Life, 1927-12-22 · page 26 of 36
Life — December 22, 1927 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top cartoon depicts two men watching an aviator perform a dangerous aerial stunt—a "loop-the-loop," where a plane flies in a vertical circle. One observer warns his companion not to talk loudly for fear of startling the pilot, treating the situation as precarious and requiring absolute concentration. This references the early aviation era when such aerial stunts were novel, dangerous public spectacles. The humor lies in the absurdity: a pilot performing a controlled aeronautical maneuver wouldn't actually be distracted by ground-level conversation, yet the cartoon treats it as genuinely risky. The "General Knowledge" section below parodies contemporary newspaper-based education, with absurdly trivial or frivolous quiz questions about scandals (Peggy Joyce's marriages), celebrities (Gene Tunney, Gloria Fay), and current sensations, mocking how newspapers had become primary educational tools and their focus on sensationalism rather than substantive content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Look, Jake, he’s looping the loop!” “Don't talk so loud—you might rattle him.” General Knowledge spots where murders took place. Arithmetic (b) List three other products of — 1. An arena seats 150,000. There ewspapers teach pupils when illness have culled some typical that State. © 140,000 ringside seats at questions from the comprehen- 2. Draw the map of Gene ‘Tunney. 00 per, and 10,000 box seats sive examination to which the chil- ss. What does your textbook mean at $50 per. Divide the receipts dren were subjected after a week's when it says “Rain To-morrow” ? Tex Rickard, use of newspapers as text 2. Give an example of a long books. Now, children, put on count. your thinking caps and re- member, no copying! Grammar 1. Define: “Aggre pigskin chasers. 2 Diagram: Qu Suitor in Deb Killing. 3. Parse Henry Ford. History 1, Write briefly on the mari- tal history of Peggy Joyce, including: of husbands in order. (b) Causes of divorce in or- der of importance. (c) Territorial acquisitions Name three or Thompson's war ngland. (b) Name results (other than “Sport” Herrmann). Literature 1. Give a brief synopsis of thirtieth installment of Ashes of Souls.” 2. Quote ten consecutive lines from Eddie Guest. Write a brief character study of Cicero Sapp. 4. Who is the author of “How I Keep My Face G me Beautiful” by the famous 1, (a) Draw map of New — Gorr Proresstonat: I tell you, golf ain't like culture— actress, Gloria Fs ey—put crosses on the you can’t pick it up in no fifteen minutes a day. Nathaniel Fein. Geography comicbooks.com