Life, 1905-05-11 · page 17 of 26
Life — May 11, 1905 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main illustration depicts **Janus**, the Roman two-faced god, presiding over a theatrical scene. This is a visual metaphor for the article's criticism of New York theater management—specifically appearing to target the **Hippodrome**, a major entertainment venue. The satire argues that theater owners are hypocritical (two-faced): they claim to support theatrical art and culture, but actually pursue only profit through crude, short-sighted methods. The article condemns their focus on money over artistry, their pandering to base instincts, and the resulting moral decline of theatrical productions. The text criticizes how managers neglect "artistic sense or aspirations" while pursuing the lowest common denominator to maximize attendance and revenue. By invoking Janus—the god of beginnings and endings, duality and transitions—the cartoonist suggests these theater operators represent a fundamental moral contradiction: institutions with potential for cultural good corrupted by pure commercialism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
* JANUS, THE TWO-FACED! A SUGGESTION POR A MURAL DECORATION IN THE NEW YORK 5 their one motive has been that_of immediate gain by the crudest and most short-sighted methods. They have had no thought either of the interests of theatrical art or of the theatrical profession, or of any- thing save the accumulation of money. But to achieve this end they are surely but slowly killing the goose that lays the golden eggs, by alienating the public on which they depend. Unhappily, the condition of the theatre—an institution which can nevenbe wholly suppressed—is a matter of the gravest public impor- tance, Whatever may be its powers for good—and its devout sup- porters believe that it ought to be and might be, as the embodiment of all the arts, one of the most potent educational influences in a well- organized state—there can be no question concerning its infinite potentialities for mischief. It is monstrous that in a country in the forefront of civilization it should be merely a speculative device for money-making. a com- merciabpander to the lower instincts of humanity. From year to year it is becoming more inane in its trivialities, more audacious in its indecencies, until a latter-day comedy is as unclean in spirit as some of the Restoration pieces. No other result could be expected from the directorate of a body of men, anxious only to please the majority, uninfluenced by artistic sense or aspirations, and quite unconscious of pubhe responsibility. VERY one is wondering how long the present crowded attendance at the Hippodrome can continue. Ever since that institution opened its doors, it has been packed to its utmost capac- ity day and evening, It is such a tre- mendous place that at first glance it would appear that before very long it must have used up the entire show- Going constituency of New York, as well as the show-goers among the vis- itors to the city. A brief calculation will demonstrate that it will be a long time yet before the Hippodrome need fear that it will have reached the total of its possible visitors, The big house seats fifty-five hundred persons. Up to the date of the present issue of Lire, it has been open just one month, Eleven thousand attendants a day, six days a week, would give a total of only a little over a quar- ter of a milion of persons, making no allowance at all for the large number who have gone more than once, The entercainment at the new place of amusement appeals to all classes and especially to the masses, It is enjoyable to the person of fashion or culture as well as tothe most newly-landed immigrant, who knows no language save the jargon of the East-side Ghetto or the Italian of Mulberry Street, Itap- peals to all ages, and to the lean as well as to the opulent purse. Therefore, it can draw on the entire population of New York and the surrounding territory, a population which runs up into two places of millions, Every visitor to New York is bound to see it, and this ele- ment is almost large enough to fill the house nightly. Even without a change of bill, it would seem that the Hippodrome might continue to be crowded for many months to come, but its managers are continu: ally introducing new features which call for another visit from those who have already seen the original performance: Hippodrome is, there seems to be no immediate danger of its exhaust- ing its possible and probable patronage. So that big as the Metcalfe. An Old Query Answered. ba HERE, oh, where, are the Hebrew children ? According to the latest enumeration, there are something more than three-quarters of a million of them on the island of Manhattan The Busy Baron. ISS STOCKSANBONS come in. Where is he? Mr. StockKsansBon' He has just had an interview with me; and at present he is in the library trying to figure out whether he loves you or not. I thought I saw the Baron comicbooks.com