Life, 1927-03-24 · page 11 of 38
Life — March 24, 1927 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece mocks newspaper tabloid journalism and sensationalism of the era. The conversation features a character named Mary Ellen critiquing how newspapers cover scandalous stories—particularly marital drama and infidelity involving figures like "Mr. Okum" (likely a real contemporary scandal). The cartoon ridicules both: 1. **Tabloid excess**: Papers publishing salacious personal details about divorce, affairs, and intimate matters 2. **Public appetite**: The willingness of readers to consume such content despite "important things happening in the world" The illustration shows a fashionable woman and man in evening dress, typical of Life's style. The satire suggests newspapers prioritize celebrity gossip over substantive news, treating readers as hungry for scandal rather than information. The tone is disapproving of this cultural tendency toward sensationalism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Life Conversations with Mary Ellen Those Awful Tabloids ! WAS looking at Mary Ellen’s ankles. “Don't you think they're terrible?” Mary Ellen. “On the contrary, I think they’re charming,” I replied, with a slight start. said “WELL, AS PAR AS I’M CONCERNED THE Y SHOW IN TOWN EVERYTHING, TOO.” s eyes grew wide with horror. “Charming!” she exclaimed, “You think the tabloids are charming? “Oh, the tabloids—" I said. “Of course, the tabloids! That’s what we've been talking about, haven't w ve we?” “That's how you listen to me, nd began to sulk. However, a slight bribe—the promise of a dinner and the Follies, a box of flowers and a little sapphire pin at Cartier’s that she’s been admiring for some time—and she forgave me. “What about the tabloids?” I asked. “They're terrible! Disgusting. Look at the re playing up the Okum divorce case! vy one cared about such filth, Okum His Wife's Love-Nest Well Lined! said Mary Finds Isn't that horrible? To think that people will read stuff like that with so m im- portant things happening in the world “You're right,” I said. ‘ake the Chinese situation, for example—” “What Chinese situation?” Ellen, “The way the Chinese are trying to force the whites out of China.” “Oh, how rude of them!" cried Mary Ellen. “You know, Mr. Okum forced his wife out, too. Right out in the snow. She had only her nightie on. People gathered for mi they say. I can’t even bear to talk about it.” “What do you think of the French attitude towards disarmament?” I asked, to help her. “T didn’t know he was sick,” smiled M Ellen. “Speaking of sick, did you read th Mr. Okum hit his wife when she w i Did you see that? She was lying by hi: with malaria—fast asleep—and she mur- mured ‘Oswald’—that’s the other man—Os- wald Derrick. And a fine oil-can he is!’ He had to marry a girl when he was eighteen years and four months old. She was thirty- eight, born in Weavertown, Missouri—her father made him marry her. And he’s been divorced three times, once in this State, once in Mexico and once in Paris... . It's to print such things in a newspaper.” “It certainly is,’ I commented. “When they can print such thrilling stories——” “What thrilling stories?” asked Mary Ellen eagerly. “Well, about the separation of atoms, for asked Mary shame said Mary I little rose bride, ‘Our love is rose your little knees!’ ine! Isn’t that awful? To print stuff like that!” She paused and thought. “IT wonder who they get to read things like that?” she said. Bertram Bloch. UEST: Good stuff, this whisky. Ho: years old. “When?” “A woman like atom of shame. Id Derrick called ur soul, your lips, knees. Imag- “Men. Os: Inquisitive Clara: WHITE HOUSE SPOK TRATION OF COL. E. wHo Don’t Ask Me Another! SERVED AN DURING THE No. 2 AS OFFICIAL ADMINIS-~ M. HOU (Answer on page 34.) comicbooks.com