Life — December 22, 1927 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Explanation for Modern Readers This single-panel cartoon by Webb depicts two elegantly dressed women viewing a giraffe behind a mesh enclosure, likely at a zoo. One woman explains they feed the animal "nothin' but Lucky Strikes" for "his throat's sake." This is an advertisement disguised as humor, promoting Lucky Strike cigarettes. The joke relies on the period's widespread cigarette marketing claims about throat health—a common advertising pitch before tobacco's dangers were widely acknowledged. The giraffe's notably long neck is the visual punchline, suggesting the product extends or benefits the throat. The cartoon satirizes both extravagant wealth (keeping exotic animals) and the absurdity of health claims made by tobacco companies in the early-to-mid 20th century.