Life — November 27, 1931 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is a rebus puzzle advertisement for *Life* magazine's contest. The visual riddle reads: "U [Will and Testament] 1/2 a [$1000 money bag] [laughing face]" The solution translates to: "You will have a grand laugh!" (as the text confirms). The cartoon above shows a well-dressed gentleman in a chair smoking, reading a newspaper labeled "LIFE," embodying the magazine's target affluent audience. The rebus puzzle itself uses visual symbols instead of words—a common 1930s-40s parlor game format. The contest promised $10 cash prizes and positioned *Life* as sophisticated entertainment to "end the depression in your home." This reflects the magazine's role as humorous escape during economic hardship, appealing to middle and upper-class readers seeking genteel amusement.