Life, 1914-08-13 · page 8 of 40
Life — August 13, 1914 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical cartoon depicts a vaudeville theater scene with caricatured Black performers. The caption reads: "MADAM, PLEASE MOVE UP ONE SEAT, YOUR CHECK IS FOR NUMBER FIVE" / "SIR, I AM SITTING IN NUMBER FIVE NOW" The joke relies on racist stereotyping common to early 20th-century American entertainment. It appears to mock both the formality of theater seating protocols and, more offensively, presents exaggerated caricatures of Black performers and audience members for comedic effect. The cartoon reflects the era's segregated entertainment industry and casual racism embedded in mainstream publications. The humor depends entirely on dehumanizing caricature—a standard satirical approach in *Life* magazine during this period that modern audiences would recognize as offensive and discriminatory rather than clever.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
252 Life’s Fresh Air Fund Inclusive of 1913, Live's Fees Atx Fuso in operation twenty-seven years. In that time it has expended $145,183.64 and na fortnight in the country to 38.75 poor city children. The Fund is supported entirely by bequests and voluntary contributions, which are ac- knowledged in this column, Previously acknowledged ........ Mrs. D.S. McElroy, Jroit...: 10.00 M. H. Zachari 5.00 Dick and John Speer. 10.00 In memory of little 5.00 Le Grand Cannon 10.00 Madelaine, Russell j 15.00 10.00 5.00 15.00 “In memory of one faithful in eve relation of li 10.00 In memory of C. 8. E.veeeeeeess. 50.00 A. E. Harrison, ‘ s+ $.00 Anonymous .. . seeeeee 5.00 R. P. L. Bartow 6.00 Rev. and Mrs. W. arns. 10.00 Proceeds of playlet, “The Tables Turned”, conducted by Doris Bingham,” Ruth Kolbe, Catherine Jansen, | Emily Hotchkiss and atherine Hotchkiss +i 2,00 “In memory of H. P. Hl 100 Mrs. Alex. S. Porter, Jr. 10.00 Herbert and Irene Richardson... 10.00 Mrs. Ralph S, Hophins...... 15.00 Miss Peggy ceissseetes 10.00 Miss B. C. Crow . 6.00 Claire M. a 2.00 Mr. Smith . $.00 Fredk. Gross .- 3.00 A LOVE SEEN Dig Again TH Nippur tablet discovered in the museum of the University of Penn- sylvania dates from thirteen hundred years before the time of Moses, and is reported to show a clean victory over the story of the Fall and the Flood as set forth in the Book of Genesis. AT THE CONGO VAUDEVILLE Which is all very well, but what readers seem to want at this time is not a revised edition of Fall and Flood, but a literary discovery that will put the ten commandments out of busi- ness. All the apostles of recall would welcome such a find, whether dug out at Nippur, Philadelphia or Chicago. “MADAM, PLEASE MOVE UP ONE SEAT. YOUR CHECK IS FOR NUMBER FIVE” “sin, 1 AM SITTING IN NUMBER FIVE Now” ADA INS) De hk cree