Life, 1911-06-01 · page 14 of 52
Life — June 1, 1911 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine piece satirizes New York's extravagant nightlife culture through a fictional "Wee Sma' Theatre" that operates exclusively during early morning hours (1 a.m. onwards). The satire mocks the wealthy elite's endless pursuit of entertainment and indulgence. The joke targets excess: the theater offers continuous programming from 1 a.m. through breakfast at 6 a.m., with expensive meals ($18 lunch, $11 breakfast), vaudeville, and a "Matutinal Revel" designed for those who've exhausted normal evening activities. The bottom cartoon, titled "Love's Labor Lost," depicts cherubs attempting to move an automobile laden with revelers—suggesting the futility and chaos of such hedonistic pursuits. The subtitle "One Way to Avoid Wedding Guests" implies wealthy New Yorkers would stay out all night rather than attend social obligations, satirizing both their selfishness and society's obsession with entertainment as escape.
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At three o'clock, when the first performance closes, there will be an intermission of one hour Those who are hungry, cither again or yet, m then be fed in the spacious auditorium, or, ii preferred, they may walk the streets or ta trips in hacks, cabs, taxis or other sea-goi craft. For the benefit of others who have + yet accustomed themselves to staying up a night or who have overestimated their drinkin capacity, or who for any reason may wish to r: tire, commodious and elegantly furnished apar ments may be engaged. Each apartment con- mands a full view of the stage. At four o'clock will begin a vaudeville per formance lasting one hour. At five o'clock sleepers will be awakened and all others will bh i collected from, for the final piece d'irresistance, \ the Matutinal Revel. This is something entirely new to New York, and is especially designed to renew the flagging spirits of the night's revellers and will furnish a splendid excuse for staying up to those who have hitherto been unable to find anything to do after four o'clock. It will also be appreciated by commuters who miss the last train. The Dewey, Tupp, Brown Co. have accumulated every possible stunt from all four quarters of the globe During the Matutinal Revel a light lunch will he served, price cighteen dollars without wine or free to wine purchasers. The Matutinal Revel will last until six o'clock, after which a regular breakfast will be served, either with or without Turkish bath. For this there will be no charge to wine purchasers. Th price to others will be eleven dollars, not includ ing a generous tip. For the present the Dewey, Tupp, Brown Co will have ro entertainment after seven o'clock in the morning. This leaves an uninteresting gap until the regular moving picture shows open at ten, but it is hoped that some enterprising manager will soon find a way to fill this gap suitably. Ellis O. Jones. ONE WAY TO AVOID THE WEDDING GUESTS Folies Wee Sma’ HE Dewey, Tupp, Brown Co. the- T atrical managers, have completed all arrangements for the opening next week of the Wee Sma’ Theatre in the heart of the White Light district. The theatre gets its name, not from its size, for it is very large, but from the fac! that it will be open during the early morning hours only. The performance, something absolutely new to New York, will consist of the usual number of hundreds of actors and accessories and will begin at one o'clock in the morning. This is intended to ac- commodate those who have attended other theatres and have had time to fin- ish their after-theatre suppers. “Love's LABOR LOST”