDAN simultaneously): Whadja bh. Talk louder. WAN: 1 sedan road.) nilla ice all they got or what ¢ Tun Woman ix tip (shouting say? T can’t hear +4 Tur Lance We you want any more said, do Hot-Dog Stand Conversation Tur Woman ax tik Srpan Huh? Whazzat? (To the little beside her.) Gwendolyn, for merey sakes, keep still! Turk Lance Woman (bellowing I said they haven't got no may l girl peach or Tie can't hear a word you're sayin Sepan: I (To run out and Woman in tite Gwendolyn.) Dearie, see what she wants T don’t want to. won't you? Gwenpotyn Tur Wosas ix tie Sepas do as I say! Gwexpotyn: IT won't! Tie Woman tx tik Sepyx: All right, you just wait till T tell your over.) What did you say, Felicin? Tur Larce Wosan: - said they uin't gi ou want only vanilla ice cream and any other kind ? Tim Wostan prom tin Sepas Why, Felicia, we didn't) say ive cream; we said get pop: Tue Lance Woaax: Why, Min nie, TP know you said get ice cream. Minniz: But 1 tell you, Felicia, Fenieivs Oh, T know you said Turn Fre.ow W dovou like some pop? Feeieis: What kind have yuh? Tur Frevew Orar lemon, peach, cherry, grape. loganberry, root - beer, near - beer, birch - beer, sarsaparilla, ginger-ale and Coca Cola, Feeieu: Oh, my! Will yuh say that again? Tue Fetcow: Orange, lemon, peach, cherry Fecicia: Oh, gimme eight bottles of orange. Tue Ferrow: Yes, ma’am. (Me takes the bot ro a bos t water and re , th ] Mixsn change that t Feniers: 1 guess you'd better make that six orange and tw 1 GWEeNpoLyN ra ” Mixxies Mr “ root Gwexnotyx: | Mrs t like orange She alw And Mrs Park savs if y Feuer: All right f Minny yee Fens: I likes Tur Fecnow: But the eaps ar Minnie: Well, s ita bottle > Tun Fr Minnip Venice Mixsu Preureas Mixxte } they sell this for Fence: You're Minnie, they ¢ k Mixsies 1 Tur Crown (surrounding th ' stand): How al 4 servic . Two hot d Are they | fresh?...What kinda ice cream yuh ot? Hey, Tm nest Ilow about a little speed there, brother | Certain comicbooks.com