Life, 1910-05-05 · page 18 of 72
Life — May 5, 1910 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily an **advertisement** for Theatre Magazine's tenth-anniversary special issue, not a political cartoon or satirical piece. The page promotes two featured artworks: Sir Peter Lely's portrait of **Nell Gwynn** (mistress of King Charles II, famous English actress) and Nicolas Lancret's **"The Music Lesson."** Both are classical paintings being reproduced in color—presented as prestige content. The main draw is a promised letter from **Edwin Booth** (the famous 19th-century Shakespearean actor), offering his private opinions on celebrated performers of his era. The copy emphasizes this as historically significant and previously unpublished material. The page lists prominent **theatre contributors**—playwrights, actors, and critics of the era—to establish credibility and appeal to theatre enthusiasts. The tone is celebratory marketing: positioning this as a luxury publication (50 cents, or free with yearly subscription at $3.50) aimed at educated readers interested in theatre history and classical art.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ON SALE EVERYWHERE Special Gala Issue (Anniversary Number) of the THEATRE MAGAZINE To celebrate the beginning of our tenth year of publication, we offer our readers a magnificent souvenir number, an edition de luxe, containing notable literary features and nearly 100 pictures, many of which are full-page plates. In addition to the usual handsome cover executed in colors this exceptional number will contain Two Superb Masterpieces of Art EXQUISITELY REPRODUCED IN COLORS Sir Peter Lely's famous painting of Nell Gwynn, Nicholas Lancret's celebrated painting," The the celebrated English actress of Music Lesson,” the original of which 4s Charles I's day. now in the Loutre Museum, in Parts. The Contributors to this Gala Issue include some of our best known writers, dramatists, players and managers. Among others are : JAMES G. HUNEKER RUPERT HUGHES A. B. WALKLEY WILLIS STEELL EDWARD FALES COWARD ARLES HENRY MELTZER MRS. McKEE RANKIN JOHN MASON PH KLAUBER OTIS SKIN. LEONA RL LIEBLING A g rT EDGAR BEECHER BRONSON DAN FRO. N HEN HENRY MILLER CHARLES KLE ADA PATTERSON A Literary Feature of Almost Sensational Importance will be “EDWIN BOOTH’S OPINION OF THE FAMOUS PLAYERS OF HIS DAY.” This ts in the form of a private letter written by Mr. Booth to a personal friend. For thirty-five years it has been tn the possession of @ well-known journalist of thts city, and st came to him in a remarkable way. A fellow craftsman handed tt to him one night at a Bohemian dinner: “My boy," he said, “here is a letter of extraordinary histortc value. If published now it would cause bitter heartaches and enmities. I shall not live until it can safely and properly be published; you may. Treasure it until that time and then give to the world Edwin: Booth's private opinion of the foremost actors of his day.” TO THE THEATRE MAGAZINE HAS BEEN GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE OF PUBLISHING THIS REMARKABLE DOCUMENT, AND IT WILL APPEAR IN OUR FORTHCOMING ANNIVERSARY NUMBER. PRICE OF THIS SPECIAL ISSUE, 50 CENTS Readers of ‘‘Life’’ may secure it free of charge by subscribing for one year beginning with the June issue. Yearly subscription $3.50. THE THEATRE MAGAZINE, 20 West 33d Street, New York comicbooks.com