Judge, 1925-04-18 · page 28 of 36
Judge — April 18, 1925 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains theatrical criticism and satirical cartoons about 1920s Broadway productions. **"Inquest" section:** A theater critic harshly reviews Ruth Chatterton's performance as Lady Babbie, a role famously played by legendary actress Maude Adams. The critic argues that while any actress *should* be allowed to attempt Adams' famous roles, Chatterton specifically lacks the necessary training and skill. The piece criticizes director Prof. Dr. Dean for importing European talent when American Theater Guild members could do better work. **Top cartoon:** A father and daughter discuss changing fashion standards—the daughter's modern attire shocks him, but she retorts that while her mother dressed more conservatively, look at the husband she "caught" (implying their marriage wasn't ideal). **"Hair Restorer" cartoon:** A satirical take on patent medicine quackery—a man tries drinking hair restorer after external application fails, humorously attributing his mental impressions to alcohol rather than the product's efficacy. The page reflects 1920s concerns about theatrical standards, generational fashion conflicts, and popular medical frauds.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ba Fiona Fatuer—Your mother never dressed the way you girls do to-day to catch a husband. Davouter—No, but look what she got! Inquest (Continued from page 17) Prof. Dr. Dean is brought over here to stage plays when the youngest usher at the Theater Guild could, unless I am a sour guesser, make a better job of the thing. The réle of Lady Babbie, originally acted in America by Maude Adams, is given over in the current revival to Ruth Chatterton. It was to be expected, of course, that the poor girl would come in for an awful lambasting by the newspaper re- viewers for presuming to play a réle that Maude Adams had once played and, sure enough, she got it. To read the reviews—and the same thing held true of the reviews of Marilyn Miller's Peter Pan—one would be led to believe that Maude Adams was an actress beside whom Duse looked like Bertha Broad. For, so far as the local reviewers go, it seems to be the rankest kind of sacrilege for any actress to so much as think of tackling an Adams rile. Yet if you think that, despite this, I am going to hoist a minority report in La Chatterton’s specific behalf, you are holding a copy of the wrong magazine in your hand, There is, so far as Tam concerned, no reason on earth why Ruth Chatterton or any other young woman should not play a Maude Adams réle if she has a mind to, but before she makes up her mind to she should learn some- thing about playing such a réle. This, Miss Chatterton has not done. It may be her own fault; it may be Dean's direction; it may be that Henry Miller, erstwhile the guiding star of the Chatterton histrionic talent, is no longer on deck. But whatever the reason, the fact. re- mains that pretty Miss Chatterton’s capabilities appear to have dropped many, many pegs since “La Ten- While never wholly free from affectation and artificiality, she now presents herself as completely affected and artificial as a dowager as a mechanical doll at a And, as a consequenc Barrie’s “Little Minister” takes a running jump down the coal chute. II Te new group of producing talents that gocs by the name of The Stagers, with headquarters in what generally resembles Captain Church- AG 4 , HAIR RESTORER External application not being effec- tire and the odor being somewhat reminiscent, Jones tries it internally. This external impression is only the resultant internal mental reaction due to alcohol content. ain comicbooks.com