Life — June 13, 1930 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is a **Flit insecticide advertisement** disguised as satirical humor, not political commentary. The cartoon depicts a circus performer ("Henry") doing an acrobatic act while holding a striped umbrella, losing control as insects swarm below. The joke is visual slapstick: Henry has confused a yellow can with a black-banded one—presumably mixing up Flit spray with something else, causing chaos. The advertisement's message is straightforward: Flit spray solves a genuine summer problem. Rather than endure mosquitoes and flies ruining activities (work, sleep, outdoor events), consumers should use Flit, which is described as "clean-smelling" and "harmless to humans" while being lethal to insects. This reflects 1930s-era advertising that used humor and cartoon entertainment to promote consumer products in magazines.