Life, 1926-08-05 · page 7 of 41
Life — August 5, 1926 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical pieces from 1926: 1. **"The Craze for Prologues Spreads"** depicts a courtroom trial that devolves into musical entertainment—a satire on theatrical prologues (musical introductions to films) becoming ubiquitous and absurd. Judge Simpkins presides over increasingly ridiculous musical performances rather than conducting actual legal proceedings. 2. **"The Ruling Passion"** is a brief fable about a mother's disappointment that her daughter's expensive education has failed to produce domestic virtue—satirizing wealthy parents' expectations of private schooling. 3. **"Wasted Effort"** mocks tourist vacation planning, suggesting life guards' attentiveness makes the effort pointless, with a caption about how good intentions pave the road to hell. The illustrations use period-typical sketchy line work to convey social commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Lifree The Ruling Passion Gunman: sTICK UP YOUR HANDS, LADY, oR I'LL FIRE! Mrs. Uppercrust: My GooD MAN, TAKE YOUR HAT OFF. A 1926 Fable IIE daughter of the house had just returned from T vosrding school. The moment she left her room the mother entered it and began searching the daughter's trunk. For an hour she moved hats and hose, laces and lingerie, but she found no cigarettes, no hooch, no racy novels. The mother sat back in her chair and sighed. “It's just as I feared,” she mur- mured. “A whole year wasted. Next season I'll have to send her to a more select school.” =—_—__ N. T. L. Wonderful CUSTOMER: What is this de- > vice? Avto Demonstrator: That shuts off the spark. Cvsromer: And what is this thing for? Avro Demonstrator: That shuts off the gas. And this other little de- vice is the best feature of all. Customer: What does it do? Avto Demonstrator: It shuts off the conversation on the back seat. Howard: HG \\ \ | The Craze for Prologues Spreads Scene: A court room. Butch McFeeney is about to be tried for housebreaking and assault, before Judge Simpkins. 1. world. 2 THE Powhuska County Symphony Orchestra plays a potpourri of melodies based on the national anthems of all the countries of the The gentlemen of the jury, led by the foreman, present a symbolic ballet, “Love in Sing Sing.” 3. A quartctte composed of newspaper reporters favors with “Crossing the Bar” and “The Prisoner's Song.” 4. Judge Simpkins, the prosecuting attorney and the court reporter presenta little playlet, “We'll Get You Yet!” 5. Mr. McFeeney entertains with some clog-dancing, card tricks and a few brief remarks on “The Duty of the Professional Felon to the Community.” 6. Judge Simpkins, the prosecuting attorney, Mr. McFeeney and his lawyer join hands and sing “Auld Lang Syne” into the microphone. The jury joins in the chorus. 7. Grand Finale. Community singing and dancing around the May-pole by every one in the court room. The trial is now ready to begin. Robert Lord. Wasted Effort THEL: Did you have a nice vacation, dear? Ester: No; all the life guards were taken by the time I got there. [HE road to hell is paved with good intentions, one of which is, of course, to change one’s oil every five hundred miles. | WOMEN’S CLOTHES WEREN’T MUCH OF A PROBLEM IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN. Jay: NO—ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS LOVE ’EM AND LEAF EM, comicbooks.com