Life, 1920-06-10 · page 12 of 44
Life — June 10, 1920 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct pieces: 1. **"From the Diary of Mortimer Minch"** — A satirical diary column documenting a film director's weekly frustrations. It mocks Hollywood production, including removing minor characters from scripts, managing difficult actors, and studio politics surrounding films like "Oliver Twist." 2. **"The New Woman"** — A brief satirical dialogue between a mother and her daughter Bessie, who recently attended a birthday party. The joke hinges on generational conflict: modern girls (the "New Woman") behave differently than their mothers did, with Bessie casually mentioning slapping another girl rather than conforming to expected ladylike behavior. 3. **"Sir Walter Raleigh (Modern Version)"** — A cartoon depicting Raleigh in a car wreck instead of his historical gallant gesture, satirizing how modern versions trivialize historical romance. The overall theme critiques contemporary social changes and modern behavior.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“WELL, ANYWAY, SINCE MOTHER AND THE GIRLS GOT INTO SOCIETY, I CERTAINLY HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT SOLITAIRE” From the Diary of Mortimer Minch The New Woman The Dream Child of the Screen ITTLE Bessie had just returned from a birthday part: ONDAY—Celebrated my seventh birthday. Employees at was telling the family what a nice time she had had. studio, who love me dearly, gave me a twenty-pound box ing: “ But Virginia didn’t want me at all.” of candy with message, t all of it.” My mother took Her Motuer: How do you know Virginia didn’t want candy away to have it analyzed. Some admirer, not know- you? ing my address, sent my director a loaded revolver with Bessie: She told me so herself. pretty card reading, “ For Mortimer Minch.” Morner: WI Bessie, you ought to have come right Tuespay—Expect to begin work on my new million-dollar pic- straight home! is what I should have done when I was ture, “Oliver Twist,” to-morrow. Fired my Kansas, Utah — @ little girl. and South Carolina press agents to-day. Not a word about Brsste: But, mother, times have changed since you were a birthday celebration in papers in their states. little girl. I just slapped her in the face—and stayed. Wepxespay—Started work on “Oliver Twist” to-day. Was obliged to call down Stevens, my director. He doesn’t realize that minor characters of Bill Sykes and Nancy de- tract too much from interest in story. Have ordered them removed from script. Tuurspay—Work held up again for removal of Fagin, a minor character, from script. Had to call down Stevens again. Caught him fondling my revolver when he should have been working. Frinay—Have just seen first of new posters for “ Oliver Twist.” Shows scene where I save minor character from arrest by keeping police at bay. Hundred thousand dollars to be used exploiting new catch-line: “Mortimer Minch, the Boy with a Million Friends.” Saturpay—Stevens has held up the picture again. Committed SIR WALTER RALEIGH suicide this morning. (MODERN VERSION) comicbooks.com