Life, 1926-09-30 · page 24 of 36
Life — September 30, 1926 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains two satirical pieces about college life, likely from the 1920s based on the style and references. **"Rah, Rah, Rah—Universal!"** is a humorous story mocking college dormitory parties. It depicts freshmen in a chaotic dorm room filled with musicians, dancers, and socializing—activities that violated actual dormitory rules. The humor centers on the hypocrisy: students break prohibition-era drinking laws and smoking bans, only to panic when the Dean arrives. The title suggests this "universal" college experience is exaggerated by motion-picture directors creating fantasy versions of campus life. **"Nubbville Spark"** appears to be a separate rural humor item about a town's bench being repainted and a marshal resting. **"Rain, Rain, Go Away..."** briefly jokes about moving season and an anecdote referencing the Carlsbad mud-bath treatment and Yale-Harvard athletics. The page satirizes both wild college behavior and the gap between actual dormitory rules and student conduct, plus Hollywood's sanitized dramatization of campus life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
His Aunt: anex’t you arraiw ue’L HURT HIMSE His Mother: ou, wert.—ur’s GoT TO LEARN some TIME. Rah, Rah, Rah— Universal ! IMIDLY, the freshman opened I the door and entered the room. In one corner, a stout youth clad in a thick turtle-neck sweater was playing the mandolin. By his side, a lean lad wearing running shorts and a blazer accompanied him on the guitar. ious groups lent more color to the assemblage. Here was a handsome adolescent playing. the phonograph; at the piano another was bang’ while his counter- part tortured a saxophone ina sin- gularly unconvincing manner. On top of the piano sat a pretty girl showing much animation and a wealth of silk stocking with rolled tops. In the center of the room a tango was in progress, though from the searf wound about the middle of the male (in plus-fours) it was not to be taken seriously. His partner's derby hat, perched rakishly on close- cropped curls, strengthened the comic effect. At the sight of the freshman, the music stopped and the musicians swarmed about him, giving him a slap on the back that sent text-books flying. A girl produced a flask and ac ette, much to the freshman’s embarrassment. Smoking and drink- ing were not allowed in the Dorms. Too frightened to resist, the fresh- man accepted both the drink and the Nubbville Spark THE BENCH IN FRONT OF THE GROCERY 18 BRIN’ REPAINTED. OUR MARSHAL IS RESTIN’ AS WELL AS COULD BE EXPECTED. L tobacco. Slowly the room grew hazy, vague. The freshman decided he was an ostrich—one with a contract with the Ballet Russe. He danced s an ostrich that had a con- let Russe would Then there came a knock on door that sent the others scurry- to cover. The freshman con- tinued to dance. The door opened. It was the Dean!) The Dean was in the Dorms! What kind of a cock-eyed college was this, you ask? It was the very best that could be conjured up by the brain of a motion- picture director. H.W. 1. Rain, Rain, Go Away... “D)ID you ever take the Carlsbad din a Yale-Har- vard game once. HE annual fall moving season is at hand, and may the best van win, comicbooks.com