Life, 1928-03-08 · page 8 of 43
Life — March 8, 1928 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon "The Master Plays" depicts a bell-hop or porter struggling with multiple large bags while hotel guests look on. The accompanying anecdote "The Customer is Always Right" satirizes service-industry dynamics of the era: a porter brings bags to a room, and a guest tips him a nickel after extracting free labor (opening windows). The joke critiques how customers exploit workers under the guise of politeness—the guest demands service while begrudging fair compensation. The page also contains brief humorous pieces about domestic life and cinema. These short satirical vignettes mock common social situations: poor parenting decisions, bad movie plots, and marital complications. The satire targets middle-class American life and entertainment culture of the period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Det RROMS Tre Master Prays Home Movies (The Spirit of Hollywood Creeps In) “PA PA is a nice fellow but a lousy director. » what's the idea of throwin’ ything to the baby? Why not give me a couple of close-ups?”...““Aunt Emma's good enough in domestic drama but she hasn’t any sense of comedy.”...“I hear that the Browns are in terrible condition. Their camera isn’t even paid for.”...* © back-yard_ pic- tures are flops. From now on, we'll shoot all our stories in the front yard.”...“Uncle Ned put most of my good close-ups on the cutting- room floor because I told his wife that she was a rotten bridge player.” ++"The baby looks very dissipated. He's been staying up nights crying.” -.-“I'll play the part, Papa, if you'll raise my allowance to fifty cents a week.”. ..“‘We need more ac- tion. The story is slow. Why not have Junior coming to the rescue on a Kiddie-Car?”...“Mama’s _ titles were too wisecracking. They spoiled the picture.”...“Well, I hear that Grandpa is going to divorce Grand- ma and marry the laundress.” Robert Lord. PEAKING of “Strange Inter- lude”’—O' Neill evidently believes there are two asides to every question. “The Customer Is Always in the Right’”’ “J UST put those bags down any. where, boy. And open the windows: let's have some of that warm May sunshine....By the way, what's the date?” = “The fourteenth, sir.”” “Ah! The fourteenth! ington’s Birthday !" “Yes, sir.” “Well, well, Washington, the pator!” “Yes, sir.” “And a great President he was, too....Well, I guess it looks like Coolidge again in 1928.” “Yes, sir.” “How does New Orleans think about it? I suppose you're all Re publicans down here?” “That's right, sir.” “Good for you....All right, boy. Here's a nickel for bringing up those eight bags.” “Thank you, sir.” “IT suppose tipping is not encour- aged at this hotel, though?” “You're right, sir.” “Well, then, give me back that nickel.” “Yes, sir.” Norman R. Jaffray. Wash- well! Great Theodore Emanei- Five Ways to Wreck a Holiday AKE automobile ride under im- pression it will be pleasure trip. Go somewhere to dine under im- pression you will miss crowd. Attempt to get under impression everything will not be sold out. Go somewhere to dance under im- pression you will be able to dance. Stay at home under impression it will please family to spend good old- fashioned holiday. Cc. N. K. True to Location “TOES your son Josh ever come back to visit you, since he got in the movies at Hollywood?” “Every summer,” answered Grandma Tuttle, proudly; “every summer of the three years he’s been gone.” “And did he bring his wife with him?” “Each time,” she answered. “And they was three as purty girls as yoo ever laid eyes on.” VBP ASAT | tee hipp have Mou furte a ter at tl mot! rock the outli Geo boy sixty fifty cian: Tue me, comicbooks.com