Life, 1927-03-31 · page 25 of 35
Life — March 31, 1927 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine contains three separate satirical pieces: **"At the Theatre"** mocks shallow theatergoers—specifically a woman (Sue) more interested in socializing and being seen than actually watching the play. She constantly drops things to appear helpless, asks irrelevant questions, and admits she doesn't understand the plot while sitting through it. The humor targets people who attend cultural events for appearance rather than genuine engagement. **"Mental Acrobatics"** jokes about a young movie star's inability to solve a basic math problem, stereotyping Hollywood actors as intellectually dependent on stand-ins even for thinking. **"A Scrap of Paper"** and the "Better-Government" cartoon are brief political/social satire. The marriage certificate joke plays on 1920s-30s concerns about legal formality; the final item mocks Princeton students' entitled resistance to car restrictions by suggesting Detroit students would be even more rebellious—a regional class jab. The overall page satirizes vanity, intellectual pretension, and generational excess.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Life At the Theatre her hair): It's perfectly sweet of you to invite me to this play—wh t's its name?—anyways I've been dying to sec it for ages. He (handing her a program): It’s called “What — Price Modesty.” Sue (dropping pro- gram): Oh, dear—I've dropped the damn thing. Never mind hunting for it—I don’t want to read Programs tell you anything that helps you to understand the play, doyouthinkthey do? He: Well, not very much, perhaps. (dropping her handkerchief): | Heav- ens, I've dropped my handkerchief. He (groping gallant- ly): Here, I'll get it for you. Sue (giggling): Isn't it a scream—I'm_al- ways dropping things! He (retrieving ’ker- chief and handing it to her): Here... (The cartain rises.) Suk (squirming round in seat and surveying theatre; then leaning to- vard him and whispering loudly): Do you suppose there’s anybody here we know? He (absently): Oh, probably... . SHE (taking off her hat and fluff- ing Another Inquisitive C ORIGI? PHRASE, TRIUMPH (Answer on Better-Government Advocate: WHY ARE OUR HIGHEST OFFICES FILLED WITH POLITICIANS? Voice in the Audience: wot Ain RISES, Don't Ask Me ! No. 6 ‘lara: wo ATEDTHE “RIGHT WILL ion’? Sue (renewing survey of audi- ence): My dear, I'm thrilled—I certain I see some one I know. a you bear it? He (endeavoring to concentrate on Sue (resuming nor- mal position): I don’t think it’s very clear so far, do you? He (with faint irony): Well, it’s prob- ably a mystery play. te: Oh, I had no idea it was anything like that... . Well, who do you suppose gets mur- dered? He: I guess we'll have to wait and see... . Sue (putting on hat as curtain falls on first act): Well, I think it's really awfully good, but somehow I don’t’ think it's very clear, do you know what I mean? He (resignedly): There are two more acts yet. Sur (taking off hat): Oh, I'm terribly sorry — I thought it was over. But anyways, I'm thrill- ed to death! Lloyd Mayer. OVER page 30) Mental Acrobatics TUTOR (to young movie star): If you had five apples and divided them equally among seven people, what part of an apple would each receive? Youne Movie Star: I think you better let my double answer that one. THE time is approaching when the number of divorces will equal the number of marriages. dently finding a way—out, Love is evi- APRIL FOOL! A Scrap of Paper RS. YOUNGBRIDE: Oh, Harry, you've d-d-deceived me! We're not legally married! Her Huspann: But Marjorie! What makes you think that? Mrs. Younasnipr: I took our mar- riage certificate to the bank and they wouldn't lend me a cent on it! HE Princeton Senior Council re- signed in protest against the rul- ing forbidding students to own or operate cars near the campus. If such a ruling were made at the Uni- versity of Detroit the students would not only resign—they'd secede from the Union. comicbooks.com