Life, 1908-09-17 · page 15 of 24
Life — September 17, 1908 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes early 1900s Broadway performers and productions through two caricatured figures representing theatrical stereotypes. **"The Show Girl"** mocks chorus performers hired purely for appearance despite having weak voices and minimal talent. She's depicted as intellectually vacant, playing "thinking parts" while relying on costume changes to distract audiences from her lack of actual ability. **"Plain Chorus"** features Miss Geraldine Ring, who represents the social-climbing ambitions of working-class performers. She brags about aristocratic connections (claiming her cousin is the Princess of Wales) while her background reveals poverty—her mother took in laundry and her father served prison time. The satire targets both the shallow theatrical industry that prioritizes looks over talent, and the pretensions of chorus girls seeking upward mobility through theatrical fame. The page also provides contemporary theater reviews, suggesting *Life* positioned itself as cultural arbiter critiquing New York's entertainment scene for its readers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
| Ud eal Sas Uplifters of the Drama THE SHOW GIRL Though her voice is so thin that you can’t hear a sound, It is restful to watch her just standing around: So she plays thinking parts—twenty-five per, exact— With some nine or ten changes of costume an act Academy of Music—" The Round-Up.” Western life in melo- dramatic form. Astor—" The Man from Home." Not a very strong nor jnter- esting comedy, exploiting Mr. Wm. Hodge as a star. Broadway—" Algeria.” See above. Casino— The Mimic World.” Burlesques of last season's theat- rical successes with musical comedy background. Empire—Mr. John Drew in “ Jack Straw.” | Notice later. Garden—The Savage-Stevens company in “The Devil.” Mr. Herford's version of the reigning theatrical sensation, Interesting. Herald Square—* The Three Twins.” Good company in amus- ing masical comedy. We.H1LC-08- PLAIN CHORUS The lady above is Miss Geraldine Ring, Who says in act second, “Oh, goils, here's the King!” Though Ma took in washing and Pa’s seen three jails, Her cousin, she says, is the Princess of Wales. . Hibpodrome—New bill of ballet, spectacle, and circus features. Notice later. Savoy—Carlotta Nillson in “Diana of Dobson's.” See above. Weber's id in Full.” Mr. Walter's cameolike study of New York middle-class life Belasco—The Fiske-Arliss company in The Devil." An usually fine performance of an unusual play “All for a Girl.” Very light and thoroughly amus comedy. Criterion—" Fluffy Ruffles.” Notice later. Daly’s.—" Girls.” Bachelor-girl life in New York from Mr, Clyde Fitch's point of view. Vivaciously written and played. Garrick—" The Mollusc” and “ The Likes o” Me." See above. Hackett—Last week of “The Witching Hour.” Mr, John Mason and competent company in the closing performances of the long run of Mr. Augustus Thomas's exposition of hic telepathic beliefs. Hudson—Mr. Robert Edeson in “The Call of the North." Inter+ esting and well presented drama of life in the Hudson Bay region. Lyric—Mary Mannering in “Glorious Betsy.” Notice later. comicbooks.com