Life, 1926-06-10 · page 25 of 44
Life — June 10, 1926 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page critiques the theatrical controversy surrounding **Rahman Bey**, an apparent magician or performer who recently gave a dramatic performance in New York. The text references "Cradle Snatchers," a play being discussed for its moral implications regarding relationships between middle-aged men and younger women. The article satirizes both Rahman Bey's act (involving apparent feats of rigidity or hypnosis) and the moral panic surrounding "Cradle Snatchers." The writer mocks dramatic critics who attended a Monday opening and the subsequent committee that supervised Rahman Bey's performance, even requesting he perform specific acts. The satire targets: overly serious theater criticism, the policing of "immoral" entertainment, and the absurdity of the situation where a committee essentially micromanaged a performer's routine. The tone is skeptical of both the performer and the theatrical establishment's hand-wringing about moral corruption.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
that recent] { the week for opening are any) matic critics V E have no ata out things like may very well t wine. Certainly, unl hypnotized (also a po F are probably notic push-over), we saw Rah ey runni through his cheeks and supporting bl f smashed on his chest as he lay on a bed be that we didn’t see these things, but th sion now. It may 2 hat the w it is, it is pretty slick. You'll get no : the other, out of us. But we tweould like ow whether the professor in ; that Rahman Bey “rigidity” or “frigidity.” If it is the latter, he deported at o = was one incid while not exactly able speculation since. A committee were sele out little errands for Rahman Bey to perform an to read their minds sufficiently to run and do what had written. Everythir as. He took a cigar out he drage chair fre he back of the room and and he am dden beh he st a snag. The fourth request he after several m aloud, was t nt, a whim are two ways to exp! pon Bey’s part. (1) He really couldn’ © out what wanted it out, that Mr. Rahman, or however he have worried. Just let hit tld happen to him, comicbooks.com