Life, 1918-10-03 · page 21 of 34
Life — October 3, 1918 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains theater reviews and a single illustration titled "Please Read It Aloud." The sketch depicts a woman reading aloud to a man seated beside her—likely a domestic scene meant to gently satirize leisure activities or courtship rituals of the era. The accompanying text criticizes a play called "The Walk-Offs," arguing that New York dramatists remove women's clothing from scenes but then compound the offense by having characters discuss it explicitly. The critic suggests this represents not authentic high society behavior but rather the stupid vulgarity of a lower social circle trying to infiltrate respectable circles. The review reflects period anxieties about theatrical morality and New York's reputation, particularly concerns about how such depictions might be received by "credulous" audiences in the Midwest. The page primarily consists of capsule reviews of Broadway productions from around 1918.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
r latest dramatic chapter called “ The Walk-Otts,” New rk can give the ancient cities of the plain cards, spades and and little casino in the game of silly vice. And these thors do not make their points nicely. When they remove ost of the wearing apparel from one of their you women iracters, they are not content to let the exposure speak for seli, but they also make her talk about it. They have more slcheacy at the Winter Garden, In a numerous cast Carroll McComas archly plays the tharina in a clumsy paraphrase of a scene from “ The irew,” Fania Marinoft realizes perfectly: an imported type ot admitted to terms of equality even in lax circles, and Mr. iliam Roselle makes amusing a dipsomaniac who would not © tolerated even in a retreat for inebriates. It is to be hoped that “ The Walk-Offs” will not go on the ud. In the Middle West and other credulous sections New York's reputation is none too good already, and it would not improved if the Hattons were taken as honesttogawd Iramatists. It may be that there are in New York as viciously ulgar people as are here depicte But they do not form a ircle of society. And they are quite stupid enough to move in the very best circles Metcalfe, | ON SUIT TIAL Ahi g, GUIDE by Business ‘© made diverting in agreeably played light comedy. Retasco.—* Daddies.” by Mr. John L. Hobble, Delightfully staged comedy with a bit of pathos connected with the French war orphans. I acted comedy of Chicago low life, tch Your Neighbor.” by Messrs. Gordon and A humorous clement lightening up an interesting spy d Broadhvrst-—" Mayti by Young and Romberg. sriginal and well presented 1 play —" The Maid Mountains.” Triga: Jon, Tuneful Isomely staged Century. —" Sintad ” with Mr, AL, Jotson as the fe Having graduated from the Winter Garden ove—Midnight cabaret. shan— Head Over Hee! i as the star, Aw nd Harris.—" Three Thrilling spy-drama, very well ac Comedy.—" An Tdeat Husha * Fiddlers and. mel The Awakenin; Finpire.—* TI Mr. Cyril Maude. Forty-fourth Bradley and Mr. George Bro: The latter in’a g t iustry in Reno. Globe.—Mr oi i ut into play forr Mr EE Kose. the Look successfully transf t) the stage Hitpodrome.—" Everything, any surprisingly big features. Hudson." Friendly Enemies Q and Te h Messrs, Mann and Rernard 1 pathos of the prese licament of the American of C birth, Knickerbocker." Someone in the House,” by Messrs, Evar cival and Kaufman, See above. Liberty." Going U Adventures of made laughable in tuneful musical play Lonaacre,—Closedl cum.—Mr. Otis Skinner in “ Unmpty Dumpty. by Me. 1 A. Excellent acting of a comedy very Rritish and not re ably clever. Lyric. —" The Unknown Purple.” by Messes. West Moore. Melodrama of retribution, Complicated, but original and well done Typical Hippo show without Mankattan.-—Return of “The W rectacular play ver sion of the parable of the prodigal so Maxine Elliott's." Tea for Three Mr. R. C. Megruc. above. Morosco,— One of Us.” by the Hattons. Sce above. Park.—Repertory Singers. Notice late Playhouse.—" She Walked in Her Sleep.” by Mr. Mark Swan. Farcical comedy, very slender and somewhat amusir Awakening” with Mr, John Barrymore. era comique by the Society of American Princess —" Jonathan Makes a Wi Mr. Stuart Walker Rather idyllic but well staged roma: “Where Poppies mn” jorie - Rambean na with France its scene and the ongly de Sclweyn,—" Information, Please.” by Jane Cowl and Jane Murfi with the former as the star. Notice later Shubert, —Closed Thirty-ninth Street.—Closed. Winter Garden.—" Passing Show of 1018. to lull the tb. mu Zicgfeld’s Frotic.—Midnight cabaret. More luxurious enter: comicbooks.com