Life, 1923-01-25 · page 10 of 36
Life — January 25, 1923 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece mocks theatrical censorship of Shakespeare's *Othello*. The cartoon depicts a street market scene where two women converse; the accompanying dialogue suggests casual, mundane social interaction has replaced dramatic performance. The title's wordplay—"Make Othello Glad" (a foolish whim)—suggests that removing *Othello* from the stage would please no one of taste. The sketch appears to reference contemporary debates about performing Shakespeare's tragedy, likely due to its themes involving a Black protagonist and interracial marriage, which proved controversial in early 20th-century American society. The subsequent script excerpt shows characters named Primm, Bill, Dowsy, and Wyss debating theatrical merit versus propriety, satirizing the tension between artistic freedom and social censorship of classic works.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
lah “Well, well, if it isn’t you, Mrs. Hennessy! And how have you been all this time?” “Sure, I’m like the average—seldom sick and never well.” “Let’s Make Othello Glad” A Foolish Whim, but If It Had Happened— ET us go back three hundred and eighteen years and twenty minutes. * * * In the Grill Room of The Purple Bore, His Majesty's “Knights of the Blewe Pencil” are in executive session. Through the open windows comes the clatter of the ele- vated and the sound of newsboys indistinctly shouting “Extra.” Within, the silence is broken only by the clack- ing of a Typewriter and the occasional jangle of the tele- phone bell. On the oaken table is a huge pile of manu- scripts and many tankards. The manuscripts are un- touched. The Chairman happens to awaken and the pounding of his gavel arouses the others. Ponperous: Good masters, these four hours we've sat at meat and quaffed our ale. Thus have we well pre- pared to censure plays. Wyse: Censor, good me Lord, not censure. Ponpverous: ’Tis all one. Drowsy: I would I were home in bed. Wyse: A poor thing have we here, writ by one Shaks- per. ’Tis not well done—I know, for I have written plays myself—some thirty odd. But this same Shaksper is a jeal- ous rogue and hath conspired with certain friends of his, therefore my dramas are not played. My last—ol ‘tis a merry thing—I'll tell you the matter on’t. . . (Loud cries of “No, No” and “Help;” and three Knights have to be dragged back to maintain a quorum.) * * * Into this company of wise and noble gentlemen comes scurvy, deer-stealing knave, whose humility is onl equalled by the scorn of his Betters. To his intimates he is known as Bill Shaksper. Britt: Good gentlemen, I am your humble suitor. Primm: Sirrah, I do not like your play. Bit: Hast read it, noble sir? Primm: Think’st thou I’ve naught to do but read your scribbling? I hate all plays. Drowsy : Bethink thee of the stipend, man: the stipend. Primm: Players are rogues and vagabonds. Plays should be burned and poets whipt; but come, I’ll do my duty by thee. . (Amid cries of “Throw him out” and “This round is on me,” the Knights laboriously get into action. The room is quiet save for the sobbing of an apprehensive blue pencil.) comicbooks.com