Life, 1919-05-22 · page 25 of 42
Life — May 22, 1919 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily a **theater guide and review column**, not a political cartoon. The single illustration shows a woman operating an early film camera—likely referencing the emerging motion picture industry of the 1920s. The text consists of two sections: 1. **Theater reviews** discussing Broadway productions like "It Happens to Everybody" and "The Lady in Red," analyzing their plots, casts, and commercial viability. 2. **"Confidential Guide"**—a satirical listing of current plays and movies with brief, often tongue-in-cheek descriptions (e.g., "Diverting characters moving laughably in the divorce business of Reno, Nevada"). The social context: This reflects post-WWI American entertainment culture, with references to the nascent film industry competing with live theater. The tone is satirical toward both mediums' formulaic plots and commercial motivations. The illustration symbolizes cinema's growing cultural presence, shown as a modern technology operated by a fashionable woman—suggesting entertainment's democratization and women's expanding roles.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
the picture to advertise his efforts in behalf of next-to-gs lines, The he-oine is impersonated by Ruth MacTammany—beat that nan. if you can, for a combination of Old Testament, an, and New York politics—who helps along in ice, as well as justifies her choice as the artist's he male cast Messrs, Tom Richards, Donald Mac. onal ©»! Franklyn Ardell have a good deal to do, and do it well, bein, vnusttally well assisted by four very capable young women are evidently recent graduates from the chorus, The wl erformance goes so smoothly as 10 show an ex- tended rience out of town. “The lady in Red” has the usual gorgeous staging, and to salize the summer hopes of its promoters. Or. & es oo ON om HE cose tenancy of all the other theatres compelled “ It Hayy. os to Everybody" to go to the Park for its opening. In an on!’nary season this might kill the chances of the play, for the Park is not suited to plays that make an in mpeal to their audiences. “It Happens to Everybody sort of cal melodrama, extravagant, laughable in line and situation, It employs some pretty well-worn material and characte lat these are held together and given new life by n origina! and ingenious plot. In a smaller theatre and at another ce of year “It Happens to Everybody ” might have aie ¢ Parra i CONFIDENTIAL GUIDE by Messrs. Shipman and Hymer, with Dramatic possibilities of Chinese-American life in San turesquely demonstrated Dark Rosaleen.” by Messrs odes laughably exploited, ast Is West, Hepenstall and Kane. ye ! “Our Pleasant Sins,” by Mr, Thomas Broadburst plscland interesting American drama of the domestic triangle Bi osed, 1 Love You,” by, Mr. Wm, Le Baron. Diverting comedy » the effect that propinquity makes love. 39 East.” by Rachel Crothers. The funny aspects of boarding-house life. fe." by Young and Friml. One of the cus onstrations of the powers of girls and music to amuse. and Contre) — Somebody's Sweetheart,” by Messrs, Price and Ba- funso. Nonette and ber fiddling featured in girl-and-music show. Ce fidnight solace for the not sleepy. i Coh 4 Yarris.—"* The Royal Vagabond.” Girl-and-music show { with | amount of vivacity. | Co Toby’s Bow,” by Mr. J. T. Foote. Well played comedy repro faithfully the Virginia atmosphere. The Better 'Ole," by Messrs. Bairnsfather and Eliot. ¢ British’ soldier dug out of the trenches. Three Wise Fools,” by Mr. Austin Strong. Showing r life in New York is not entirely dull and eventless “Up in Mabel’s Room." by Messrs, Collison and Har- verting dventures of a bit of embroidered under-apparel f laughable bedroom farce. “Dear Trutus,” by Sir J. M. Barrie, with Mr. William Amusing and fantastic character-study in comedy form, ahth Street. —"Coine-On Charlie.” by Mr. George V. Paughable faree based on'a medicinal dream rth Strect—" Take It From Me." by Messrs, Johnstone on, Light-weight but laughable girl and-music’ show “Please Get Married,” by Messrs. Cullen and Browne farce with a lot of fun, i “Lightnin’,” by Messrs. Winchell Smith and Fr con. Diverting characters moving laughably in the divorce busi- tess of Reno, Nevada. Glob. —* She's a Good Fellow,” by Kern and Caldwell. See above, Greessvich Village.—" Shakuntala,” Love drama of the Orient, “LIFE~ CONNECTED WITH OUR BEST FAMILIES Harris.—" Fires of Faith.” Movie of Salvation Army interest, Henry Miller's. —" Mis’ Nelly of N'Orleans.” by Laurence Eyre, with Mrs’ Fiske, Creole life in charm medy. fort Hudson.—" Friendly Enemies,” by pman and Hott man, with Messrs, Mann and Bernard, The predicament during the late ‘war of the American of German birth set forth in its humor and pathos. Longacre. “ Three Faces East.” by Mr. A. P, Kelly very interesting and well played. Lyceum.—" Daddies,” by Mr. John L. Hobble orphans softening the American bachelor heart in pleas played comedy Lyric" The Lady in Red.” by Winterberg and Caldwell. See Spy drama, French war and well Marine Elliott's —" Tea for Three,” by Mr. R. C. Megrue, Amer- ican society comedy, full of clever lines and very well staged. Morosco.— Pretty Soft,” adapted from the French by Mr, Paul M. Potter. Notice later Nora Bayes.—" Toot Sweet.” See above. Playhouse.—" Forever After,” by Mr. Owen Davi Brady. Sentimental drama of a very old school n touches of the late war. Plymouth.— The Jest.” by Benelli, with Mess Barrymore, Powerful costume drama, well st acted, Princess.—Closed. Republic —" The Woman ii Marcin, Crime and divorce welll played drama Selwyn —" Tumble In," by Rinehart and Hopwood, Funny and tuneful girtand-music version of “ Seven Days.” Shubert.—" Good Mors adge.” Pinero’s “The Magistrate * the basis of an up-to-date gi Jemusic show Thirty-ninth Street—" Come Along,” by Messrs. Dudley and Nel- son, Girl-and-music show with a war-time atmosphere. Vanderbilt—" A Little Journey,” by Rachel Crothers. Another dramatization of the humorous and sentimental possibilities of the sleeping-car. Winter Garden.—" Monte Cristo, Jr." The t, b. m. provided with a gorgeous portion of girland-music entertainment, Ziegfeld’s Frolic.—Cabaret vs, sleep, with cabaret winning. z with Alice je modern by nd Lionel admirably Roon comicbooks.com