Life — January 19, 1928 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Life Magazine: Havana Number, January 19, 1928 This is the cover of Life's special "Havana Number" issue, priced at 15 cents. The illustration by Massaguer depicts a stylized woman in 1920s fashion holding a decorative fan displaying Havana scenes—palm trees, buildings, and local activities. She's surrounded by white flowers with dark centers. The cover celebrates Cuba's capital as an exotic, glamorous destination during the Jazz Age. The imagery reflects American fascination with Havana as a tourist paradise and nightlife destination, particularly significant during Prohibition (1920-1933), when Americans traveled to Cuba to drink legally. The "Havana Number" was a marketing appeal to affluent readers interested in Caribbean travel and culture as symbols of sophistication and leisure.