Life, 1928-05-17 · page 37 of 42
Life — May 17, 1928 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes the modern professionalization of tennis, likely referencing C.C. Pyle, a sports promoter who brought commercial tournaments and prize money to lawn tennis in the 1920s. The joke parodies how monetary rewards have corrupted the traditional amateur sport's genteel etiquette. The dialogue shows two players speaking in exaggerated proper English while obsessively tallying prize money in dollars instead of tennis scoring ("$600—$100—$600"). Each volley is treated as a betting transaction rather than sport for sport's sake. The satire suggests that Pyle's commercialization has reduced tennis from a gentleman's pursuit to mere haggling—players now count cash instead of points, and polite compliments about "cracking backhands" mask ruthless money-grabbing. The anachronistic mixing of formal politeness with crude money-counting epitomizes how commercialism corrupts aristocratic traditions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Lawn Tennis a la C. C. Pyle “Twty dollars love! Dollar onel!.... Splendid! That was a cracking good re- turn of that four bits!” “But I'm sure it hit outside, old fel- low! I don't care what the judges say, I'm sure they awarded me the money un- fairly!” “Really, that’s awfully good of you, but I'm sure the dollar struck the line— I saw a spurt of gold dust fly up when it hit. Take the money, old man; I insist! Thirty dollars all! Dollar one!” “A dollar, net. Certainly tough, old cha ont mention it! Dollar two! Dollar three!....Ah, a corking backhand, old boy! I never for a moment thought you'd cash in on that one! It was a sparkling bit of play! Let's see, now, how does the set stand?” “Why, it’s $600—$100—$600—$600 in your favor, old man!” Paul S. Powers. OD, CLEAN FUN Sagdoxic want advertisement in the emi- nent Detroit Free Press: THER. AND SON WEEK “We fur clowns, magicians, ventriloquists. pose Dell Cherry 1387." —American Mercury. \ youxe groom is referred to in the wedding story as one of the country’s best saxophone players, although some contend a good saxophonist is like a good Indian. —Detroit News. “Is sie capable of affection?” “Capable? She's positively contagious.” —Washington § Lee Mink. —_—_—EE>ES>=——— An idyl of an idling stream A roe of motion, the “Ol Town” ‘across the mirror stream. . . . Reflections s tiny ripples. ea Coloes, = Diced a a wre Gira fward, swift and smooth and Light. “Old Towns” are patterned after actual Indian models. Their graceful lines mean steadiness and easy handling. Priced as low as $67. From Gealer or factory. sa ev eaale ves complete Inforpation about — a canoes, dinghies, ete. sexerihy bes eats for Oulboord Ata tere Ie sate Stee, OW Town, Mune ‘Ola Town Canoes” re GIVE US your gossip on this MENTHOL-COOLED SMOKE A swift rise to fame quite naturally leaves a broad wake of comment. ‘Thus with Spud. ..a year ago only a cigarette idea...today, the most dis- cussed sensation in cigarette sales. Never a cigarette that brought so many different reactions from so many different people! What is your opinion of this cigarette that actually and noticeably cools? Do you liken Spud’s first puff to a “veritable whiff of coolness’? Does the next puff, and the next, continue that coolness? Is the final result a last- ingly moist-cool throat...even after the third pack? The skipper of a famous ocean erey- hound argues that Spud’s first puff is like ‘fa deep breath on the quarter- deck.”’ A Yale man vows that Boola-Boola throats never rang so loud and clear now that Spud sits securely on the Yale fence. A young Chicago matron says Spud is found on all North Side bridge tables ..-because Spud enjoyment and Spud fragrance can last twenty-one rubbers as well as one. Wewant all the Spud experience we can get. ..the more personal the better. Disregard our own pleasant theories and claims. Give us your opinion. We have $4,000 to tempt you into writing. You have 559 chances to win. Come on! Set aside five or ten min- utes... light a Spud for inspiration and go to it! 1st Prize + $1000 2nd Prize + 500 3rd Prize + 250 4th Prize + 100 Next 5 Prizes $50 each » 250 Next 10 Prizes 20each + 200 Next 40 Priz 10 each + 400 Next 100 Prizes Seach oe 500 Next 400Prizes 2each . 800 559 Prizes in all, totaling $4000 THE JUDGES: FREDERICK C. KENDALL, Editor of “Adver- tising and s”. JOHN LEE MAHIN, Vice-President, Street Railways Advertising Company. FLOYD W. So FARIONS Feature Writer, Editorial Director of several iness papers and special writer for The Saturday Evening Post. CONTEST DETAILS 1—Write a letter of 300 words or less, describing what think of Spud Cigarettes. 2—Use one peo Paper only. Put name and address on man- pt. 3— Address envelope to P. O. Box 2374, teabvite Kentucky. 4—Envelope must be post- before midnight June 30, 1928. 5—No communications acknowledged. No manuscripts returned. 6—In case of ties, each tying contestant will be awarded the full amount of the prize tied for. 7—Contestants agree to accept decision of sce ae Gaal. 6—Emolovees of Azton-Fisher ‘obacco Company are not eligible. AXTON. FISHER TOBACCO CO., Inc., Louisville, Ky., Largest Independent Cigarette Manufacturer SPUD menthol-cooled CIGARETTES 20 for 20+ IF you do not now use Spud, you may have a sam- le (free) by addressing the manufacturer. If Spud igarettes are not obtainable near you, and you wish a suppl for yourself or your friends, send stamps. check or money order for single package of 20 (20¢) or tin of 100 ($1.00); please name dealer. FREE BOOKLET It gives entertainingly, the story of Spud Cigarettes and what people have said about them. Use coupon, Axton- Fisher Tobacco Co., Inc., Louisville, Ky. PLEASE tend tree booklet, ‘Welcome, little stranger."* G Package of 29 (Enclose 20? 1D Tin of 100 (Enclose $1.00), re Name of Dealer. comicbooks.com