Life, 1921-04-28 · page 21 of 36
Life — April 28, 1921 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine is primarily a theater review section called "Confidential Guide," featuring reviews of Broadway productions and entertainments. The central cartoon depicts **Charles Gilpin in "The Emperor Jones,"** as labeled. Gilpin was a groundbreaking African American actor; this 1921 play by Eugene O'Neill was a landmark work featuring a Black protagonist. The caricature's exaggerated features reflect the racist artistic conventions of the era, though the review itself appears straightforward. The surrounding text lists theater reviews with the magazine's characteristic satirical commentary. Critic Robert C. Benchley humorously notes that one production was so hastily assembled that management "had to go about among its friends asking for volunteers who could speak pieces, or do little steps—anything to fill up the evening." The reviews mock various shows' quality and artistic choices with dry wit typical of *Life*'s cultural criticism, ranging from serious drama to light comedies and musicals popular with 1920s audiences.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
yistress. Classic Revue. Opera Comedy and Dance, with vottice Howell and Mario Carboni (Boy Baritone).” Evidently just at the last minute the ferry-boat was sunk nd the management had to go about among its friends asking or volunteers who could speak pieces, or do little steps—any- thing to fill up the evening. This performance, together with 609 At any rate, the evening was filled up. “Survival of the Fittest,” which preceded it at the Greenwich Village Theatre, gives that pleasure-palace the right to be known henceforth as the Old Curiosity Shop, Robert C, Benchley. to the time it takes to print Live, hould verify from the daily news- © continuance of the attractions at res mentioned, More or Less Serious “Dear Me.” please. “The First Bat." Morosco—Murder mystery n st degree. Frank Craven, de Lune.” Empire—To be re- xt week. : vrau.” Belasco—A poetic drama, 2nd here it is. chiefly in its production, with (will playing the réle of the famous Emperor Jones.” Princess.—Sheer wertully portrayed by Charles Gilpin, Green Goddess.” Booth.—George na highly polished melodrama lirty work in the Himalayas. the Night Watch.” Century. — The avy on location for a spectacular and a ward-room “ Lightnin’ sinkin: mess. “Li ” Garrick.—To be reviewed later. “Mary Stuart.” Ritz. —A_ historical fragment water showing a cross-section of the il life of Mary, of Scots. Lulu Bett.’” —The kind of have always without realizing on the stage for time. mesis.” Hudson— ¢ melodrama of the finger-print, show- sat Bertillon forgot mance.” Playhouse. > Keane in the same success. she started out with five years ago. Shakespearean Repere toire. Broadhurst—Walter | Hamplen’s annual season. Spanish Love.” Maz- Fi/ott's—Courtship in Spain, where every- taken very heav nooth as Silk. —Reviewed in this | Fre. | issuc Comedy and Things | Like That e Bad Man.” Com- ~ Holbrook Blinn ¢ in charming fash- vhat the Mexican needs. ne Broken Wing.” Eighth St—Popular ents (airplanes, rvice and amnesia) 1 together in the ° way. he Champion.” Long- Grant Mitchell sav- heavy-handed com- ll of never-failing Republic.—Five “Enter Madame.” rendering of a delightful light comedy. Year.” events made into a highly amusing play by Fulton—An_ artistic “The Ghost Between.” Thirty-Ninth. St. —Something went wrong with a good idea “The Gold Diggers.” Lyc in,a comedy of chorus-gitl life. iste ‘Ladies’ Night.” Eltinge show you slink out from. Gaiety—Frank Bacon in a revival of the old favorite. Saturday night and was revived Monday.) “Little Old New York.” Costume play of considerable charm dealing with famous New Yorkers of 1810, lumps, “Mr. Pim Passes By.” Henry Miller— English comedy, very mild and very pleasant, Little, — Everyday younger set “Nice People.” Ki pression of distress at “Peg o’ My Heart.” An interesting ex- conduct of our Cort.—Laurette Taylor back again. —Ina Claire w The kind of Atold Daly Amusing com (It stopped last Plymouth— _,“ Toto.” CHARLES GILPIN IN “THE EMPEROR JONES.” “Rollo’s Wild Oat.” Roland Young as an amateur Hamlet, in delicious nothing “The Tavern. nd Judy — Punch by Clare Kummer. George Cohan.— a burlesque on romantic drama which marks a new era in the theatre. Three Live Ghosts.” dy dealing with the unexpected return of three war veterans. Bijou.—Leo Ditrichstein in one of those French things. “Welcome Stranger. Nora Bayes — Sam H. Harris— Jew ‘versus Yankee in a Six-day race-prejudice Eye and Ear Entertain- ment “The Century Midnight Rounders.” Century Roof. —A good way not to spend the time between 11:30 pot. and 24. M “Good Times.” Hip- podrome. — A great big show. Last week “Irene.” Vanderbilt — It's a very nice musical comedy, but, frankly, 1 one that you would e pect to break all records as it has done. “Love Birds.” Apollo. —Rooney and Bent cap- italizing their vaudeville popularity “June Love.” Knicker- bocker.—To be reviewed later. “Passing Show of 192 Winter Garden. — Several things that are good mixed in with much that’ is awful “The Right Girl.” Times Square. — When you've seen one, you've seen them all, “The Rose Girl.” Am- bassador—It’s a new the- atre, at any rate “Sally.” New Amster- dam,— Marilynn — Miller and Leon Errol in just about the best musical show in town. “Tip Top." Globe. — An excellent evening's en ent, what with Stone, the Six Brown Brothers and the Duncan Sisters. comicbooks.com