Life, 1928-11-23 · page 7 of 36
Life — November 23, 1928 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a satirical cartoon about ambition and social climbing. The main illustration shows a well-dressed man in formal attire at what appears to be a grand public event or gathering, with crowds visible in the background under an ornate arch. The accompanying text "Not to Be Denied" describes a "Successful Business Man" with all the external markers of success—proper appearance, good health, confident bearing. The satire suggests his ambition remains unsatisfied despite achieving material success. The cartoon's caption includes a joke about wanting to recreate an automobile chime sound ("oompty-dum-doom-dum-doom"), mocking the man's desire to commercialize or profit from even trivial things. The page also includes brief editorial comments about social topics, including a reference to Prohibition, reflecting early 20th-century American concerns.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“] wish they'd play that piece again. That part that goes oompty—dum—doom—dum—doom would make the best automobile chime-siren on the market, if I could get it down.” NOT TO BE DENIED He had all the marks of the Successful Business Man. One instinctively felt that here was a Personage. The perfect fit of his overcoat, his im- maculate linen, his well-fitting shoes bespoke care for personal appearance. His cheeks were aglow with the ruddi- hess of perfect health. Here was a MAN in every sense of the word. Today his whole bearing ‘ denoted eagerness, a striving after some desired end. He had a GOAL in sight. And striding eagerly forward, brushing aside the crowds, many of them children, who blocked his path, he reached at last the coveted shop window where he could watch the electric train. C.F.L.S. Lewis: What a peculiar expression on that woman's face over there! Crarx: Yes. She is trying to blush at that story somebody just told. ELECTRICAL LABORATORIES, PLEASE COPY “Tom Tippce hasn't done very well with his chain of eating houses, has he?” “No, but he expects to make a big clean-up now. He is introducing the last word in restaurant service—the automat with sound accompaniment.” Tue Prohibition question remains unchanged. It is still, “What will the boys in the back room have?” comicbooks.com