Life, 1927-08-25 · page 14 of 36
Life — August 25, 1927 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes Mr. and Mrs. Martin Johnson, real-life explorers and wildlife photographers preparing for an African expedition. The cartoon mocks their ambitions through exaggerated dialogue where Mr. Johnson describes elaborate (and absurd) hunting and photography plans—including dynamite, Lewis guns, grenade launchers, and armor-plated tanks to document animals. The humor lies in the contrast between their stated goal of "photography on African geography" and the militaristic overkill proposed. Mrs. Johnson's responses parody the adventurous spouse, mentioning her hunting outfit and willingness to collaborate. The accompanying illustrations—showing a couple in a small boat and chaotic animal scenes—reinforce the satire of wealthy adventurers attempting serious wildlife documentation through comic incompetence. The piece ridicules early 20th-century safari tourism and documentary filmmaking as theatrical excess rather than scientific pursuit.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“WHAT ON EARTIC HAS HAPPENED To you?” totuep one or Life's prize-WinNinG ALinis ON MY wire.” Ready for the Bell FIGHTER (entering the ring): Foul! Foul! I claim a foul! Rereree: Here, what's the matter? The fight hasn't even begun yet. ; Fionter: Oh, that's all right. I was just. practicing a bit. [Darling ! Just thinw of all the wonderful things thay must ie hidden beneath these dark mysterious waters! THAT BLACK BOTTOM Wild Life in Africa “Mr. and Mrs. Martin Johnson are Africa on another Big Game Hu Garb Mr. Martin Johnson to Mrs. Martin Johnson: 7 “LT hear the jungle calling, let us hit the trail We'll practice our photography on African gee With movies of Nairobi and the Abyssinian plain. Bring lots of ammunition, for it’s part of my tradition To hunt with gun and camera, and in the order named: Before I kodak any beast, I kill him several times, at least, Then blow him up with dynamite, in case he's only maimed. urning to British Bast News Item. “And when I have established that The creature's surely dead, Then you can wear your cutest hat And sit upon its head. Just turn and face the camera here (Which you are nothing loath) And hold that smile a minute, des And I will shoot you both. Said Mr. Martin Johnson to Mrs. Martin Johnson: So let us pack our w With hand-grenades of deadly size for predatory butter- flies, rapons to remote Lake Paradise; And rapid-fire Lewis guns especially for mice. Our long-range, twelve-inch naval gun should make the vicious chipmunks run; We'll chase the savage beetles in an armor-plated tank; We'll overwhelm the fierce gazelles with several high- explosive shells, And shower them with shrapnel while I turn. the rank. camera- “And when I've shot a tiger through And he has died in fearful pain, Then you can take your twenty-two And slay the beast again. We'll prop his carcass by a trec (There'll really be no chance of harm) And you'll rush in and rescue me, Regist’ring alarm.” Said Mrs. Martin Johnson to Mr. Martin Jolinson: “Just wait a half a jiffy till Edon my hunting clo’es; At last I really have a chance to wear my snappy riding pants; I only need to add a dab of powder to my nose! And now if you'll assassinate the mammals. y« cumulate, I'm ready to collaborate by posing with your Zoo. I'l grind my French heel in the eve of punctured hip- popotami, Or straddle the remains of an annihilated gnu. “Between some slaughtered lion's paws I'll squat seductively a while, Or coil inside the creature's jaws And smile, and smile, and smile. And we shall be the best of pals As we grind out cach thrilling reel: Is, While you supply the anim I'l jend the Sex Appea comicbooks.com