Life, 1919-12-18 · page 18 of 56
Life — December 18, 1919 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the Metropolitan Opera's 1861 season announcements with absurdist humor. The left column mocks German opera's patriotic fervor (references to "Siegfried dragon" and "Lohengrin swan") during wartime, suggesting even opera mascots should "serve" or face internment—a jab at anti-German sentiment. The "Standard Repertory" section ridicules opera productions through exaggerated "improvements": adding chairs to *Barbiere*, performing *Lucia*'s sextette left-handed only, having Caruso perform percussion during *Pagliacci*, and culminating in absurd physical stunts during *Samson et Dalila* (catching cannonballs, lifting a 1,760-pound woman). The cartoons at right show children misbehaving at performances—one wanting to swear, another mentioning "Dad Mr Folliehasone too"—satirizing both audience conduct and wealthy patrons' indulgences. The final section mocks labor relations, joking that conductors are now guaranteed twelve-hour weeks with overtime pay—likely reflecting actual labor negotiations of the era. Overall: sophisticated satire targeting opera's pretensions, wartime anxieties, and working-class dignity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1012 filled their military obligations ; “ Serve ice, Bonds or Internment.” The Siegfried dragon and the Lo- hengrin swan will not perform this season, They will, however, be on view in the lobby in charge of a com- petent keeper, and may be fed peanuts, pfefferniisse and inflammable litera- ture. Bring the little on For purposes of better identifica tion, persons occupying seats in the Grand Tier will wear numbers. Names corresponding to numbers will be printed in each and every program or announced from the stage in the inter- missions, Stanparp Repertory The following additions and embel- lishments have been made to the Standard Repertory It Barbiere di Siviglia; has been aug- mented by three new chairs and a manicurist. Positively aseptic and ic. Acqui se habla Espanol, Lucia di Lammermoor; as an exhi- hition of increased virtuosity, the sex- tette will be sung with the left hand only. Pagliacci; M. Caruso will positively perform not only upon the bass drum, but upon the snare drum and traps. Out of courtesy to late-comers, the prologue will be sung in the middle of the second act. Tosca (La); in the last scene, U. M. C. cartridges will be used. A lyric tenor will be killed at each perform- ance. The precipitous dive of the un- fortunate heroine has been replaced by Breathes there the man with soul so dead Who never to himself hath said, “Is this my own, my native land?” “LIFE: Follies of 1861 Il you children yo away? | want toswear!!” a graceful parachute descension from the top of the Opera House. Samson ct Dalila; M. Caruso will not only push ov the temple of the Philistines with his bare hands, out will tear apart a heavy iron chain with his teeth, catch cannon balls on the back of his neck, and lift up Dalila—a guaranteed weight of seventeen hundred and sixty pounds, Noveties Besides those already men- tioned, the Management offers: “Blo right ahead Mister; dont mind us; our Dad Mr Folliehasone too!” The Young Visiters, by Daisy Ash- ford, aged nine; music by Annie Ash- ford, aged seven. Prologue .y James Barrie, who will explain anew why he isn’t the author. Geraldine Farrar will positively appear as Mr. Sal- teena, Conpuctors Acting under the advice of the American Federation of Labor, the Management has re-engaged its able corps of conductors and has assured them of a twelve-hour week with time and a half for overtime. A swell time is promised to all Henry William Hanemann. comicbooks.commny