Life, 1921-03-10 · page 23 of 36
Life — March 10, 1921 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**The Cartoon:** Shows a working-class chauffeur meeting his employer's aunt. The caption reveals he was given only a vague physical description ("a good description") of her, implying he couldn't distinguish her from other people—a joke about either her unremarkable appearance or the class invisibility of servants who don't truly "see" their employers' social circle. **The Lower Content:** The bulk of the page satirizes early silent film industry conventions through mock "Rules and By-Laws." These parody the rigid, formulaic requirements studios imposed on movies—slapstick rules (custard pies, babies for sentiment), risqué content (bathing scenes), and absurdly literal titling for illiterate audiences. The final "Had to End" joke captures period cynicism: even a "perfect day" is bearable only because it will eventually end. **Context:** This mocks both rigid movie-industry standards and broader period attitudes about class, literacy, and entertainment formulas.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
March 10 WW S\ Y { i] A OLeveeme se The New Chauffeur: 13 THIS MRS, AMBLEGY, THE BOSS’s AUNT, MUM? “THE MISSUS GIVE ME A GOOD DESCRIPTION AV YE, MUM.” Excerpts from Rules and By-Laws of Movie Profession EC. 132. When hero is seated at desk, working, and heroine approaches stealthily behind him and covers his eyes with her lily-white hands, said hero must register ignorance of her identity, and must, upon removal of said lily-whites, rise up and plant kiss on lips of said heroine. Src, 249. In farce comedy, when a custard pie is hurled at the person of the leading man, said leading man must lower himself slightly to allow pie to pass over his head. There must, however, be someone's face directly behind leading man to receive the pie, and face of heroine's grouchy male parent is recommended, but not prescribed. Ste 418. In case film drama lags in story, it is advised to everal scenes of someone's baby either in the throes of sorrow or playing with a large dog. This is purely to furnish the clement of human interest. If baby, dog or throes of sorrow are not available, heroine must be shown taking a bath as discreetly as possible. This also is to furnish the element of human interest, but not purely. 562. In flashing letters and titles on the screen, pro- ducers must allow ten seconds for each word thereof. This will permit the literate members of the optience to read aloud the written matter slowly and distinctly, and add to the enjoyment of the picture by the illiterates who make up a majority of said optience. Sec. 810. The only authorized action to announce the stork’s expected advent is as follows: Married lady (this is denoted by golden curls and expression of premature wisdom) discovered sewing baby clothes; husband enters, and she attempts to hide them; husband sees the movement and brings them forth; title: “Then it’s true that—?"; wife nods with downcast eyes and gentle smile; husband kisses her tenderly; he exits jovially, Any infraction renders director. liable to dismissal from the pro- fession. . Had to End “YOU admit that it’s been a perfect day, don’t you?” in- quired the optimist. “Yes,” admitted the pessimist, “ but thank God it’s over with!” comicbooks.com