Life, 1925-04-16 · page 25 of 36
Life — April 16, 1925 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes early 20th-century American cultural pretensions and film industry practices. **Main targets:** 1. **"As It Is Read"** – Mocks overwrought literary conventions of the era, where authors laboriously describe trivial details. The joke: a man's desperate attempt to impress his fiancée after waiting an hour while she dressed. 2. **"In Subtitles"** – Parodies silent film melodrama, specifically Revolutionary War narratives. The satirical editors' notes mock filmmakers for misquoting poetry, confusing historical events, and prioritizing spectacle over accuracy. References to "The Sorceress's Sofa" suggest producers care more about box-office gimmicks than quality. 3. **"Life's Encyclopedia"** – Defines "Reformer" as theatre-district figures who exploit moral causes to promote failing plays, raising ticket prices to $11 by inserting "naughty words." 4. **"Dangerous Radicalism"** – Ironically juxtaposes Jesus's pacifist teachings against sword-bearing militarism, critiquing those who cite Scripture selectively. The overall theme: criticism of shallow commercialism masquerading as art and morality in contemporary American culture.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
As It Is Read ESIDE the seashore (here omit Description of the sea) In close proximity there sit Two persons—he and she. She looks (pass over how she looks) And he (but never mind Descriptions ; they are what make books So tedious, I find) He speaks (long-winded speeches I Cannot endure; and so, I'll skip it all, save her reply), She tersely answers: “No.” Hal Russell. DESPERATE STRATEGY RESORTED TO BY A MAN WHOSE FIA KEPT HIM WAIT- ING AN HOUR WHILE SHE DRESSED Where It Originated :LEGATION oF Starvinc Rawate: We have no bread! We have no bread! Marie Antoinette: Well, cut your- selves a piece of cake. ; OW to begin a novel for the civi- lized majority: “He was a pall well-gloomed man, spleen-cut and of an inferiority complexion.” Dangerous Radicalism “ALL THEY THAT TAKE THE SWORD SHALL PERISH WITH THE SwWoRrD.” eee “THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF.” Jesus of Nazareth, - LIFE In Subtitles Writer Drops Int American History) (The Scenario ND so Night spread her sable wings o'er the sleeping cit On the slopes waited a MAN, m the dis. tant belfry glowed a light...two lights Lights that lit the w: NATION. “Hist! Is't ye, “Aye.” “On, then. To-night a NATION rides in the keeping of a ALAN.” And Paul answered not, but For here was a MAN. Came dawn. The chirrup of a fr the shrill scream oi the chickadee (Note by subtitle editor: Look up this Nature stuff; sounds like he’s balled up somehow.) — And rode the MAN. And with him rode the NA- TION. “Huzza! Huzza! The British come!” “My God, no!” “My God, a” For the fate of a NATION was rid- ing that night. (Note by assistant di- rector: Look up this poetry stuff; he ain't quoting Tennyson right, 1 don't Reply by director: Don't you Byron's stuff when you see it, you boob?) Came day. rode. onward And on the little village green in slumbrous Lexington gathered a little knot of men—but they were A advisory critic: Wot- lt would they BRAS?) Came eventide. And the early stars looked down on a field of Victory, o'er which floated Old Glory, For that day came into being a NATION! (Note by scenarist: Better ring in some closcups of Betsy Ross and Lin- coln and Roo. -) (Note by junior producer: Wottinctl is this junk? French Revolution stuff?) (Note by senior producer: I dunno. Oliver Cromwell, I guess. Tellum to cut it short and make a two-reel comedy out of it. We got to make room to fillum “The Sorceress’s Sofa.” That's a big pitcher!) Tip Bliss. Lire’s Encyclopedia RE “ORMER — Habitat, theatrical district. Formerly one who effected a reformation, religious, moral or politi- cal. Latterly, however, have functioned principally as press agents for faltering or flopped plays. “Insert a naughty word, tell a reformer, raise prices to $11 and your show is a hit.".—Old Producers’ Proverb. reformers THE BOY STOOD ON THE BURNING DECK AND WRATHFULLY HE “I WON'T GIVE UP TIE SHIP, BY HECK ! CAUSE IT AIN'T GONNA RAIN NO more!” 'ABLE—Once upon a time there was an uplifter whose motto was and let live.” SWORE? comicbooks.com