Life, 1927-10-27 · page 33 of 36
Life — October 27, 1927 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising**, not political satire. The dominant content is a Dentyne chewing gum advertisement featuring a smiling woman's photograph with the tagline "Chew Dentyne...and smile!" The left column contains a humorous **poem about shopping for hosiery** ("All the Wanted Colors"). A male narrator describes visiting a hosiery counter where a salesgirl overwhelms him with absurdly poetic color names—"moonlight and shadow," "French bisque," "atmosphere," "evenglow"—for what are presumably basic women's stockings. The joke is that excessive, flowery marketing language makes simple products seem impossibly complicated, driving the customer to buy hastily just to escape. The page also includes three brief **humorous anecdotes** ("The Purist," "An Easy One") and multiple travel and product advertisements typical of 1920s Life magazine. There is **no political content** on this page. The satire is purely commercial and social—poking fun at retail marketing tactics and human nature rather than addressing political issues.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“All the Wanted Colors"’ Wues it becomes a pleasure and a duty To render they beauty ; When it's desired to spend both time and money homage, as say, to Selecting something that will _ tickle Honey, Where docs one go? Why, where do you suppose? he counter that is labeled 2 . Tis the voice of the salesgirl, I hear | her declare: “These he the latest, six dollars the And it all seems so simple, until she inquires: “What color best suits the dear lady's desires?" And then, with a glibness that makes a man wince, She reels off the names of the best- | selling tints: 2 “We have moonlight and shadow, Gunmetal and peach, French nude and French bisque, Froth and saw and bleach, Aloma and atmosphere, Sunset and fawn; We have oyster and melon, Pearl blush and dawn; There is evenglow, 4 Marron and cha Straw and pandora, Mlusi¢ grai ? In fact, there's no r, | No shade, that we lick. Though of se you don’t want it, We even have black! Right here, by the exit that’s nearest and handy, One dashes out madly—and buys her some ¢ ! y Round the World 125 days, $1250 to $3000 ss “Caledonia” sailing Jan. 16 Westward, calling Feb. 2, at Los Angeles cruise over a delightful itinerary und pices of the nator of this fasci of de luxe travel; specially reserved like a relents yacht. Java, Burma ete run Panama Canal. M Includes Angeles, Hilo. a reece. spring season. Mediterranean 65 days, $60 O to $1700 ss “Transylvania”’ sailing Jan. 25 Frank C. Clark, Times Bldg., N.Y. Life Chew ENTYNE ..and smile/ you smile. Don’t let them grow dull or discolored. Chew delicious Dentyne and keep your teeth snowy white. You'll love the Dentyne flavor. KEEPS HE The Purist \ raenn tells me that during the war billeted in a which had a charming river meandering its outskirts. Here, in the bed of n stern-faced man cultivated he was certain village d crop of watercress friend, in noon te anticipat after- sent his batman one Sunday to He found the cul, pr hard at work in the middle of the nm. & $1.50 at Drug Stores or direct edy Co, L Mo buy some watercress “I want sixpennyworth of watercress,” said the batman “No,” said the open on Sundays.” cultivator; “I ain't -London Daily Chronicte An Easy One “IT wisn,” said the school inspector, after asking many questi hat T was a little boy at school Do you know wh; ie Cortes 23 CIGARS From the Te Tae | -M ADE AT KEY WEST— HARRIS TWEED §222 WEWALL 277 Stor back came a hoarse voice: you've forgotten all comicbooks.com