Life, 1927-09-15 · page 24 of 40
Life — September 15, 1927 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features Life magazine's humorous "Alibi Contest," inviting readers to submit creative excuses for everyday domestic mishaps. The cartoon depicts a husband discovering his razor has become dull, and his wife must fabricate an explanation for the damage. The contest reflects 1920s-30s domestic humor, playing on marital tensions—particularly the stereotype of wives being blamed for household problems. The cartoon's joke hinges on the wife needing to invent a plausible (or cleverly implausible) excuse for misusing her husband's grooming tool. The winning alibis submitted by readers demonstrate the contest's appeal: they're punny excuses for spouses' absences or misbehavior during vacations. This captures period attitudes about marriage as a comedic battleground of mutual blame and wit, where success means crafting the most entertaining excuse rather than accepting responsibility.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PRIZE WINNERS | J NUMBER THIRTY-FIVE (back from vacation): you THAT ALL RIGHT AND 1 COME BACK TO FIND THe MAID QUrT, THE THE GOLDPISH AND HUTTS ALL OVER THE HOUSE Husband: eit, vou see, rr Was sis way...When you lose your better half, you have to be content with worse quarters. This Alibi, which wins the first prize of $50.00, was submitted by Hl. Ramsnorrom, 1417 Seventh Avenue, No W., Calgary, Canada ALIBI Wife WhoTE MP EVERYTIUING WAS CANARY THe CIGARETTE DEAD, KATEN BY eat, POKER CIUPS AND Seven second prizes (two extra) of $10.00 each have to the following: Mrs. Barton, Seattle, Washington, for the Alibis “At the bottom of every letter | wrote you I put XNXX, and X marks the where somebody lies.” M. Crouaven, Bloomington, In- the Alibis “While about the seashore, [was been awarded Grongr spot diana, for you were Lying lying about the house.” Ansert BE. Fastex, Philadelphia, Penuayleania, for the Alibi: “You wonderful time; wish vou were here’—so I thoug! I'd tell one.” Letina G. Massachusetts wrote: “Having a Sawyer, Craigcille, ‘or the Alibi: “While vacation, 1 you were spending my was trying to en) yours.” To Wintiam: Marx, Dester, New Mesico; Lautaxx M. Fox, Syracuse, New York id Evizaneti T. Eve, Nashville, r Variations of the following Alibi: “You told me to send you some light fiction but no sordid realism.” ‘ennessee, Life ALIBI CONTEST Conditions of the Contest on page 30 $100.00 Weekly in Prizes Alibi-maker in When things go ARE you a little £4) your home? wrong, and you are blamed, are quick on the trigger to shoot out an excuse for your shortcoming If you you are, then be quick to join the host Lire’s Alibi contestants and show off your technique. If you then be quicker to get in’ the sharpen up your wits. luck often takes first sports of all kinds. The justly peeved. still and are not, game Beginners” money, in husband shown below — is Being all set for a comfortable morning shave, he finds his razor with an edge like a picket fence, And does he know whom to blame for this? He does. He blames the wife instrument, he demands to be formed condition, The wife knows that it is up to her to offer some sort of Alibi, or exeuse, and she has already. started But it is still how it came to this sorry on her explanation. sadly incomplete. If you can help her to finish it you are eligible for one of the prizes, which are as follows: First Prize, $50.00 Five Second Prizes of $10.00 each ALIBI NUMBER FORTY-ONE will be published in Lire next week, with a new set of prizes offered Read the conditions on page 30 and go toit! Waving aloft the once trusty carefully ALIBI NUMBER FORTY LT thle He: THAT RAZOR!!! witaT USING IT FOR Now? WELL, Vou LOOK AT She: SER, IT's THIS Way TAYE You BEEN comicbooks.com