Life, 1928-11-30 · page 43 of 52
Life — November 30, 1928 — page 43: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct sections: **Left side — Political/Social Satire ("The Whole Topic of Conversation"):** A dialogue by Lloyd Mayer mocking contemporary prudishness. A couple expresses disgust at widespread talk of "sex appeal" and the modern slang term "B.U." ("Biological Urge"), which has replaced the older "S.A." The satire targets the hypocrisy: they condemn such talk as "degenerate" while simultaneously obsessing over it. Sue particularly objects to men judging women's "IT-ness" (sexual appeal), yet she and her companion spend their entire conversation discussing exactly that topic. Mayer ridicules how people performatively condemn the very subject matter they cannot stop discussing. **Right side — Travel Advertisement:** A tourism promotion for Death Valley and Southern California's desert regions, emphasizing winter accessibility and scenic grandeur. **Bottom — Minor poem:** A humorous piece by Blaine C. Bigler about being too ill to sing winter songs. The page juxtaposes satirical social commentary with commercial promotion.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“The Whole Topic of Con- versation”” Sue: I think it’s disgusting the way everybody you mect nowadays is always talking about sex appeal or something. He: Yeah, it’s sort of sickening. Sue: Isn't it, though? I honestly think everybody's getting awfully sort of de- generate or something. ” He: Yeah, I guess that’s right. Sue: 1 mean everybody's sort of talk- ing about this “B. U.” thing now, f'r instance. He: Yeah? Sue: Yes, you see, “IT” used to be “S.A,,” and now they call it “B. U.” e: Yeah? Sue: Yes, isn’t it foul? You see, “S. ” of course stands for this sex appeal everybody you hear talking about * now calls it the “B. U.,” which stands for “Biological Urge’’—can you bear it? He: That's certainly the limit! Sue: Isn't it, though? I mean things like that are simply the whole topic of conversation everywhere, you go. I think it’s simply disgusting, I mean, and I think the best way 1s just not to listen. He: Yeah? Sue: Gosh, I honestly get so mad I could shell peanuts when you hear men sort of talking about a girl and saying she’s “IT-y,”” f'r instance, or she’s not “IT-y" or something because I mean it just sort of shows you that men haven't really any respect for women any more or something. He: Yeah, that’s the way it looks, all right. Sue: But I mean how on earth can you expect men to have any respect for girls who keep talking about this sex appeal and things like that all the entire time, do you know what I mean? Lloyd Mayer. A Song of Winter Sine a song of winter-time; Sing of snowy highways; Sing a merry little chime, For winter ways are my ways. Sing a song of winter days; Sing of snowflakes falling; Sing a song of woodland ways With icy breezes calling. Sing a song of winter-time; Let waiting bud and plant sing; But I'll not join you in the rhyme— I've such a cold I can’t sing. Blaine C. Bigler. How merry would be the movie star's Christmas if she looked into her socking and discovered that Santa Claus bad left her a voice! LIFE 5 sDeath Valley... shis winter/ apa: Neither brush nor pen can ypornwed express / the sublime grandeur of the /owelt spot on earth! Death Valley, 300 feet below sea level, from Dante's View, 6000 feet above. © Willard Ts A COLORFUL day's motoring from Los Angeles to Death Valley under Southern California's mellowy winter sunshine, for the Mojave Desert is unending in fascination and interest all the way to Olancha. Here the High Sierra country opens. Turn sharp right for Death Valley! You cross the ancient Coso mountains and silent, parched valleys of untold mysteries... and miseries of pioneer days. Finally, come the massive Panamints! Death Valley, Stretching north and south into the haze of great distance, lies ahead, guarded on the east by the solemn Funeral Range. Roads are good all the way — and safe. Or, you may make the trip praQically all the way by train. As much as three hundred feet below sea level—the lowes spot on earth—and sur- rounded by mountains of marvelous hues and proportions, Death Valley has no counterpart as a scenic wonder. Its winter climate is de- lightful; its summer, pra@ically unlivable. Hotel accommodations are excellent. Another alluring winter day's desert outing is Palm Springs, a mecca for world famous people. In fa, this entire vast, once-forbidding country, is all now of easy access from the Pacific Coast metropolis. Its vogue increases each season, To the lure of Southern California's desert add groves laden with golden navel oranges, snow-capped mountains, flowers, golf on all- year greens, the placid blue Pacific, Old Spanish Missions, saddle sport on hill trails—and ‘warm, energizing spring-like sunny days! Such is the Southern California that awaits you today —and all winter long! Can you resist such an invitation? You will enjoy Los Angeles and its hotels, shops, theatres and cafes. Hollywood is close by. Los Angeles County’s oil fields are rated at a billion dollars; agricultural produ@s average $95,000,000 annually. Come this winterand see this intereSting country. Mail the coupon now for a new book, “Southern California Through the Camera,” which pictures just what you will see bere, winter and summer, It contains 73 large pictures in gravure, showing magnificent scenes, sports, social events. It is free. Southern California “A Trip Abroad in Your Own America” AL-Year Club of Southern Cali Dept. 12- Chatier G Coclnene Best Ander Coli” Please boo me your free book “Southern Califor nia TI h the Camera." Also booklets telling espe- cally of the attractions in the counties which I have OLos Angeles OOrange ORiverside OlLos ae Sports OSanta Barbara OVentura San Bernardino = OSan Diego Nam St C9 $$ sare comicbooks.com