Life, 1927-02-17 · page 31 of 34
Life — February 17, 1927 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains **satirical newspaper/publishing anecdotes** rather than political cartoons. The "Shop Talk" section features three humor pieces mocking the publishing industry: 1. **First anecdote**: A journalist tells a novelist he's been "writing him up" (in obituaries). The novelist, mishearing, eagerly asks if it will be published—darkly funny because he thinks he's being featured as a living subject, not that his obituary is being prepared. 2. **"The Reviewer's Version"**: Mocks critics who prefer dramatized adaptations over original books, reversing typical artistic hierarchy. 3. **Russian hock step joke**: Satirizes vaudeville dance trends, suggesting the "Russian hock step" is simply sitting out dances—absurdist humor. The "Forecast for February" section offers humorous astrological predictions about romance and business. The page concludes with brief social commentary snippets ("Tantalus to Date," "Strange that...") about London conversations and Prohibition's effects on Hollywood. **Bottom**: A Louis Sherry advertisement ("When it's a matter of good taste"). This is primarily **satirical commentary on publishing and social manners**, not political cartooning.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Shop Talk Fvery trade has its stock of well- known yarns, but occasionally a new one does occur, only, alas, in time to become a classic. A certain well-known news- paperman was holding forth to a group of writers, among whom was a rather famous novelist. ‘The journalist was say- he had recently been engaged in the obituaries held in readiness by his paper. Turning to the novelist, he aided jocosely: “I've just been writ- ing you up.” ‘But the novelist, apparently, had not been following very closely. i up with a start, he asked eagerly js it going to be published? —Argus (Seattle). The Reviewer's Version “Tus scenario doesn’t seem to follow your book.” ome critics consider it much better. They dramatized the book review.” —Louisville Courier-Journal. EVER'S “Tur Russian hock step has disap- peared from vaudeville dance acts,” says a theatrical weekly. The Russian hock step is one in wh you sit out the dance while dancing.—Detroit News. » MRS. BEVAN! ’APPENED TO YO! —Starr Wood's Annual (London). Tur secret of excess: 29 Forecast for February Besiness will be brisk and fair to Those who get the breaks; will dare to Journeys, started in the space of May or may not change the face of Some home-loving man, Lovers’ hopes and chances for a Spell of perfect bliss Fifty-fifty are. Abhor a Fickle month like this. ightcap (Detroit), Abbott's Bitters, a Rai W. Abbott & Co., tomachic, meets every require- ple by mail 26 cts. in stampa, Baltimore, Ma. Tantalus to Date Asotiure time when a conversation with London isn’t worth anything like $75 is when the fellow on the other end of the wire says, “Well, so long—I'm go- ing out and have a highball to your good health."—Aansas City Star. witaT- Stmanxe that the continuity Prohibition, at Hollywood can't do anyt —Collier’s. — matrimony.—Chicago Journal. Lire is published every Thursday, simultaneously in the United States, Grea itain, C da and British Possessions, Title registered in hee. $5.00 a year in advance. Additional postage to foreign sin the Postal Union, $1.60 a year; to Canada, 80 cents. Back S cannot be supplied. The text and illustrations in Live are copyrighted. For Reprint Rights 1 Britain opely to Lire, Rolls House, Breams Buildings, Fetter ngland. from Lare’s London Office, distributor, St James Street, Montreal Canada No contributions d unless panied by stamped and addressed envelope. ‘Lire docs not hont itself responsible for the loss or non-return of unsolicited contributions, Notice of change of address should reach this office two to the date of issue to be affected. Rolls. House, The American The foreign trade supplied Breams Buildings, Lon: News Company, Ltd., weeks prior CWhen iti a malter of good taste comicbooks.com