Life, 1929-06-14 · page 39 of 44
Life — June 14, 1929 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes male social anxiety in the 1920s. The scenario depicts a man entertaining his new wife and boss at a formal dinner when his ex-wife suddenly appears to greet him. The joke's "solution"—lighting a Murad cigarette to appear nonchalant—is pure advertising satire: smoking supposedly provides masculine composure in an awkward social situation. The cartoon mocks both the anxious husband (caught between current and former spouses) and the absurd advertising claim that a cigarette brand can resolve genuine social embarrassment. The illustration shows the ex-wife approaching while the new wife and boss remain at the dinner table, creating maximum comedic tension. This reflects 1920s attitudes about divorce being scandalous enough to cause real social discomfort, while also poking fun at how period advertising promised products could solve any social problem through a veneer of sophistication.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Mrs. Pep's Diary (Continued from Page 22) May 24—This morning gone in the composition of songs for my class re- union, albeit I feel that I never can better the one which I once wrote to the tune of “Bambalina,” which went: “In a dim and distant day before Smith College got this way We strolled around the campus just like you; Primrose-petalled was our path except. ing when the morrow’s math Loomed up to obfuscate our point of view—" “With our ostrich-feathered hats perched high upon our bird-cage rats We stood around and tried to be polite,” etc... which Sam says really accomplishes nothing but to date me, but I pay him no heed, mindful that Mrs. Dwight Morrow is on record as more desir- ous of being known by her class nu- merals than by her cosmetics. Dined this night with the Bannings, who have a new footman so interested in the game of solitaire that, when he stood over me with my beaker of but- termilk, he could not refrain from re- minding me of my failure to place the seven of diamonds under the cight of spades. Germany has passed a law prohibit ing importing corned beef. It will cut down on cabbage, too, because corned beef seldom travels alone. —Tom Sims for Kay Features. EMBARRASSING MOMENTS When you are entertaining your new wife and your boss at a swagger dinner and your ex-wife comes up to greet you... be nonchalant . .. LIGHT A MURAD. CORDAY =. PARFUMEUR 15 RUE DE LA PAIX > PARIS loujours *Atwayvs mer Aso ORCHIDEEBLEUE-FEMMEDUJOUR CORDAY FACE POWDERS: CORDAY LIPSTICKS importel LIONEL, 20-22 w. vic. “You're fired! No clock watchers around here.” OP. Lorillard Co., Est. 1760 MUMOROUP iuustRa feu. aren Now you can enjoy a really up-to-date training, in this attractive field. full of sparkle and dash— a radical departure and pleasant relief from old fashioned courses and an- tiquated methods. Pre- pare for a career in this delightful, well-paid pro- fession. Write for free il- lustrated book. “The Last Word in Humorous IIlus- tration.” The Russell Patterson School Michigan Ave, at 20th St., Dept. 5 CHICAGO, ILL, RRR rrrmrmrmrrrnnnmm comicbooks.com