Life, 1929-03-01 · page 14 of 36
Life — March 1, 1929 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes a Rotary Club meeting discussing an injured member, Frankie Squibb, hit by a gravel truck. Club members testify to Frankie's good character and generosity—he loaned money, gave golf clubs, and sent postcards from vacations. The bottom cartoon mocks magazine editors' defensive claims about their cover imagery. The "Magazine Editor (calling on artist)" states that publishing bathing girls on covers will silence critics who say magazines feature "nothing but bathing girls." The visual irony is obvious: the artist is literally surrounded by scantily-clad women in beach/artistic settings, contradicting the editor's claim. The satire targets both editorial hypocrisy and the magazine industry's reliance on sexualized imagery while denying it.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
12 It’s Bound to Happen HE Rotary Club meeting had | just gotten under way when Mr. J. W. (“Jakie”) Sholtz asked for recognition. “Fellow Rotarians,” he said. “I have news of importance to communi- cate to you. Our well-known mem- ber, Frankie Squibb—dear old Frankie —while on his way to this meeting, was hit by a gravel truck at the corner of Main and Forest. As a result of this misfortune, he is now in the most expensive hospital in our city, suffering from bruises, contusions, wounds and abrasions, to say nothing of cuts, scratches, sprains and fractures. I am sure that every member of our Club knows and loves dear old Frankie.” Mr. Sholtz seated himself. At the rear of the house, Mr. Fishberg (“Mor- rie”) stood up. “Tam well acquainted with dear old Frankie—yass. At our Life last meeting he pud salt in my coffee while my back was turned—yass.” “Frankie was a good friend of mine,” admitted Mr. Burkhollow (“Willie”), of Burkhollow, Smith, Jones and Burkhollow, attorneys. “He had a playful way of tiptocing into my private office and pounding me in the back. And now he’s in a hospital. Tck, tck.” “I have always thought lots of Frankie,” testified W. J. (“Jimmie”) Leffingwell. “Last week he told my wife what I paid for an imported set of golf clubs.” “I have known and loved Frankie for twenty years,” was the next testi- monial, given by a member who, some- how, looked like a married man, “When I had the family down at the seashore he'd send me picture postcards and sign them ‘Trixie’. ” Many other members spoke of their long friendship and esteem for My. Squibb. The time seemed ripe for action. Mr. Fishberg (“Morrie”), al. ways prompt in decisions, said: “Py me down for twenty-five dollars, und here's der money—yass.” A dozen men were on their feet instantly, and the secretary wrote down the names as the big-hearted members walked up with currency in their hands, The driver of the gravel truck bought a radio set with the money, Jack Morton, Macazixe Eprtor (calling on artist): Ah-h-h-h- I guess this will silence the people who claim we ave nothing but bathing girls on our covers! comicbooks.com