Life, 1927-06-16 · page 25 of 34
Life — June 16, 1927 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page mocks early cinema culture and movie-theater etiquette circa the 1920s. The top cartoon shows a farmer complaining to his wife that movies have too much kissing and romance—he wants them to "stick to the facts o' life," a joke on the disconnect between rural values and Hollywood's sentimental output. The "Maxims for the Movie-Goer" list satirizes theater annoyances: long violin solos, poor sight lines, excessive subtitles, and annoying intermissions. A joke about Cecil B. DeMille's lavish productions suggests his films contain as many "characters" (extras/spectacle) as the Chinese alphabet has written characters. Brief jokes mock divorce proceedings and Hollywood's star system, including a reference to Jim Tully, apparently a feared interviewer. The overall tone ridicules both pretentious filmmaking and unsophisticated movie patrons' complaints about cinema conventions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Bl as UY Farmer (to his wife): THE TROUBLE WITH THESE MOVIES IS THERE'S TOO DURNED MUCH KISSIN’ GOIN’ ON. WHY DON’T THEY FERGIT ALL THIS FOOL ROMANCIN’ AN’ STICK TO THE FACTS 0” LIFE? Maxims for the Movie-Goer 13) There is no smoke without 15) You can’t teach an old camera-man new German tricks. 14) Hokum is the best policy. 16) Faint heart never got out 1) THE early patron gets the aisle seat. some trouble with the usher. 2) It’s a long violin solo that has no ending. 3) Everything is fair in comedies and vaudeville. +) Time, tide, and the main picture wait for no man. 5) It’s a wise author that knows his own version. 6) A good name is more to be desired than a decent plot. 7) He laughs best who laughs at animated cartoons. 8) Where ignorance is bliss ‘twere folly to read sub-titles. 9) What is one man’s news- reel is another man’s comedy. 10) An intermission in time saves the eyesight. 11) None so blind as he be- hind the pillar. 12) Look before you pet. Yes, Almost 7 “pID YOU KNOW THAT THE CHINESE ALPHABET CONTAINS FORTY THOUSAND CHARACTERS?” ALMOST AS MANY AS A CECIL DE MILLE PRODUCTION.” from the middle of the row. W. W. Scott. Circumstantial “ HY are you divorcing your husband?” “Well, the other night he was reading the paper and I slipped up and kissed him on his bald spot o “Yes?” “And he said, ‘Quit playing, honey, and get out those Ict- ters I dictated yesterday.’ ” OLLYWOOD NURSE (to child star): And if you don’t behave I’ll—I'll send Jim Tully to interview you! comicbooks.com