Life Magazine – August 9, 1917 (# 1815) – Norman Rockwell

Description

Cover : Father bidding goodbye to his son, Father is in his formal military uniform, perhaps from the Spanish American war, Son is in his newly issued army uniform en route to Europe and WWI, “You can trust me, Dad,” art by Norman Rockwell. To my eye, the father looks more like a grandfather, but likely people just aged faster 100 years ago.

– Full page color ads for Coca-Cola (nice art of couple golfing, signed with D with an arrow through it – do YOU know this artist?), Ramses cigarettes (camel rider in front of pyramids, signature illegible), Pierce-Arrow Motor cars (art by Adolph Treidler, yellow car through arch).
– Full page black and white ad for White Rock mineral water.
– Half page ad for Resinol Soap with nice art by John LaGatta.
– Cute quarter page comic art by A. B. Walker, methods of fighting the Germans “For old but patriotic motorists,” the tire-pumpers’ liquid-fire battalion, plus the elderly golfers’ bomb brigade.
– Full page art or cartoon art by F. T. Richards (July), Ellison Hoover (Gott : German field marshall sitting in destroyed area drinking a mug of blood and iron), Harry Grant Dart (pertaining to prohibition, Whiskey telling other products not to be so cocky, they’ll be the target next), Charles Forbell (two pages : In ye goode olde days, ye week-ende arrival of ye too frequent visitor, Ye mydnyght serenade), Lexander Popini (1950 : You may fire when you’re ready, Myrtle … all female crew),
– Two page centerspread art by Charles Dana Gibson, “Toward morning,” German leader being presented with the lengthy bill as lady War sneaks away.
– Small photos of French war orphans : Paul Courtoudon (Baby 765), Marie Hourat (865), Charles Portier (194).
– Some current events include : America is at a pivotal point of the war; Hope that regular Germans will tip the war-makers out of power; The Russian confusion in the war; League to enforce peace; War losses will be grievous.
– “Louis Raemaekers says, “Of course it is impossible, but I believe it would be better for the world if the Germans – all the Germans – were exterminated.”
– And so much more!  Life humor magazines are great FUN – get ready to grin, giggle and guffaw!