Life, 1923-06-14 · page 28 of 44
Life — June 14, 1923 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct satirical pieces from Life magazine: ## "If They Had Lived in This Age of Specialization" A humorous essay mocking modern job specialization by imagining famous historical figures in contemporary (1920s) professions. Paul Revere becomes a riding instructor, Nero a movie orchestra violinist, William Tell a vaudeville sharpshooter. The satire suggests that the modern era has become so narrowly specialized that even legendary figures would be reduced to mundane, specialized roles rather than their grand historical achievements. ## "The English Language" Cartoon A brief joke about modern English usage, where someone responds to news of a woman's death with "how funny"—misinterpreting the speaker's use of "funny" (meaning "strange") as humorous. The cartoon illustrates how colloquial language creates miscommunication. The large center section catalogs the massive cast and crew for an elaborate film production, listing famous 1920s Hollywood names (Chaplin, Pickford, Keaton, Valentino, etc.)—likely satirizing Hollywood's obsession with star-studded "epic" productions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
If They Had Lived in This Age of Specialization AUL REVERE would have been a riding master at Durland’s. Godiva would be starring in Ziegfeld’s Follies. George Washington would be running a chain of road-houses “at which he stopped.” King Arthur would have Tex Rickard’s job. Nero would be playing first violin in a motion picture thea- tre orchestra. William Tell would be em- ployed in a sharp-shooting act in vaudeville. (Key to picture on pages 20-21) Filming the Ultimate Super-Nonpareil-Ultra-Cyclopean-Ten-Bil- lion-Dollar-Art-Spectacle-Masterpiece Feature with the Stupendous All-Star Cast Super-supervised by H. I. M. Witt Hays (1); Supervised by Witt1am RanpotpH Hearst (2), Marcus Loew (4); Scenario by Rupert HuGues (9); Directed by Mack Sennett (3), Davin Wark GrirritH (5), Wittram C. DeMitte (10), Mar- sHALL Nertan (11), Attan Dwan (16), Eric von Srronemm (17), Rex Incram (19), Cecrt B. De Mize (20) ;'Cameraman Avotpu Zuxor (12) ; Elec- tricians SAMUEL Gotpwyn (8), WiLt1am Fox (18); Carpenter Jesse Lasky (15); Art Director JosepH Ursan (7); Lachrymatory Music by JascHa Hetr- ETz (13), IGNace JAN Paperewskt (14). Cast: A Lady in Danger—Peart Wuite (21); A Rough Diamond—Wi.t1aM S. Hart (22); An Effete Society Woman—Pota Necrr (23); An Effete Soci- ety Woman—G.ior1a Swanson (24); A Young Father-to-be (except in Pennsylvania)—THomas MeicHan (25); A Young Mother-to-be (except in Pennsylvania)—NormMa Tatmapce (26); An Effete Society Woman—Betty Compson (27); A Vampire —A.ita Nazimova (28); A Fool—Ricnarp Bar- THELMESS (29); A Red-Blooded Young American— Dovcias Fairsanks (30); A Hard-working Clerk— Harotp Lioyp (31); Charlie Chaplin—CHariie Cuapiin (32); A Simple Little Gir—Mary Pick- rorp (33); A Simple Little Boy—Buster Keaton (34); A Moth—Constance Tatmapce (35); A Moth—Brse Danietrs (36); A Moth—Pavutine Freperick (37); A Moth—Atice Brapy (38); The Flame—Lew Copy (39); A Persecuted Lady— Littian Gisu (40); A Rich and Wicked China- man—Witt_ Rocers (41); An Effete Society Man—Butt Montana (42); An Effete Society Wo- man—E ste Fercuson (43); Their Little Son Who Brings About a Reconciliation—Jackre Coocan (44) ; A Wronged Husband Reaching for the Family Re- volver—THEODORE Roserts (45); An Effete Society Woman Appealing to His Better Self—Dorotny Gtsu (46); An Extra for the Cabaret Scene—Ro- DOLPH VALENTINO (6). Daniel would be staging a lion act with the circus, Columbus would be general manager for Cook’s Tours, Hercules would be conduct- ing a gymnasium for tired busi- ness men, and Demosthenes would be Professor of Elocution at Yale. Captain Kidd would be operating a bucket-shop. ForMERLY a woman looked dowdy before her hair was done up in the morning, but bobbed hair doesn’t look worse at any particular time, The English Language “Have you heard the news? Poor Mrs. Smith-Jones was killed by an automobile this afternoon.” “Why, how funny—I saw her only this morning.” comicbooks.com