Life — January 19, 1928 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Ode to Havana" Page Analysis This Life magazine page satirizes American attitudes toward Cuba and Havana, particularly around alcohol and leisure. The main poem celebrates Havana as a destination for drinking rum and Bacardi rum specifically—appealing to Americans during what appears to be Prohibition era (references to "Lipton or Yuban" suggest smuggling alternatives). The cartoon "Sights of Cuba" depicts a chaotic Havana nightlife scene, with an American tourist surrounded by dancers, musicians, and servers. The illustration mocks both Cuban stereotypes (exuberant nightlife culture) and American tourists seeking vice and hedonism abroad. The lower sections include humor pieces like "Tricked Herself" and "Undeniably Correct," employing typical Life magazine comedic formats. The harbor cartoon appears to reference anti-saloon sentiment. Overall, the page reflects early-20th-century American leisure culture and Prohibition-era attitudes toward Cuba as an escape destination.