Life, 1928-01-05 · page 13 of 34
Life — January 5, 1928 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes Broadway in the 1920s, depicting the crowded, chaotic street scene and theatrical culture. The main cartoon shows a packed subway train where a woman says "I'm being crushed to death in this jam. What can I do?" and a man replies "Let's dance"—mocking how Broadwaygoers remain obsessed with nightlife despite urban congestion. The left sidebar humorously catalogs Broadway attractions: the Rialto Theatre, sightseeing buses, old street vendors, and the Astor Hotel. It references the "House of Hits" and mentions Ziegfeld Follies, establishing this as 1920s entertainment culture. The text ridicules the commercialization of Broadway—dance halls, hot dogs, postal cards—suggesting the street has become a superficial tourist attraction where authentic culture has been replaced by commerce and spectacle.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Broadway IORTY-SECOND STREET and 7th Avenue....Everybody calls it Broadway... . The Rialto Theatre. ...Hanging signs proclaim it “The House of Hits.”... Look at the long line at the Paramount up the street. ...Sightseeing buses....See the Bowery....A lecture tour through Chinatown. ...Old women sitting in them Making a living as decoys. ...The chap who is shouting that he’s going to point out the historic places....Did you know he only arrived here from Portland last week?...See the old man selling the Birth Control Review. ...He does it during his spare time....Doing it for the wife and kiddies.... “4 million horns from motor cars, A million lights that dim the stars...." The Astor Hotel....Must have been nice when it was a big farm. More people live outside than in. ...That drug store diagonally op- i . -Gray’s You know, :’s where you buy theatre tickets at half-price....Best seats for all the “hits” in town....Isn’t that a well-dressed man?...Tuxedo.... hat....He’s got class.... ‘“‘I Smell the Blood——”’ Morner: Now Jack had scarcely hid himself in the castle before a great voice boomed out, “Fee, fi, fo, fum, 1 smell the blood of an Englishman.” And what do you suppose it was? Tue Kwotes (i# chorus): The Mayor of Chicago! Sue (om crowded subway train): I'm being crushed to death in this jam, What can I do? He (a night club patron): Let's dance. society fellow....Wait a moment and his shirt will light up, advertis- ing a brand of cigar.... “That’s Broadway, Broadway, Heart of the World...” Loew’s New York Roof....Mo- tion pictures continuous from 11 A.M. to 1a. M....It's called the old men’s club....They go there to sleep....Did you know it once had an elegant French name and housed the first Ziegfeld Follies?... There’s a nut embar- rassing couples by trying to make the girl take.a rose and make the fellow pay for it... .Another dick thirst station... . Hungry, have a hot dog, too....Just like Coney sland....A shabby, fate - beaten old man....Once was a great architect and built many theatres. ..-He now haunts the lobbies of those the- atres.... “A painted smile, a hard-luck tale, A helping han d— they’re all for sale, On Broadway, Broadway....” A Lucky Strike display station. ..Try to edge your way near the window....The blonde is worth secing....Better than most chorus girls....Don’t have to pay either....The fight at Square Garden round for round in the doorway of a sheet music shop. -+-You can look at the picture postal cards also....Childs’.... See them tossing buckwheat cakes. .+-This is their Broadway place. ..-Only the best performers work here....No newcomers....T h ¢ crowd is too large and critical... . Newcomers always get stage fright. .--Another (Please turn to page 28) Say, I heard a good gag last night. Morris: Fine. Let's write a show. comicbooks.com