Life, 1928-03-22 · page 13 of 34
Life — March 22, 1928 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate satirical pieces: 1. **"What Every Reporter Knows"** - A cynical column about newspaper journalism, suggesting reporters are temporary workers focused on sensationalism rather than substance. 2. **"Clothes Make the Hamlet"** - A cartoon dialogue mocking theatrical modernization. A woman suggests performing "Hamlet" in contemporary dress rather than traditional Shakespearean costumes. The joke critiques trendy but misguided attempts to update classics, implying the play's essence gets lost without proper costuming. 3. **"Thoughts of Lady Godiva as She Rode"** - A humorous monologue imagining the legendary nude rider's mundane complaints (weather, taxes, obedience) rather than noble motivations, deflating a romanticized historical figure through domestic realism. The page satirizes journalism, theater, and history through irreverent humor typical of Life's satirical approach.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
What Every Reporter Knows qTHat he is in the newspaper game only temporarily, since some of his tive work” is certain to find a market soon. That human beings are divided into two classes: those who want to get stories into the paper, and those who want to keep them out. That the “romance” of his life assed out with the corner saloon. That if space were assigned on merit, the average political speech would rate: “Congressman Smith also spoke. That there is no real necessity for changing the editorials daily. That a cub often develops into a good reporter despite a three-years’ course in a School of Journalism. That an interview with the average celebrity will raise a legitimate doubt as to how he got that way. And that if his next play doesn’t sell, he's going out after some real dough as a copy-writer or Public Relations Counselor. L. C. B. Clothes Make the Hamlet 2: Dear, they're giving “‘Ham- over the radio to-night. I don’t care for Shakespeare. :: But think, dear—they’re giv- ing it in modern clothes. Tacxuinc Low Tue Gancster ON THE Lert (admiringly): Look at Joe nail that bird! I guess a college education is some use after all. Thoughts of Lady Godiva as She Rode ELL, it won't be long now. Seems funny riding along like this—but it would seem funnier if the streets weren’t empty. “Wonder if there are any artists in this town, No reason why they should stay hidden. It's a great The hostess who, having always had a hard time locating the buzzer, finally sent to Charlie Chaplin for an old shoe. chance for them. Wish I'd exempted them from the order to stay in the dark. It seems such a waste, some- how—out here like this, and no pic- tures or anything. “Well, anyway, riding like this keeps you out in the open. Guess it’s the first mile that’s the hardest. “It isn’t the heat; it’s the humid- ity. “I'm certainly getting an awful load of ultra-violet rays. Of course, it would be my luck to pick out a sunny day and we've had a thick fog every day for weeks. Well, it won't be long now. “This emptiness is getting on my nerves. Of course every man was ordered to stay in the cellar, but it’s funny they're so darned obedient. I never saw 'em behave before. “Well, here’s home. Almost there —and I'm getting good and mad. Believe me, somebody's going to get a piece of my mind. And me a real blonde, too! “Whoa, Black Beauty! Home, Sweet Home! A pretty poor house and I thought it would be a sell-out. Oh, well, we got the taxes annulled anyway!” Harry Irving Shumway. TALY is the only country in the world in which each department of government is equally represented. comicbooks.com