Life, 1929-01-25 · page 20 of 36
Life — January 25, 1929 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine presents humorous news briefs mocking contemporary 1920s events and figures. The cartoons and jokes target: **Political absurdities**: A $26 million corporate tax refund while Chicago faces bankruptcy; Pennsylvania politicians spending lavishly on campaigns; Secretary of the Treasury Mellon repeatedly denying he bought a Raphael painting—satirizing his compulsive denials. **Social contradictions**: Prohibition's failure, with intoxication arrests rising from 612 (1920) to 557,369 (1927), yet *Life* sarcastically encourages "beating this record." A Pennsylvania politician (James M. Beck) faces election challenges over residency—*Life* quips this is "nothing against him," mocking such technicalities. **Modern absurdities**: A woman finally paying for furniture purchased 34 years prior on "easy payments"; a beauty shop suing the telephone company for sharing a number with an old ladies' home. The cartoons illustrate these contradictions visually, particularly one showing musicians playing instruments around furniture—likely mocking the "one-arm lunch chairs" mentioned in the caption, or business absurdity generally.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Headlines of the Week $26,000,000 TAX REFUND TO COR- PORATIONS—C HICAGO, BANK- RUPT, WANTS TO BE INCORPO- RATED—NEW YORK SENATORS TO RAILROAD DRY BILLTHROUGH ROOSEVELT—AL SMITH _ OFFI- CIALLY RETIRES — IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS DENIED COCKTAIL HOUR AT PORT—CANADA AND U. S. TO BEAR DOWN ON BORDER SMUGGLING — POSTOFFICE BOY- COTTS BRITISH LINERS OVER HAVANA SHIPPING WAR. PITTSBURGH, PA.—For the second time in recent years Secretary Mellon denied reports that he had purchased Raphael's Madonna. A London rumor said that he had bought it for $970,000. An oil painting. The Secretary probablw denies from habit. MADISON, WISCONSIN — Progres- sive leaders are seeking to bar Governor- elect Kohler because they have discovered he spent $100,000 on his campaign. That wouldn't be carfare in a Pennsylvania campaign. MILWAUKEE—Miiss Livingston sued the Wisconsin Telephone Company be- cause her beauty shop had the same num- ber as the old ladies’ home. DETROIT—As a special attraction to their agents, assembled in convention, the Graham Paige company gave a pageant portraying Truth, Loyalty, and Salesman- ship, staged by John Anderson, The main attraction was a series of cages lining the walls containing wild animals. Pedestrians, no doubt. RENO—George A. Henshop, Jr., and his fiancee, Miss Caledonia Pullian, brought a jazz band along with them when they arrived here to be married. The band serenaded the couple on their trip. Jazz before the battle. “Liars! They said he couldn't climb!” WABASH, IND.—G. M. Naber has NEW YORK—A survey by the Mod- received a check for a piece of furniture | eration League, made public today, says purchased from him thirty-four years ago. that police records in 388 citics show that A woman bought it and promised to pay | arrests for intoxication rose from 612 in him later. Easy payments. ‘Wantep—Fenpers ror One Arm Luncu Cuairs 1920 to 557,369 in 1927. That's dandy, folks, but if we all pull together we can beat this record. WASHINGTON, D. C.—James M. Beck, who was elected to the seat sud- denly vacated by Vare, of Pennsylvania, was called before the Senate to support his election which is being contested on the grounds that he is not a resident of Penn- sylvania. Which, under the circumstances, is nothing against him. SEMOUR, CONN.—Plans for the manufacture of “talkie” equipment which will “revolutionize” the industry, are an- nounced by the Semour Manufacturing Company. Make it annihilation, and we'll take it. siste will man Ni brich is ev brich Wo \ man rere hed cry | the dors N Am the beer ing in Schi inst as 3 Am tota tha comicbooks.com