Life, 1919-05-29 · page 15 of 42
Life — May 29, 1919 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Cartoon ("Forgotten Heroes"):** Shows a beach scene where early movie pioneers are being honored. The caption reads "He volunteered to be the first to taste an oyster"—a humorous reference to silent film stunt work, where actors performed dangerous, unglamorous tasks for minimal pay. **"Diary of a Movie Baby":** A satirical column documenting a child actor's grueling week: falling off cliffs, being attacked by trained lions, working twelve-hour days with minimal food. The satirist mocks both exploitative studio practices and the public's indifference to child performer welfare—a genuine concern in 1920s Hollywood. **Bottom strip ("The Ages"):** Fashion illustration showing different styles across eras. **"The Cherry" section:** A brief Prohibition-era joke about alcohol baths replacing alcoholic drinks.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HE VOLUNTERRED TO Re THE Diary of a Movie Baby Mexpas Lowered off a four- hundred-foot cliff this morning in basket. Rather enjoyed view. ked by a moth-eaten lion in the iernoon, Shared a dog biscuit with » later. lurspay Seemed grateful. Brought in to another y. Lying in a heaped-up I by a couple of fake doc- clergyman. gets on And I'm always abou. four camouflaged ceaseless mother stunt nerve FORGOTTEN HEROES FIRST TO TASTE AN OYSTER Weonespay Deathbed this ing. Two bad actors got a lot of cheap morning under gray glass. Had to be amusement. hy done over twice, as the deceased called aloud for a cigarette at the wrong mo- ment. O boy! Tuvrspay: Rescued froma lake by of a “hero” who imitated Charlie Chap- rake: lin. And the only nourishment [ got agement scene holding me over the side. And yoggles on! Sunpay yent an hour at home 1 was hungry with my real family, including a bunch relatives who were looking for a ff from the proceeds of my en- Back to the movies for me! was a pond lily! Franay: My folks must be hard up worked me twelve hours to-day. ng with puppies in a tenement HE CHERRY (to the ctpple): When Prohibition comes you won't be squeezed any more Tur Appin: And you won't have any more alcohol baths I'm going to strike for a minimum and six hours. Sateroay: Up ina plane this morn- p )