Life, 1924-06-19 · page 11 of 40
Life — June 19, 1924 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This one-act drama satirizes a massive political convention or protest march. The sketch depicts organizers frantically coordinating via telephone as crowds gather, with repeated shouted phrases ("WHOOZ all right?", "APPLESAUCTUS! YEAH!") suggesting mindless mob enthusiasm. The central illustration shows a dense, chaotic crowd with raised arms and signs at what appears to be a convention hall or rally. The satire mocks both the spectacle of organized political demonstrations and participants' apparent lack of genuine engagement—they're simply following leaders' cues rather than thinking independently. This likely critiques early 20th-century American political conventions, where large crowds were marshaled for effect. The repetitive, nonsensical chants emphasize the satirist's view that such demonstrations prioritize appearance over substance, with participants reduced to puppets responding to stage management.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE - The Greatest Demonstration A Drama in One Man and Several Phone Calls “Mr. Appelsaus was greeted by what even the h t-boile < start the m What ted at a bare table huh? Whatcha let him get aw tion hall swell nurse! Well, whatcha table is placed 0 as to con da view of all point They're goin’ dead ot hall, A telep is the table's only furnishing. The ‘ Awright. Count twenty reading Lave. and smoking a cigar, On the platform on t) off. I'l watch you. (He main , ering an impassio dress sick! Allset, Mike! Jones g A com a f th ! he ma i ior him. (He puts down Lure and picks up ti “phone. , h A mar Tue MAN IN THE GALLERY (into the plone): Gimme the parency labeled “Missour band leader. Hello, Mike. Appelsaus is comin’ in, Give Ns THe Gate “em Old Reliable. bh (The Band bi speaker on the Mr. Appelsa picks up the Tue Mas ix tue Gattery: Gimme dele n. Hello, Hoozus. They're Better feed ‘em three cheers, (Jen s Voice From THE FLooR Three chee i Nine mi pelsaus! Hip! Hip!—(The b ain.) snight, (i Turk Max as tHe Gattery eader, operator Mike? Yea sli ive “em “We Won't G Home (The The house takes up the chorw the yelling breaks out a. veying the scene, picks up th We Max in tHe Gattery: Wumps, Illinois; ple Hello, Wumps? For the love o’ Mike, shake your t up. They're goin’ dead on us. (Ten seconds elapse.) Voice. From THE Foor: What's the matter with Ilinois? Tue Iuiots Detecation: SHEEZ all RIGHT! Voice: WHOOZ all right? Tue Hovse: Ii-NOY! Voice: What's the matter with Appelsaus? Tue Hovse: HEEZ all right! Voice: WHOOZ all right? Tue House: APPILSAUUUUS! YEAH! (Indis- criminate yelling for a min ute. It then lets up again slightly.) Tue May i tHe Gat ‘ tery: Band, Hello, Mike . Anonymous Gotta start the march now : ‘ ADY (10 Never did sce such a dead " j L py: I crowd. Stand by. (Hf “ « jiggles the hook.) Gimme *% * Cu O'Hara, Missouri, operator ~ SS FI Lapy Hello, Bill. Tell Jones to + UD recat tL Crrex comicbooks.com