Captain Billy's Whiz Bang, June 1921 · page 54 of 67
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang #21 — page 54: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Captain Billy's Whiz Bang* (a 1920s humor magazine) reprints humorous classified ads from newspapers, mocking their unintentional comedy. The satire works through absurdity and innuendo: - **"Mormon chummy"**: jokes about Mormon polygamy practices - **Dot's personal ad**: implied compromising behavior she regrets - **Chicago apartment**: the emphasis on "married couple preferred" suggests landlord discrimination or suspicion - **Lost corset**: the specificity ("slightly used") creates embarrassing implications about the item's owner - **"Easy job"**: the contradiction ("little pay, lots of fun, no work") highlights how unrealistic job postings can be The magazine's premise is collecting real newspaper ads that accidentally reveal human foibles, class anxieties, social awkwardness, and questionable behavior through their straightforward wording. These weren't intentionally funny—their humor came from what they inadvertently revealed about 1920s society.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang 53 Classified Ads Want One, Girls? (From Minneapolis Journal.) “For Sale—1920 Mormon chummy.” * * * There Must Be a Reason (From the Warren, Ohio, Tribune.) Wanted—Gentleman I spent Sunday evening with to write me at my address in the office where I am employed. I couldn't act different from what I did.—Dot. * * * Chicago Has Preferences (From Chicago Tribune) To Rent—Studio apartment with private bath; married couple preferred. 58 E. Elm Street. * * * Oak Cliff's Secret (From Dallas Dispatch) Lost—Monday, In Oak Cliff, one Spencer corset, slightly used. Suitable reward. * * * Here's An Easy Job! (From Tampa Times) Wanted—Gas engine man on twin party boat. Little pay, lots of fun, no work. Phone 71-042.