Life, 1927-08-25 · page 31 of 36
Life — August 25, 1927 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily a **Palmolive Shaving Cream advertisement** disguised as editorial content in Life magazine. **The "Cartoon" Section:** "The Rapid City Cowboy's Lament" is a humorous poem about a poor cowboy dressed in costume who demands media attention—reporters, film cameras, tabloid coverage—while ironically claiming "I look wrong." The satire targets the era's obsession with publicity and the absurdity of seeking fame through appearances and media manipulation. **The Advertisement:** The dominant visual shows two men examining a large bottle of Palmolive Shaving Cream. The ad claims the product's superiority and offers "10 SHAVES FREE" as a promotion. Text emphasizes it took "years" to develop and lists specific features (multiple lather, creamy fullness, etc.). **Historical Context:** This reflects early-20th-century advertising practice: embedding commercial messages within entertainment/editorial content. The cowboy poem's theme of manufactured image ironically complements the ad's message about product superiority—both sell the idea that appearance and consumer choice matter. The page demonstrates how magazine advertising and satirical content coexisted, often blurring boundaries.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Life Acknowledged with oe Thanks We Amaze acknowledges very many thanks the receipt at the Pot! and Branchville Camps of the followi contributions: en Book th Grade Pupils of Francis Mbertis Kenilworth School, Ridgewood, ‘Jug Miss Frances Williams, Queens | Miss Ruth ‘Tro : : Miss Evelyn Nolte, - 1s wis ttwe tor | With this shaving ‘sister, Brooklyn; Henry Dison Crucible Cas cream, whatever svi Jersey City Clothing ) Misses Julia and they expect Elizabeth Baumann, Glendale, 1. I. Clothing: A. Arne Washington, Mrs. Walter C. Howe, Boston Sprangfeld, Brooklyn; Pratt Insti- Brooklyn; Miss Fine’s School, ‘ ys Layman, 7 Puzzles, Books and Clothing: Edwards School, Beverly, Mass; Horace Mann New York. Y. Syme, 4 gallons paint, vari ulper Pottery Co. Flem- N. J., 100 pounds clay; Alber tine Kruger, New York, 25 bl for craft use; Aurora V New York, mimeog: Hattie Ulrich, New York, r scissors; Merry Makers’ Club, Brook- lyn, 4 ponchos; Wm. M. Green, New York, metal sand dump toy, wooden kiddie kar, The Rapid City Cowboy’s Lament As T walked out in the streets of Da- kot As I walked out in Dakote day, Canin I spied a poor cowboy dressed up in a ; s har costume, riorities of P: Dressed up in a costume as good as a play. | “Oh, roll the film slowly and make the light lowly, Play up the story, and play it up stron, Take me to’ the camera for the rotos and the tabloids, For I'm a poor cowboy and I know I look wrong.” t any shaving cre: > win today cowboy.” ; “HICAGO. It 9 iE PALMOLIVEPEET COMPANY, CHICAGO, ILL Then these words he said as I took THE F down my notes: | “I see by your outfit that you are a } “They told me to put on this comfort- “Let sixteen reporters come handle my Shaving Cream story, it up strong. vm mt | saigeiatuacnme | ~—~S«1O SHAVES FREE luxury, we have creat whoy and T know [clive After of Palmolive After Shaving Talc cially for me ‘Then burn up my el gallon sombi For I'm a poor having Ta - Doesn't. show in smooth ani Sir | eae PALMOLIVE @ H ew York World. “Aut Ssutey has got a dandy sixt that don't sty Abe Martin, in Indianapolis News comicbooks.com