Life, 1885-03-19 · page 11 of 16
Life — March 19, 1885 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Explanation of Life Magazine Page 165 This page combines theatre reviews with satirical commentary. The top cartoon labeled "Combination No. 6" shows two children on playground slides labeled "A NAIL" and "COMBINATION," likely satirizing theatrical performances or social situations—though the specific reference is unclear from the image alone. The text reviews stage productions, praising Henry Irving's artistic direction while critiquing ticket scalping ("obnoxious speculators"). A running joke mocks high ticket prices: scalpers charge $2 while box office seats cost $1.50. Lower sections contain brief satirical items: one jokes about Native Americans never laughing (referencing "Minnie Ha-Ha," likely a period theatrical character); another mocks an editor's column about "Minie-balls" (Civil War ammunition); the final scene ridicules pretentious "aesthetic" theatergoers using affected language about classical music. The satire targets class stratification, theatrical fraud, and affectation—common Life magazine targets of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
COMBINATION No. 6. trice is equalled only by her own; and Mr. Irving's Benedict , in which one can sit with some comfort, and a stage that is—well, if Mr. Irving could only manage to give us his conception of it without bringing in his own personality, the performance, as a whole, could not be surpassed. The stage setting of both performances was superb in every detail, and however much we may have been disappointed in portions of Mr. Irving's acting, we are compelled to admire him as an artistic stage manager. One never fails to learn something from his stage setting, and we have fully decided that however grotesque certain parts may seem, the fact that they are as they are, is proof of their being correct. “ The Merchant of Venice,” “ Twelfth Night,” and “ Louis XL,” filled out a most successful week. OBNOXIOUS SPECULATORS MAY BE HERE INTERVIEWED AS AT MR. WALLACK’S OTHER THEATRE. 300D SEATS MAY, HOWEVER, BE OBTAINED AT THE BOX OFFICE OR BY ADDRESSING THE MANAGEMENT BY LETTER, . . . HE “ Private Secretary " is still drawing crowded houses at the Madison Square, and there is every indication of its continuing to do so, This theatre has the immense ad- | vantage of being in itself a most satisfying resort, with chairs allows the audience to see the actors who are on it, And not only from their knees up, as is too often the case. The Secretary himself is an unusually good piece of acting. SEATS AT THIS THEATRE MAY BE PURCHASED FROM OBNOXIOUS SPECULATORS AT $2 EACH. POOR SEATS CAN BE OBTAINED AT THE BOX OFFICE AT THE REGULAR PRICE—$1.50. Box PopuLt.—Madison Square Garden Exhibitions. IT Is SAID THAT INDIANS Minnie Ha-Ha. EVER LAUGH —How about AN editor prints half a column headed “ Minie-balls.” It must be his first infant. When he has accumulated about nine, three columns at least will be required to express his. opinion. SCENE — Horse-car after Symphony Rehearsal. — 15¢ Asthetic Lady—* Was not the music simply inspiring ?” and Esthetic Lady—* Ah, yes, that concernata Baermann, played was ravishing.” comicbooks.com