Life, 1929-05-10 · page 2 of 44
Life — May 10, 1929 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily an **advertisement for Bottled Carbonated Beverages**, not political satire. The page presents a humorous narrative featuring "Adam" (likely representing an everyman consumer) encountering various fantastical creatures—a snake, an owl, and other surreal figures. The joke centers on a snake causing trouble, prompting Adam to reach for a bottle of carbonated beverage as a solution or remedy. The accompanying text describes Adam's endorsement of the product, mentioning he uses it for "Snake Bite" and recommending it to others, including references to ordering more for social occasions. The carnival/circus atmosphere and whimsical characters create comedic appeal designed to sell the product through humor rather than serious messaging. This appears to be mid-20th century advertising targeting general consumer appeal.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SPARKLING MOMENTS in the HISTORY OF BOTTLED CARBONATED BEVERAGES “It’s that confounded snake again!” said Adam Free! Wrse todey for « * opi —teaching for the bottle... . Adam laid aside the sports extra of the Eden Daily Fig Leaf, and sniffed con- temptuously. “That's a lot of applesauce and salesmanship,” he growled. “Here's a letter to the editor signed ‘Lillith’ recom. mending whale oil ointment for snake bite. Did you ever hear of anything so ridiculous? Why don’t they call on a Man of the World for some real expert testi- mony? I’ve probably been snake bitten with more regularity than anybody in the Garden and there's no remedy like bottled carbonated beverages. I've sampled every known variety and flavor and T ought 4 know . . . Ou-u-ch!” Gingerly Adam lifted his foot for a rue- ful inspection. “It’s that confounded of this ww ‘salads snake again!” he exclaimed, reaching for a bottle of his favorite carbonated beverage, at the same time summoning a preferred blond Stenographer, to whom he spake, saying, “Take a testimonial to American Bottlers of Carbonated Beverages, U.S. A. Gents: I always use Bottled Carbonated Beverages for Snake Bite and find that I get best results from same. Sign that ‘Adam’ and get it in the mail tonight. “Tm going out for a little game of golf with a good customer—an ani trainer from the Consolidated Circus. And, oh yes, don’t forget to order another case of bottled carbonated beverages. Tell ’em to put it on ice at the Nineteenth Hole.” ever ag es Grbonated A BOTTLER IN YOUR comicbooks.com