Life Magazine – December 7, 1905 (# 1206) – CHRISTMAS

Description

Cover : Santa and his sleigh clipping the top of a tall building (the Flatiron Building 22 stories high, finished in 1902 and still standing in 2016) and spilling presents everywhere, art by William Balfour-Ker.

– CHRISTMAS NUMBER (fat issue).

– Full page color ads for Pierce Arrow (George N Pierce, nice art of the Great Arrow Victoria Tonneau), Olds Motor Works (Giving St. Nicholas a life with an Oldsmobile, art by Edward Penfield), Eastman Kodaks (art of family at Christmas tree, probably by Campbell).

– Full page black and white ads for Colt Patent Firearms (small pocket positive gun, .32 caliber, “can be operated only by the hand that holds it.”), Brownsville water crackers, Chickering and Sons pianos, White Rose glycerine soap (No. 4711), Rambler cars (no art), Ford Motor company (GREAT art of three cars : Model N, Model K, Model F.), Prudential insurance, Sorosis shoes (nice Christmas art), La Savoie Havana cigars (ordered by Waldorf-Astoria hotel).

– Some sample Christmas stories : The pathetic spinster story.

– Cute half page artwork by James Montgomery Flagg, “If Santa should oversleep,” hoards of children climbing over his bed holding empty stockings.

– Full page art or cartoon art by Charles Dana Gibson (By Jove, I’ve been fearfully short of money this week. Actually had to smoke the governor’s cigars), James Montgomery Flagg (A public nuisance, policeman arresting Santa), Henry Hutt (probably, but is unsigned : great art of Santa with bag full of tiny people that represent grown-up Christmas wishes such as babies, sweethearts, money),

– Two page centerspread art by William Balfour-Ker, “Nothing left,” Santa in the loft with two poor kids and an empty bag.

– A token : The millionaire’s wife “I’ll bet you didn’t pay over thirty thousand dollars for those diamonds.” The millionaire “Now, don’t be cross, dear. I thought I ought to bring you home something for Christmas.”

– And much more 1905   2Neat antique Life magazine content – cool!  … lots of car ads!