Life, 1925-05-21 · page 13 of 40
Life — May 21, 1925 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from Life magazine contains several satirical pieces about 1920s-1930s consumer culture and social behavior: **"Four Stages of a Radio Fan"** mocks the escalating obsession with radio technology. As a man buys progressively better equipment (crystal set → one-tube → three-tube → finest super-set), his satisfaction paradoxically decreases, culminating in frustration that he "can't get London!" **"Logical Protection"** presents a humorous dialogue where James employs absurdist reasoning to justify leaving his apartment door unlocked—burglars would be foiled by the apparent lack of valuables, so the unlocked door is actually protective logic. **"On the Ferryboat"** (illustration) shows working-class figures in casual interaction. **"The Amateur Critics"** presents snippets of pretentious theatergoers discussing shows with affected sophistication, satirizing amateur cultural commentary. The humor targets consumerism, pseudo-intellectual posturing, and urban social pretension.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Four Stages of a Radio Fan W! IN he bought @ crystal set— ‘Oh, this is plenty good enough. Nice and clear!” When he bought a one-tube set— “Oh, this is plenty good enough. Nice and "" When he bought a three-tube se “Oh, this is plenty good enough. and clear on the loudspeaker!” When he bought the finest super-set— “Darn it, what's the matter with this thing? I can't get London!" IC. Logical Protection the front door locked?” asked James (and if you don't know by this time she is the Little Woman, you probably never will). ” I said. M1, then,” said James, pleasantly, “lock it.” 2° 1 inquired. said James, thieves. Ever hear of them?” “Oh,” I said. “And then the bur- lars or sneak thieves, finding the door locked, will be foiled. Having sat down—on the outside of the door, to be sare—they will ery out their disappoint- ment and then silently steal away, leav- unmolested.” “T s the general ic as. Burglar: “sneak ing ¥ * assented nd all we shall ever know of their intentions,” I concluded, “will be a few tell-tale tear blots on the hall tiling.” “Sure,” said James. “And now you've worked it all out, would you please lock the door?” “Certainly not,” T said. “Well, for goodness’ sake—" began es, James,” I said, “you know per- fectly well that locked doors mean nothing to burglars. But if we leave the place unlocked, the burglars will THE NEW RADIO BUOY ON THE FERRYBOAT THE DENTED FENDER fancy they've walked into an empty apartment and depart in peace, without further investigation or interest.” “That's very logical,” cried James “Don't, then, lock the door, I beseech you.” Whereupon I promptly got up and double-locked it. And put the chain on. “Not really?” remarked James. “Not ing the door after that remarkable om of straight thinking?” ight thinking,” I remarked, slightly bitterly, “however appealing to a student of Truth, means nothing in the merry lives of crooks.” Besides, it doesn’t do to give in to James all the time. Henry William Hanemann, Cest Ca! ing abroad this summer Yes, I think I need a new Pessy: G Poy: French phrase. The Amateur Critics HAT show’'re we gonna sce next, T dunno. What?" The Miracle,’ huh!” What's ‘The Miracle’ like?” Church.” bout church?” “Yeh, they got the the: like church ‘n’ everythir “Aw, gee, Maisie, I wooden’ like that I don’t wanna see nothin’ church.” “Sure yuh'd like it—the leadin’ lady's a Nun.” “A Nun! Aw nothin’ like tha: “Sure yuh do—she’s a Nun, an’ she falls for a guy.” “Oh, yeah?...Well...” ter fixed up about », I don’t wanna sce MLR. HANDY man around the house is generally around the house. comicbooks.com