Life, 1924-02-07 · page 28 of 40
Life — February 7, 1924 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page reviews two films: "Reno" (starring Rupert Hughes) and "The Humming Bird" (starring Gloria Swanson). The illustration shows Swanson in a stylized pose—likely meant to capture her distinctive appearance, which the text notes included a "diamond-backed rattlesnake coiffure" (an unusual, exotic hairstyle). The broader satire targets Hollywood's reputation for scandal. The text discusses how gossip columns exaggerate misconduct among film stars, comparing these rumors to biblical depravity ("Sedom and Gomorrah"). The author argues that while some stars engage in vice, the film industry's workforce—extras, technicians, cameramen—are ordinary people who "couldn't afford to be immoral even if they would." The piece mocks yellow journalism's sensationalism while defending Hollywood's broader working population against moral panic. It's essentially arguing: don't judge the entire industry by a few notorious stars' behavior.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
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