Life — February 16, 1928 — page 26: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a single-panel satirical cartoon depicting what appears to be a theatrical or performance scenario. Two monkey-like figures are shown in an enclosed space—one suspended above, one reclining below—with an audience visible at the top. The caption reads: "The audience booed me the other evening. Never mind, old man. The first hundred jeers are the hardest." The satire appears to mock performers or entertainers who face harsh audience rejection. The monkey caricatures suggest the subjects are treated as lowbrow or unseemly performers. The joke implies that enduring initial ridicule from audiences becomes easier over time—a cynical commentary on show business or public performance. The specific historical context and identities of any referenced figures remain unclear without additional documentation.