The Thrill of a Lifetime
Other dubious comics advertisements of miscellaneous character
Comic books have other dubious advertisements of miscellaneous character. I have examined and treated a number of youths after they had been arrested for prowling about trying to look in windows to see women undressing. Most of them were rather harmless and responded readily to common-sense forms of psychotherapy and guidance. One of them told me about "peeping Tom ads" in comics and other boys confirmed their suggestive significance. There are telescope ads, for example, offering:
Real power
and up-close clear view!
A 1,000 thrills are YOURS
with this powerful
imported telescope.
Enjoy life!
Bring some scenes so close you feel you can touch them!
Another advertisement, for binoculars:
You'll get the thrill of a lifetime when you take your first look through these powerful binoculars. It's positively amazing how well you can see . . . You'll be able to see people and wild life from a distance and watch what they're doing when they can't see you. Enjoy front row seats from way back!
Boys in New York, Boston or Chicago who buy these binoculars are well aware that there is no "wild life" on city streets. They also know what else these optical instruments can be used for. Some ads point this out:
Bring in distant people with amazing clarity and sharp detail . . . See without being seen . . . ($3.94)
In some ads it is especially pointed out that you can look into "neighbors' homes" and the illustrated telescope points to a half-nude girl.
Many "human relations ads" are not exactly helpful to juveniles. One is for a course for boys on getting along with girls:
It's Easy to Win Her! Women are funny - Put psychology to work. No more clumsy mistakes for you . . Don't be a Faux pas!
This last phrase would indicate that the retooling for illiteracy has made headway even among advertising copywriters!
There are courses for girls on how to handle boys, too:
Learn once and for all how to get along with MEN in this amazing handbook
Comic-book stories teach violence; the advertisements provide the weapons. The stories instill a wish to be a superman, the advertisements promise to supply the means for becoming one. Comic book heroines have super-figures; the comic book advertisements promise to develop them. The stories display the wounds; the advertisements supply the knives. The stories feature scantily clad girls; the advertisements outfit peeping Toms.