Life, 1897-05-13 · page 3 of 20
Life — May 13, 1897 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Those Amazing Pastorals" - Life Magazine Satire This page satirizes theatrical producers and their pretensions. The title cartoon depicts two men in formal dress flanking ballet dancers, with dialogue about painting scenery and creating "something pretty good." The satire mocks the artificial spectacle of theatrical production—specifically pastorals (idealized rural plays popular in early 20th-century theater). The producers' self-congratulatory tone about hiring a "sign painter" to create elaborate sets ridicules how theater marketed simple or cheap productions as sophisticated art. Below, brief comedic exchanges about railroad stocks and "amazing" pastorals continue the mockery of men discussing trivial matters while pretending at sophistication. The cartoon suggests theater producers prioritized appearance and marketing over genuine artistic merit.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOLUME XxXIX ° L | k HF: NUMBER 751 “ALL RI “NO, ULL GET A ACK: Don’t you think that railroad HELD four girls—oh, glorious thrill ! DY: How soft the muscles of stock of Jones's was a good buy? Poker was nof the game; your arms are, Jim: Yes,a good-by tothe money But I sat in a cable car Duet: Yes, I haven't called ona invested. As round a curve we came. girl in two months.