Life, 1925-04-09 · page 37 of 41
Life — April 9, 1925 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical sketch mocking theatre audiences of the 1920s. Four patrons exit a play, and the joke becomes immediately clear: **none of them were actually paying attention**. They discuss the plot with complete confusion—mixing up character names, forgetting who actors were, and fundamentally misunderstanding the storyline. Yet they confidently critique the performance as "silly" anyway. The satire targets a specific social behavior: attending theatre as a fashionable social obligation rather than genuine entertainment. The characters seem more interested in who else was in the lobby and who sat with whom than in the actual play. This reflects 1920s upper-class theatre culture, where going to plays was often performative—about being seen in the right places with the right people. The sketch suggests audiences were distracted, inattentive, and prone to pretentious judgment of art they hadn't really engaged with. The surrounding advertisements (for Marmola weight-loss tablets, Johnston's chocolates, and Boston garters) reinforce the page's focus on superficial social concerns over substance.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Critique of the Drama The Play Was the Thing Scene: The lobby of a theatre. Time: 11:05 P. Af. Craracters: Two gentlemen and two ladies. First GENTLEMAN I knew all the time they'd marry in the end. First Lapy Yes, every play's just the same. Who was that with Harry Tippley? First Gentleman I've seen her before. Forget her name now, Seconp Lavy Looked like a cutie to me. First Lapy I don't see why she married him. Seconp GENTLEMAN Who, Harry Tippley? First Lapy No, the woman in the play. First GentLeMAN She was supposed to be in love with him, Seconp Lavy And Grace Mopford was with those dreadful Clinkertons, First Lapy I think she was a fool. Seconp GENTLEMAN Who, Grace? ou must be slender to have bobbed hair For the shingle bob or the straight bob, you must have a youthful silhouette. One simply can’t be stout—or even overweight. How thankful we should be that there is one pleasant method of taking off weight. Noexercises or diets—just use Marmola Tab- lets (thousands of men and women each yearregainhealthy, slender figures this way). Have you ever tried them? Many of your slender, vivacious friends use Marmola Tablets. All drug stores have them— one dollar a box. Or they will be sent in plain wrap- ee postpaid, iy 4 the Marmola Co., 1843 encral Motors Bldg., Detroit, Mich. MARMOLA Prescription Tablets Nhe Pleasant Day teRedsuce You will find a special agency for John: ston's Chocolates in one of the better class stores in your neighbourhood ROBERT A. JOHNSTON First Lapy No, no. The woman in the play. The red-haired one. First GENTLEMAN I liked her in the beginning. Seconp GenTLEMAN But she was so awful at the end. Seconp Lapy Did you notice her during the whole last act? First Lapy You mean the red-haired woman? Stconn Lavy No, I mean that impossible Fanny Clinkerton. First GentteMan And she never let him alone for a second. Seconn Lapy George Frisbie, on her left? First GentLeman No, no. The husband in the play. First Lapy I rather liked the detective. Stconp Gent He reminded me of W: Seconn Lapy Oh, Willie’s so much better-looking. First Lapy I think he was a fool, too. First GENTLEMAN Who, Willie? First Lavy The detective. Who? ie Tankard. No. COMPANY - ‘CHOCOLATES Gnehantment in this new Nuts 0» Fruits Box Here is the latest Johnston's tri- umph. a glorious box of nuts and fruits from every corner of the world. Filberts... Brazil nuts... English walnuts; cherries from Italy, dates from the Orient —to name buta few of theenticing delights it contains. Dipped in Johnston's wonderful chocolgte- some with cream and a coating, some without ... and novelty, pieces to surprise you! + For gifts, for the pleasant duties of life, Johnston's is the preferred offering. Whether you send the Choice Box, this new Nuts and Fruits Box, or any one of a dozen othe: favourites. Johnston's Candies are worthy of the sweetest lady in all the world. MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN Seconp GENTLEMAN The whole thing struck me as being a very silly play. Seconp Lavy That's just the word. Silly. First Lavy Oh, it was so silly First GentLeman Of course it was silly. Well, along. Here's the car, Cc. come THE superior quality and All- Rubber Oblong Button make it ff worth while to insist on Bostons. } Gooeye, Frost Company, Boston, Makers of ‘elvet Grip Hose Supporters for omen, Misses and Children comicbooks.com