Life, 1927-09-01 · page 9 of 40
Life — September 1, 1927 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical commentary on the entertainment industry. The central cartoon depicts a confrontation between two figures labeled as "Mr." and "Mrs." discussing a "decent handicap" and appearance in "a nice felt or derby." The illustration style suggests physical comedy or slapstick. The "Obituary" section mocks Ossin T. Meech, a motion picture producer and theater owner, for his sudden death. The satire emphasizes his well-known catchphrase "the George Washington of the Movie Company," ironically suggesting his unreliability. The text suggests he gained this reputation through boastful claims he "never told a lie." The bottom "Spellbound" section presents a brief comedic exchange about movie slow-motion photography, typical of Life's humorous take on contemporary entertainment trends.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Weak Week recked DER DATE. Second Ditto: weir, as NEAR CAN FIGGER, BILL, THIS MUST BE ALONG IN THE MIDDLE or “EAT MORE COCOANUTS WEEK.” First Gos, 1 Sailor: WHAT'S THE AS 1 ITARK tragedy surrounds the death of Ossian T. Meech, the celebrated motion picture producer and theatre owner, whose sudden demise was recently reported. As was well known, Mr. Meech's sobriquet among his associates was “the George Washington of the Movie Game,” frequently shortened for — conveni- ence’s sake to “the G. W. of the M. G gained that title of respect because of his proud boast never told a lie. Shortly before his death, however, still apparently in the best of health, he ap- proached his general manager, Elmer R. Noose, No. 927 Southern Boule- vard, Bronx, who said he had some confidential in- formation for his ear. Ac- cording to a statement given out carly to-day by Mr. Noose, the conversa- tion was as follows: “G. W.," said Mr. Noose, “I have here the report of our Bureau of Accuracy and Fair Play, which sets forth an alarm- ing situation. In our ad- vertisement of ‘The Rosen- blatts and the Gogolshev- skys,’ you will recall that of the lines was, ‘You will scream every minute with laughter.’ Invest was Mr.: 7 Mrs. Obituary at the early showing at the Abraca- dabra Theatre on the 27th, eight consecutive minutes elapsed without any one’s screaming.” “Great God breathed Meech. “Wor: Mr. Noose. Mr. sir,” continued dvertised the ap s coming, “We HAT CONFOUNDED {MITTEE WON'T DECENT HANDICAP. NEVER MIND, DEAR. IVE GIVE ALWAYS THOUGHT YOU of Dog, in Person.’ appeared at occurred ‘Lionel, the Wonder After Lionel had four performances. it look in the dic that it pearance to our bureau to up the definition of ‘person tionary, We discovered Bodily form of being. A being, man, wv n child, Hence, Li in no way sidered a person upon thousands of patrons means: 2 human living, self-conscious or rel can be « and thousands have been cheated by our misrepresentation.”” Mr. Meech paled burst into tears. and “Compose yourself, sir, Mr. Noose, * the crowning blow is yet unheard, Our Bureau sent to Washington for a ther- mometer, the most perfect which yet went on instrument has been perfected and which is used to measure the heat of the yesterday and we learned stars. It arrived to our horror that it is only nineteen and forty-five one-thousandths — degrees cooler inside Death instantane- Spellbound “W HY one arth couldn't you jump out of th way of that tracte “I'd just come out of a they of was ME A where were these movie showing — some tion shows, however, that LOOKED BEST IN A NICE FELT OR DERBY. slow-motion pictures.” comicbooks.com