Life, 1924-11-27 · page 25 of 37
Life — November 27, 1924 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two satirical pieces mocking early 20th-century entertainment and advertising. **"Between the Acts"** depicts theater intermission gossip, where two audience members speculate endlessly about a mystery play's plot while completely missing the obvious resolution—the woman they've been discussing is actually Violet, the protagonist's wife. The satire mocks theatergoers' tendency to create elaborate theories while ignoring simple facts, and the banality of their conversation despite attending sophisticated drama. **"Stealing Hollywood's Stuff"** ridicules film industry practices where studios recycle old material under pretentious new titles. A producer and advertising director cynically rebrand a "rehash of old stuff" with an obscure title ("Liebnitz's Supreme Superbargue Hash") to disguise its lack of originality. The satire exposes how Hollywood used marketing deception to sell derivative content as novel productions. Both pieces critique how audiences and consumers are easily fooled by superficial presentation over substance.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Between the Acts Scene: Seats G-6 and G-8. The intermission of a mystery play. Cuaracters: He and She. He WONDER who did it. Sue Who do you suppose that is with Harry Pfhaff? TIME: He It might have been the butler. Sue I think it's that Collins woman. He Or perhaps it was the maid. Sne It looks like her chinchilla wrap. He I wonder who it was. SHE They were together at the matinee last Saturday. He I don't like the fellow who plays the district attorney. Sue What do you think she’s saying to him? He looks so interested. He But the girl's good. Sue And I don't believe Violet knows a thing about it. He There isn’t a single clue to follow. Sue Poor Violet! He Unless that lamp that went out so suddenly meant something. The Thin Girl: copy cats! feed ty Irate Old Gentleman: GOLF WHEN YOU WERE Sue Of course, I wouldn't trust her on oath. He Or the overshoes in the goldfish bowl. Sue Still, I think I'll tell her. He Maybe it's the old father. Sue He hasn't taken his eyes off her for one second. He No, it’s more likely the brother. Sue He must be crazy about her. He I'm sure he’s the one. Sue If she'd only turn around a little. He Yes, I'm certain it’s the brother. Sne Heavens! It's Violet her- self! How dull! I did think Harry had a little more adventure in him than to take his wife to the the- atre. Tne Curtain Rises Charles G. Shaw. DON’T TELL ME ABOUT THIS GAME, SIR. 1 PLAYED IN KNI Stealing Hollywood's Stuff “N\7OU understand,” said the producer to the advertising director, “that this new production is merely a rehash of old stuff, nothing new in it, but we want to select a title that will make it seem new and startling. We can't call it a Super-Jewel production or a First National attraction because other com- panies have appropriated those terms.” “Since it is a rchash of things already sereened, not to say sifted,” remarked the advertising director, “why not call it ‘Hot Doc’ ?” “Too frivolous,” said the producer “As a selling title it is entirely out of KERBOCKERS. the picture, as you might say. I want a serious name that will dramatize the product—something like — ‘barbecue,’ which suggests people coming in a crowd and ing real nutriment.” “I have it,” said the ad man. “Name it ‘Lresyit: Supreme Surer-nar- Begue Hasn And that is the name under which the new brand of hash is being mar- keted by Packer Liebnitz. C. L. Edson. E (swearing): On my word of honor—as a gentleman. Sue: Oh, why did you have to go and spoil it? comicbooks.com