Life, 1905-07-13 · page 16 of 26
Life — July 13, 1905 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes theatrical producer Mr. Blohmann's grandiose plans for the upcoming season. The top cartoon shows two caricatured figures (likely representing Blohmann and a colleague) surrounded by a chaotic crowd of theatrical performers and characters. The satire targets Blohmann's pretentious strategy: he imports cheap European "obscene" French farces and sensationalized Zola adaptations while claiming to preserve Shakespeare's dignity through a "Taming of the Shrew" operatic adaptation. The joke is his obvious hypocrisy—he dismisses American playwrights like "Mr. Snitch" (needing overly sensational plots) while importing tawdry continental productions. The second item, "Incredible," is a brief satirical aside about the Equitable Building meeting, suggesting wealthy gentlemen (Schiff and Bliss) wouldn't engage in physical violence over financial stakes—implying they're too refined or cowardly. The overall tone mocks theatrical pretension and the importing of foreign "trash" while claiming artistic merit.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
», THE RETURN OF The Outlook. HEN asked concerning his plans for next season, Mr. Blohmann y that the outlook for a prosperous theatrical season was never brighter. As you know, I have just returned from Europe, where I was fortunate enough to secure man the current successes of the old wor Among these I may mention ‘Ob- scenit. a rare French farce, which will be produ and wit characteristic of these ir portations. I have also arranged for a dramatization of one of Zola’s novels, and am negotiating with a number of the Parisian playwrights. . ly in the fall I will bring the original production of a sprightly musical comedy which has scored a tremendous s in London, from the pens of Messrs, Blankton, Clitherve, Standish, Hoode, Wellesby, Frump and Montag e sthis, I have closed con- n of English composers, tists and lyricists for the conversion of ‘The Taming n€ the Shrew’ into a light opera, Radical changes will, THE TAINTED, of course, have to be made, but several of the original will be preserved almost intact, and thus the of Shakespeare will not be lost. A noteworthy production will be Mr. Erpino’s latest masterpiece, ‘The Licentious Lord Lovel,’ which has made all England Productions of two other re English comedy successes will be made, including the fanciful‘ Little-Mary-S and I have con- tracts with se British playw! for original plays as vehicles for my stars on this sid “And how about the Ameri mann?” he was asked. ‘* Will you give him a chance?” “Oh, yes, indeed,” returned the eminent manager. “Mr. Snitch is to write me a society play as soon as he can think of a situation sufiiciently outré for the third act, and Mr, Adolphus Thumpus has dramatized two States, a Ter- ritory and the science of taxidermy for me." Arthur Pratt. an playwright, Mr. Bloh- Incredible. do not credit the report that the reason the per- sonal difference between Mr. Jacob Schiff and Mr, at the Equitable mecting of June 2, did physical issue, was because of reluctance Cornelius Blis: not come to on the part of both gentlemen to trust any gentleman present with the stakes.