Life, 1901-03-28 · page 9 of 20
Life — March 28, 1901 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life's Hall of Fame - John Drew This page satirizes the superficiality of celebrity culture. The left column presents an interview with "John Drew," a matinee idol actor, examining what makes someone famous. The article mocks how Hall of Fame members are selected based on appearance and public persona rather than substance—mentioning that distinguished men like Richard Croker and Theodore Roosevelt are admired for trivial attributes (grooming, dental habits). The satire suggests celebrity admission depends on being "a handsome man" with proper dress and manner, not actual accomplishment. Drew himself admits his success comes partly from "wearing clothes" well. The two photographs on the right appear to show scenes from a theatrical production, supporting the text's focus on stage performance as the route to fame.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ Ah, who can tell how hard it is to climb The steep where Fame's prow temple shines afar? NLY those who have been there. Only those who have laughed and cried, have joyed and sorrowed, borrowed money and paid it back, scorned the critic’s de laugh, risen above dyspepsia and the reporters, and now, secure in their privilege, sit down in the lobby and watch for the next arrival. Lire's temple of fame is now getting a very respectable crowd. Yet there has heretofore been a strange lack, A handsome man was wanted A man who knew how to dress, who had a manner that you could pin down and talk about as if it were a real entity in itself. It is true that among those already admitted many have claims to that physical distinction which is the pride of mankind. Richard Croker can be seen in the rear hall every morning, trim- ming his whiskers with a hairbrush made of genuine tiger’s bristles. Teddy Roosevelt leaves his tecth in front of his door every mght to be burnished. Even Uncle Russell Sage puts patches on his cravat in the dog watches, and there is a notable desire to appear beautiful among all of the members of Lire's Hall of Fame. But to be beautiful without effort, to be born that way, what a grand thing that is to be blessed with! It may, therefore, be surmised that when the candidate whose examination is given herewith presented himself at the door, his admittance was a foregone conclusion. We needed him, and if at any moment he had attempted to get away, he would have been brought back : Exit L. Joun Drew. “Your name is— ? “ John Drew.”” “And your occupatio! “Matinée idol.” “But you are an actor also, are you not, Mr. Drew?” “Of course.”” “On or off the stage?” “ Both.” “ Are you fond of wearing clothes?” “Tam.” “ And being remarked upon as you pass ?”* “Well, yes.” “Mr. Drew, you have played many parts in your life. To what do you contribute your success 7" ~LIPE- 254 “To the fact that I never forgot m “What do you consider your prof an occupation?” “Both, It's an occupation when I’m on the stage and an art when I'm off.” “But surely, Mr. Drew, you lov stage?” “Oh, yes. Still, it doesn’t reqdire so much attention as it did. It isn’t so important, you know.” “Indeed. But why not’ “Well, I'ma star now. I can afford to be careless.’ “David Garrick wasn't, Mr. Drew. The greater his success the harder he worked.” “Ah, but vid Garrick was David Garrick, and I—I am John Drew.” «That will do, Mr. Drew. Pass right in.”” THE BOGY OF THE YELLOWSTONE. self.” sion to be—an art or your art, even on the “urAVENS! 1 6me MY FINISH!” “REALLY, (7 WAS 60 SILLY oF ME! noosevent.” 1 THOLGUT YoU WERE GovEKNon comichooks.coy