Life — September 15, 1927 — page 19: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Life magazine cartoon satirizes ticket scalping at theatrical performances. The image shows two figures—labeled "P.T. Barnum" (the famous showman) and "Tex Rickard" (a prominent boxing promoter)—standing above a crowd throwing money into the air. A sign advertises "Field Glasses for Rent" and "'Ring Side' Seats" at inflated prices. The caption "There's One Every Split Second Now" suggests the explosive growth of scalping and price gouging. The cartoon mocks how promoters exploit audiences' eagerness to attend popular events by charging excessive prices for poor viewing positions. The raining money symbolizes the public's willingness to overpay. This reflects early 20th-century frustration with scalpers' profit-taking from entertainment venues.