Life, 1909-03-11 · page 17 of 36
Life — March 11, 1909 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains two distinct pieces of satire: **The Main Cartoon** ("Locomotion and the Close Fitting Skirt"): Shows a woman in fashionable dress being physically assisted by a man to walk—her tight skirt is so restrictive she cannot move freely. This mocks the impracticality and absurdity of early 1900s women's fashion, which prioritized appearance over function. The joke satirizes both the fashion industry's unreasonable demands on women and society's acceptance of clothing that literally immobilizes them. **"Notice of a Play—In About 1920"**: A humorous prediction that by 1920, theatrical scandals will have become so extreme that merely showing a woman *fully clothed* on stage will be shocking—the ultimate reversal of current trends toward less modest costumes. It satirizes both the theater's apparent race toward moral impropriety and the "Theatrical Trust's" cost-cutting measures (using the Garden of Eden set repeatedly). Both pieces critique early 20th-century culture: fashion's impracticality and theater's sensationalism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
AND THE CLOSE PITTING SKIRT Academy of Mi "he Man from Home.” na cleverness dem: Notice later, iam Hodge's person: strated in amusing comedy. ality and In ‘Belasco—~" The Fighting Hope.” Local and contemporary drama well played by Blanche Bates and excellent company, x Bijow—" A Gentleman from Mississippi.” Mr. Tom Wise and Mr. Douglass Fairbanks showing that there is almost as much fun as politics in, Washington life. 3 Empire—* What Every Woman Knows.” A Scotchman having delightful fan with the weaknesses of the Scotch. ‘arden—" Meyer and Son.” See opposite. Garrick—" The Patriot.” Flimsy comedy made funny by Mr. William Collicr. Hackett—Grace George in “A Woman's Way.” comedy, for the most part very well acted. Herald Square—" \ Woman of Impulse.” h Hippodrome—Ball circus and spectacle. therian. gybreedteay—" A Stubborn Cinderella." Ordinary musical com edy, : Casino—" Havana.” Tondon musical comedy with Mr. James T. Powers and the pretty “Hello, People” octette. fankirele—" The Queen of the Moulin Rouge.” farce. Criterion—Marie Doro in “The Richest Girl." Notice later, Daly's—Miss Julia Marlowe in “The Goddess of Reason.” ‘The Reign of Terror in tragic verse, | Well acted. = Hudson—" The Third Degree.” Interesting drama of New York life with Helen Ware's delightful impersonation of the heroine. Lyrie—"The Blue Mouse.” Mr, Fitch's laughable adaptation of German farce, Not for the young person. Majestic—" The Three Twins.” Diverting musical farce. Manhattan Opera Howse—Hammersteinesque grand ope Marine Elliott's Theatre—" This Woman and This Man. esting Most amusing Notice later. Gorgeous and mega- Vulgar musical Inter- drama well acted by Carlotta Nillson and good company. Two aspects of socialism graphically dis- cussed by M ton Lackaye and competent company Stuyvesant—" The Easiest. Way.” w York's vicious life graphically portrayed Weber’s—" The Girl from Rector's.” prurient-rainded, Wallack's—" The New Lady Bantock.” comedy by Mr. Jerome K. Jerome. Notice of a Play—In About 1920 HE house, it is almost needless to say, was crowded to its utmost capacity last night to witness the perform- ance of “Splash.” Something of the rumor that Madame Varden was to make a sensation, had spread abroad, and all were keyed up to the highest pitch of excitement. Madame Varden was to appear in the third act The scene of the play was, as usual, laid in the garden of Eden, The idea of having all plays laid in this spot, thus saving the expense of elaborate scenery, is due to the Theat- rical Trust. The first and second act passed off smoothly enough. It was upon conventional lines. The curtain rose on the third act. Then came the sensation. At first there was hush—the audience did not take in the full significance of the scene. Then came a murmur, rising louder and louder, until the whole audience went mad with excitement. The immorality of the thing was, of course, at once apparent. But it was all done so artistically that the effect was not revolting. There, in the centre of the stage, alone, stood Madame Varden—with clothes on! Savoy—* The Nattle. fr. Wi Stupid appeal to the very remarkable comicbooks.com