Life, 1923-11-08 · page 21 of 36
Life — November 8, 1923 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The large cartoon depicts a bloated, grotesque figure labeled "PROHIBITION" crushing small human figures beneath its weight. At the base lies a sign reading "GREAT AMERICAN DESERT," surrounded by scattered bottles and debris. This is anti-Prohibition propaganda from the early 1920s, likely published shortly after the 18th Amendment's ratification (1919) or Volstead Act's enforcement (1920). The cartoon satirizes Prohibition as a destructive, overbearing force that crushes American life and commerce. The "Great American Desert" reference suggests the policy creates economic wasteland and death. The tiny figures represent ordinary citizens and businesses destroyed by alcohol's ban. The scattered bottles symbolize the failed attempt to eliminate drinking. **The satire's point**: Prohibition, presented as tyrannical and inhumane, will devastate American society rather than improve it. This reflects the contemporary anti-Prohibition viewpoint—that the policy caused more harm (organized crime, corruption, economic loss) than benefit. The caption "NONE SO BLIND AS THOSE THAT WILL NOT SEE" mocks supporters for ignoring obvious negative consequences.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
More or Less Serious Casanova. Empire—Highly costumed ac- B lavers, aiotous and Lowell nt of one or the Gr editions. man, Katharine Cornell Playhouse—Dealing with _ the aking an honest woman of the Good, unaffected writing. Children of the Moon. Comedy—Henrietta sman in a play of moon-madness which cry effective at times. The Crooked Square. Hudson—One of the ly funny serious plays in town, Cyrano de Bergerac., National—To be ewed next week The Dancers. Broadhurst—Reviewed in s issue. Duse Repertory. —Matinees No ber 6th and 9t ti” (“Ghosts”). Grand Guignol ench thrillers if unders| The Lullaby. Knickerbocker—One_ hun- (| per cent. sinning by Florence Reed. Sir Martin-Harvey Repertory. Century— Sth; ember of the Shrew,” Novemb the Burgomaster of Stilemonde,” No Fifty-Ninth St. The Merchant of Venice. Sothern and. Marlow Rain. Maxine Elliott’s—Jeanne Eagels in play which still holds its own against all vers. Scaramouche. Morosco—To be reviewed xt week. Seventh Heaven. Booth—A_ stage-play nut’ Paris, stagily done. : Steadfast. Ambassador—To be review xt_ week. Tarnish. Belmont—A genuine and inter- ting handling of what used to be a “delicate bject.” Well done into the bargain. White Desert. Princess—Intensive sex scussion, Comedy and Things Like That Abie’s Irish Rose. Republic—Opened in immediately condemned z Aren't We All?” Gaict. fle, with Cyril Maude. Amusing British The Changelings. Henry Miller’s—A no- ble cast, including Henry Miller, Blanche Bates, Ruth Chatterton and Laura Hope rews, in a_ pleasant, comec Chicken Feed. Litthe—Regulation Golden saterial, used this time in a debate between tsbands and wive: For All of Us. lodg Will In Love with Love. Ritz—The entertain- vg way of Lynn Fontanne with her suitors. Love. Thirty-Ninth St.—Emily im Faversham in something A Lesson ii Stevens and Will worth seeing, Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary. What does it matter about the play s it gives Mrs. Fiske a good opportunit The Nervous Wreck. Sam H. Harris— Hilarious farce, with Otto Kruger and June Walker. The week. Two Fellows and a Girl. Small-talk made amusing able means. The Whole Town's Talking. Bijon—Grant bie Belasco— long as Cort—To be reviewed next Vanderbilt— pme unaccount- Swan. Mitchell Tough-and-tumbie which gets better as it goes alon, Windows." Garrick—A great deal of talk by Galsworthy on several subjects which aren't particularly exciting. Eye and Ear Entertainment Adrienne. George M. Cohan’s—Richard Carle and Billy B. Van carrying a medium- grade show. Artists and Models. Shubert—Showing Owing to the time it takes to print Lire, readers should newspapers the continuance of the attractions at the theatres mentioned. what you can get away with. and Harry Kelly work Battlin, but bearable. Buttler. Ginger. Helen of Troy, N. good all-round musical comedy Little Jessie James. Little Miss Bluebe Irene Bordoni. The Magic Ring. people like Mitzi. Music Box Revue. swe ealSeits Charles Ri Kent, with one or two goo Daly’s—Terrible. Greenwich Village Follies —Some excellent specialties spectacular setting than former Frank ith the comedy. Not essential s and William tunes. Sel Winter Garden slightly less ¥. Times Squaro—A Lo ard. gacre—J Liberty—A great many Here she is. Music Box—A gigantic erify from the daily ful for then Frank finn And your money fties of 1923, _Fulton—William and Sam Bernard in a funny show trigs to be something more. Poppy. | pollo Madge Kennedy and W. C. Fields make it worth seeing by all means, Runnin’ Wild. Coloniali—To be reviewed later. The Stepping Stones. viewed later. Vanities of 1923. Ear! Carroll—Good en. tertainment, including Joe Cook Wildflower. Casino—You can't lose if you like good music. Ziegfeld Follies. viewed in this issue. Collier which Globe—To be re- Amsterdam—Re- NONE SO BLIND AS THOSE THAT WILL NOT SEE comicbooks.com