Life, 1921-12-29 · page 21 of 35
Life — December 29, 1921 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is a **theater review column** from Life magazine, not a political cartoon. It provides brief critical assessments of Broadway shows currently running. The reviews span musicals ("Bombo" with Al Jolson, "Blossom Time"), comedies ("The Circle," "Six-Cylinder Love"), and serious dramas ("Anna Christie," "Liliom"). Reviews are sardonic but straightforward—praising strong productions and mocking weak ones. The illustration on the right depicts a decorative chandelier or stage prop labeled "Ring," showing ornamental design elements typical of theater set decoration. **Context for modern readers:** This represents early 1920s Broadway, when Life functioned as a cultural guide for educated, theater-going audiences. The column assumes readers attend live theater regularly and need quick verdicts on what's worth seeing—a function now served by online reviews.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Owing to the time it takes to print Lire, readers should verify from the daily news- papers the continuance of the attractions at the theatres mentioned. More or Less Serious Ambush. Belmont.—The tragedy of a Jersey clerk's ideals, effectively done. Anna Christie. Vanderbilt.—Splendid acting ine Lord in a Eugene O'Neill play of the omit. Bat. Morosco—Crime galore, « for the holidays. Bill of Divorcement. Times Square—A ful play speaking a good word for the new Just the Bought and Paid For. Playhouse.—Reviewed in this issue, Claw. Broadhurst—Lionel Barrymore at st in a French moral disintegration play. The Empire.—A thriller for wil vhich begins badly but ends bre ". The Green Goddess. Booth.—A great many old melodramatic tricks made to seem new by George Arliss and an excellent production. The Hand of the Potter. Provincetown.—To be viewed next week. The Idle Inn. Plymouth—To be reviewed next week. Liliom. Fulton.—This study of a roughneck still remains the most distinctive play in New York. Varying Shore. Hudson—An old and at nteresting account of the trials of a re finel abandoned woman, with Elsie Ferguson to inake it even more refined. The Wandering Jew. Knickerbocker.—Elab- orate spectacle with one scene that you should wake up to see. Comedy and Things Like That Alias JimmyValentine. this issue. Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife. bed-time story about Ina Claire. The Circle. Selwyn.—Sophisticated drama of the highest grade, acted by a cast including John Drew and Mrs. Leslie Carter. Duley. Frazee-—Lynn Fontanne as the de- lightful_lady-conversationalist who tries to help husband in his business. The First Year. Little—Now in its second year of legitimate laugh-making, The Grand Duke. Lyceum.—French comedy f the bon mot school, with Lionel Atwill pouring. The Great Broxopp. Punch and Judy.—Ex- tremely British comedy, nice in spots. The Intimate Strangers. Henry Miller— Billie Burke in a pleasant little thing by Booth Tarkington. Just Married. Nora Bayes.—It would be just ordinary bed-room farce without Lynne Over- nan and Vivian Martin. Kiki. Belasco.—Lenore Ulric in a tremendous- ly appealing character sketch of a Parisian cocotte, Lilies of the Field. Klaw.—The play itself i-n't much but some of the kept women are rath- & nice. ‘ Gaiety.—Reviewed in Ritz—A French The Mountain Man. Maxine © reviewed next week. Nature’s Nobleman. Forty-Eighth St—Louis Mann in just about as bad as there is. Six-Cylinder Love. Sam Harris.—June Walk- cr is now back in the cast with Ernest Truex in highly satisfying comedy of suburban auto- vobiling. Thank You. Longacre—A good word for the homely virtues and more pay for ministers. Elliott’s. —To The Wife With a Smile. Garrick—The con- stant flourishing of a loaded revolver made this rather precarious comedy, even before it was translated from the French, Arnold Daly and Blanche Yurka help it, however. ye and Ear Entertainment Bombo. Jolson’s Fift: funny anyway. Vinth—Al Jolson is Blossom Time. Ambassador—Some real music for those who still like it, The Chocolate Soldier. in this issue. Get Together. Hippodrome.—What the chil- dren come home from school for. Good Morning, Dearie. Globe.—A musical comedy of the sure-Uit type. Century.—Reviewed regular Greenwich Village Follies. Shubert—A beau- tiful spectacle and once in a while funny. The Music Box Revue. Music Box.—Expen sive but worth it, when you consider William Collier, Florence "Moore, Sam Bernard and a dozen other headliners. The O'Brien Girl. deed. The Perfect Fool. George M. Cohan’s.—Ideal entertainment for Ed. Wynn fans (and who isn’t one?). Sally. New Amsterdam.—During the Christ- mas slump the standing-room patronage of t! show fell off somewhat. Shuffle Along. Sixty-Third St—Entertainment every minute from a company of Negro singers and dancers. Tangerine. through. Liberty.—Very nice in- Casino.—Julia Sanderson smilin’ INTIMATE GLIMPSES OF AMERICAN GENERALS OF INDUSTRY No. 17. Major Noble adopts the Life Saver motif for his drawing room comicbooks.com