Life, 1924-12-11 · page 33 of 36
Life — December 11, 1924 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a music critique, satirical definitions, and a Pepsodent toothpaste advertisement. **Music Section**: Critic Sigmund Spaeth argues against elaborate vocal techniques ("coloratura") in opera and concert performance, calling them artificial and tedious—essentially outdated showmanship that audiences shouldn't endure. **"A Few Definitions"**: Humorous satire mocking 1920s upper-class life and Prohibition-era speech. Terms like "afternoon tea" meaning cocktails, "speak-easy" as a loud gathering place, and "prohibition" as "life's most serious joke" reflect post-WWI American social hypocrisy—the wealthy openly acknowledged drinking despite the legal ban. **Pepsodent Ad**: The "One Week Ago" section uses before-and-after marketing showing dingy teeth with film buildup, then promoting Pepsodent's new formula as scientifically superior. This reflects 1920s advertising's shift toward pseudo-scientific health claims to sell consumer goods. The page exemplifies *Life*'s blend of satirical social commentary and modern advertising, capturing Jazz Age attitudes toward tradition, prohibition flouting, and consumerism.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Music (Continued from page 20) Tue elaborate system of vocal gym- istics, trills, runs, and staccato pas- sages, generally summed up as “colora- ira,” is gradually achieving the de- erved reputation of pure bunk. Florid nging is and always has been an ut- erly artificial process, analogous to the yerformance of a daily dozen in public. Why should vocal exercises be ragged out on the concert stage or sito an opera? They are undoubtedly seful in developing the necessary flex- bility of voice, but why inflict them n any audience? The day of individual pyrotechnics in song is about over. Everybody knows now that the Mad Scene in “Lu- is a silly proceeding, calculated to k even a far better opera. When argling is done by a tenor or bari- the absurdity is still more ap- parent. Song is the musical wedding of words and music, not a chopping-block for agile vocal cords. Sigmund Spaeth. A Few Definitions (decording to a Young-Man-About- Town) AFTERNOON tea—another term for cocktails, Dinner—g good excuse to drink. A “speak-easy"—a place where the conversation is particularly loud. A supper club—a resort which is in no sense a club, and where it is impos- sible to sup. The country—a place through which one passes in order to reach the city. A neighbor—some one you don't know, A friend—some one who drinks most oi your liquor. A relation—some one you never see. Marriage—life’s most comic tragedy. Prohibition—tife’s most serious joke CGS. One Week Ago Those teeth had a dingy film Accept this offer and try for a few days a new teeth cleaning method. Millions now employ it. The glis- tening teeth you see everywhere now show how much it means. Combat the film Now your teeth have a viscous film. It clings to teeth, resists the tooth brush, enters crevices and stays. Food stains, etc., discolor it. Then it forms dingy coats. That is why teeth lose luster. Film also holds food substance which ferments and forms acid. It holds the acid in contact with the teeth to cause decay. Germs breed by millions in film. They, with tartar, are the chief cause of pyorrhea. Became alarming So few escaped these troubles that conditions became alarm- ing. Then dental science grit. sought ways to fight film. Pepsadént PEPSOGENt The New-Day Dentifrice Now advised by leading dentists the world over. CUT OUT THE COUPON NOW Protect the | Enamel Pepsodent disin- tegrates the then removes it with an agent far softer than enamel. Never use a film combatant which contains harsh Two effective methods have been found. One acts to disintegrate the film, one to remove it without harmful scouring. Both were embodied in a new-type tooth paste, called Pepsodent. Now that tooth paste has come into world-wide use, largely by dental advice. Aids nature, too Pepsodent also multiplies the alkalinity of the saliva. That is there to neutralize mouth acids, the cause of tooth decay. It smnldl plies the starch digestant in the saliva, That is there to digest starch deposits which may otherwise ferment and form acids. Watch these effects for a few days. You will quickly see and feel them. Send for this 10-Day Tube. Note how clean the teeth feel film. afterusing. Mark the absence of the viscous film. Sce how teeth whiten as the film-coats disappear. You will be amazed and delighted. Cut out coupon now. 10-DAY TUBE FREE THE PEPSODENT COMPANY Dept. 379, 1104 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, Ill. Mail 10-Day Tube of Pepsodent to Only one tube to a family. To Ensure ‘“*A Merry Christmas to All’’ the Gift that means pleasure the whole year through. Give a subscription to LIFE Christ- mas Card announcing the gift sent upon request. Christmas Offer losed find Pive Dollars (Canadian $5.80; Poreign $6.60). With Christmas Card from Send Live for one year to LIFE, 598 Madison Avenue, New York Lp. I Kiss Jenny (Confessions of a Movie Stor) Oricinat Story sy Letch Hunt I Kiss Jenny in each set That the ‘script says we two kiss in; Picture fans, who love to get Facts into your talk, put this in: Say I'm weary—say I've had Movie kisses far too many; Say I hate her face, but add— I kiss Jenny. E. J. K. Local Pride Tourist (to village constable): Any- thing in this town worth stopping to see? Constante: Waz-all, we got the old- est livin’ jaywalker. comicbooks.com