Life, 1929-06-14 · page 21 of 44
Life — June 14, 1929 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Section - Helen Wills Tribute:** A celebratory poem by Arthur Guiterman praises tennis champion Helen Wills, famous for her emotionless demeanor ("Little Poker Face"). The verse highlights her athletic prowess, wholesome character, and international fame—she's depicted as a model of pure athleticism who eschews cosmetics and smoking. This reflects 1920s admiration for the "New Woman" athlete. **Bottom Section - Prohibition-Era Satire:** The cartoon and accompanying quotes mock working-class men during Prohibition. They claim they're heading to "our son's graduation" while clearly going to drink illegally. The dialogue satirizes both the desperation of poor drinkers (forced to choose between eating and drinking) and the dangers of bootleg alcohol ("strap on a parachute"). This is sharp social commentary on how Prohibition affected lower classes while the wealthy accessed quality liquor—and how ordinary people rationalized illegal drinking.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Life Who's Who In Verse Can you think of a Title Helen Wills for this Picture? No other Girl completely kills Ist Prize $500 A Tennis Ball like Helen Wills, 2nd Prize $250 4 Product,—easily the Primate— 3rd Prize $100 Of California’s Noted Climate. ie oth Priz Before she passed her Thirteenth Year 4th to 9th Prizes She learned to stroke the Bounding $25 Each Sphere; In Two Years more the News Dis- patches Reported her at Tennis Matches Both East and West and Left and Right Annexing all the Cups in Sight. Because she’s always Cool as Custard And never seems the Least Bit flus- tered, he Journalists, a Ribald Race, Have named her “Little Poker Face.” A Devotee of Pure Athletics, She does not use or need Cosmetics And smokes no Magic Cigarette To soothe her Nerves before a Set. She moves across the Court, a Vision Of Youth and Health and Swift Pre- cision, So wholesome, happy, sweet and clean And stately as a gray-eyed Queen. And Queens in Crowns come out to greet her, And all are rightly proud to meet her. —Arthur Guiterman, Little Rambles With Serious Drinkers Food is so high in New York now many of us poor folks are going to have to quit eating before long, or else stop drinking. —Mtike. I hear the stuff they sell there hits you so hard they won't let you take the first drink until you strap on a parachute. —Cliff. Here’s looking at you. —Frank. Just one more, Boys, and then we'll go home. —Guy. The bes’ lil’ woman in the world. —ake. — Yessir, fella, that’s the real stuff— “Certainly we're not tramps, officer. We're going to our son’s graduation.” right off the boat! —Jack. comicbooks.com