Life, 1917-12-13 · page 23 of 40
Life — December 13, 1917 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon depicts a theatrical performance titled "Amateur Night," showing performers on stage above and an audience below. The top figures appear to be actors in various costume pieces - the leftmost figure is labeled "Father Christmas" (suggesting holiday-themed entertainment), while other performers display different theatrical poses and props. The accompanying article discusses Philip Moeller's stage adaptation of episodes from George Sand's life, organized as a three-act play. The satire targets the theatrical world of 1917, mocking amateur theatrical productions and their often-awkward execution. The "Amateur Night" framing suggests these are inexperienced performers, likely satirizing New York's entertainment scene's quality issues or pretensions. The text references Mrs. Fiske (a notable actress) and various theatrical venues, indicating this is period theater criticism. The cartoon humorously contrasts the performers' earnest (if clumsy) efforts with the audience's skeptical reactions below, capturing contemporary attitudes toward amateur versus professional theater.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
costumes (not No high- uence is permitted to mar the cn- York was starving for Here it is. anci ©) and scenic eficets, jc show. Deen PHILIP MOELLER has taken e of the episodes of the life of ¢ Sand and arranged them al three-act form of the certain amount cters, in M conventior He has allotted rsation to the nes of made a play, bui fe clever 1 own, He he has achieved of permitting Mrs dy whose fe c. sense a dramatic k of “The Very Td product made. th d laughable farce 1 staged and with ttractive in the leading part. Odds and Ends of 1917." See on the Well AMATEUR NIGHT accomplishment. er of cos- al the nd period, with greater or less suc make-up, to which are tte names of celebrities of the Of course we have the masculine attire and the cigar of the woman writer and a rather unconvi : illustration of er method of changing her lovers. Mrs. s for herself a success of curi- She proximation of Geo: ke gai osity—no_ more. ves us an hint of her briiliancy stion of ney towards her lovers. st have do do, all that any- Probably all that they i one could do.in the mstances, It remains for Mrs, Fiske's foll all public that knows and to do ended to in four new playlet Cort — Harold Cha; Criterion.—Mrs, Fiske in“ Ma by Mr. Philip Moeller. See above Eltinge, — * Business Before Pleasure.” Messrs. Potash and Perlmutter continue th jaugh-making business ventures, this producing moving pictures ward Childs Carpenter Gatety.—"* The Co Tooth Tarkington more we have it dem: that virtue d vice in the city * with Mr Julian Street. Once is to be found of Lantern Fred nd for the funimaking abilities of the star. Harris. "The } “Losing E by cleverly acted farcical Cheer Up.” and vaudeville in by Mr. Ed Donald good Wid —"The Land of J