Life, 1928-02-09 · page 12 of 35
Life — February 9, 1928 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct pieces of satirical humor: 1. **"Two Sub-Title Writers Discuss a Party"** (top): A dialogue mocking film title card writers who create increasingly absurd, exaggerated subtitles for silent films. The joke escalates from mundane events ("got in this morning") to ridiculous elaborations ("Jack Bainbridge's Head Was Like the Keyhole—Both Were Going Around in Circles"). This satirizes the verbose, melodramatic style of silent film intertitles. 2. **"The Street of Broken Hearts"** (middle left): Commentary on Broadway's theatrical district and struggling performers. The cynical observation reflects post-WWI disillusionment about failed dreams. 3. **Bottom cartoon**: Apes labeled "Remote Ancestor of the Plumber" forgetting a monkey wrench—a visual gag about human forgetfulness mirrored in our evolutionary past. The magazine targets entertainment industry conventions and early 20th-century urban anxieties.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“.,.but tell Papa what happened!” “I—I—I beat up an egg.” The Street of Broken Hearts ROADWAY is the street of broken hearts. Stand on the corner of Broadway and 44th Street and watch the faces of the people passing by. In each one of them you can see the blankness of despair, the death of hope. What has brought them here? A dream, an old desire, an unrealized ambition. They have tried to accomplish the impossible: they have stormed the hostile gates of the city and found them impregnable. Only a few among these many can ever hope to break in. The rest must stay outside or, giving up the battle, return dis- consolate to their homes. The Paramount Theatre is jammed again. N.R. J. One-Way Traffic LORIDIAN: Is California growing fast? Carirornian: Is it? Well! The conductors on westbound trains all carry canaries to keep them from be- ing lonesome on the return trip. EARLY all men are willing to fight for what they want; and most women attend bargain sales. Two Sub-Title Writers Discuss a Party bt ELLO, Jack. What time did you get in this morning?” “Don’t mention it, Tom. As Dawn Swerr Lixe an Amser Froop Over THE Cry a Dazep Man Steartuity Pavsep Berore tHe Bainerivcr Corrace. Happy daze, eh, Tom?” “You said it! I suppose Jack Bam. pripce’s Heap Was Like tHe Kevuore— Botu Were Gorna Arounp 1N Cincies.” “Worse than that. He Wasn’r a Ma aician BuT Wuen He Struck a Marcu 10 Fino tue Keynote He Put His Foor in It!” “In other words, Jack Was a Hich Fun So His Wirr Catten Him Down.” “And then some. Wen Sue Becan to Bawt Him Our He Got Hot — So Sur What luck did you Knockxeo Him Coup. have, Tom?” “I came home with the milkman. When my wife saw us tHe Mix Was Frozey Souw sut Her Hussanp Was On ty a Lit tie Stirr. She had a rolling-pin in her hand.” “Ha, ha! He Trizp to Lie put Hs Wire Pinnep Him Down to tHe Trvtu.” “That's not all. Sue Saw He Was Try- ING To SNEAK IN Bareroot So Sue Gave Him a Coupte or Socks.” “Just like my wife! Sue Triep a Frar iRON as AN ArGuMENT nBuT It Was Over My Hea) “They're all alike, Jack. have another party?” “T can't say, Tom, but drop around to morrow. Maybe I'll get hold of another quart and we can film up again.” Say, when'll we C. Warden La Roe. “JT MAY be old-fashioned,” announced the Home Girl, “but I certainly don’t believe in these dispassionate marriages.” Remote ANCESTOR OF THE PLUMBER (to his wedding guests): Darned if I didn’t come away and forget my monkey wench. x merc G semi most fort: ing, comicbooks.com