Life, 1928-04-26 · page 14 of 35
Life — April 26, 1928 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top Cartoon: "Gentlemen of the Press"** This illustration satirizes newspaper and magazine editors/journalists in a chaotic office scene. The crowded, energetic composition mocks the press's frantic work environment and sensationalism—a common Life magazine critique of media culture. **Main Article: "The Master of Ceremonies Obliged at a Fight"** A humorous piece where a ceremonial master describes officiating a boxing match with exaggerated politeness ("Thank you. Thank you very much"). The satire targets the absurdity of formal etiquette applied to a violent sport. **Right Column Features:** - "Food for Thought": Mocks an indiscriminate reader consuming multiple literary classics - "The Owner of the Road": Jokes about circus performers and stunt drivers - "Strictly Fresh": A cartoon about someone on a ladder (specific reference unclear) The page exemplifies Life's satirical humor targeting American social behaviors and institutions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Master of Ceremonies Obliges at a Fight and double- 85 friends. I certainly am glad to see you all here to-night. I'll bet the chief of police is happy, too. Thank you. And they try to tell us that crime never pa: Some of you may have come in by the pass- gate, at that. Thank you, Any- how, you're here and among friends. ou know, I wouldn't referee this bout for anybody but my old friend Tex. I was supposed to open in Australia this week but Tex said there had to be one bad actor in the ring. Tex is a terrible kidder. I , ‘Tex, I'll do it, not for the 000, but for old times’ sake.’ So Tex let me take $50 and here I am. Thank you. That’s better. “Ladies and gentlemen, the maim event, the maim event, we'll have to let that one go by, is an elimina- tion match between ‘Shorty’ Putt and ‘Bull’ Ox. The winner will ap- pear soon in an attempt to eliminate what you have left. Thank you. “In this corner, ‘Shorty’ Putt. Take a bow, ‘Short You know why they call him ‘Shorty’? No- body ever misses him. Thank you, mister. You ran that one down nicely. A lot has happened since ‘Shorty’ began fighting. The map has changed something terrible. The rights of small nations have done their work. Nobody home. I guess they all went to the fight....Any- how, it’s an awful map. Thank you. “In this corner, Mr. Ox, It doesn’t make any difference whose ox s. There ain't going to be no gore. Thank you. Movie type, wouldn't you say Well, yhow, for a jungle scene? Thank you. Great personality. Slow to anger, modest in victory and tre- mendous in de feet. Tre- mendous in de feet. Thank you! Thank you very much indeed! “Now, folks, before we begin this little travesty, I want to caution the boys about the rules. “No petting in the clinches. Stop when you see the red lights. And re- member, a sock on the jaw is worth two on the hoof. Let ’er go! Thank you!” B. F. Sylvester. Famous ITs Beat IT Cheese IT Damn IT IT’S a boy IT won't be long now Greta Garbo O wonder Mr. Hearst has made a great suc- cess in the magazine busi- ness. He knows good fic- Food for Thought HERE he sat taking bites out of books with a zest That reduced precious volumes to ribbons. He consumed half a Shakespeare, some verses by Guest And he nibbled at two or three Gibbons. With amazement I asked why he'd chosen such eats. In reply said the unabashed feeder As he hungrily gnawed on a volume of Keats, “I'm the famous omnivorous reader!” ALL, The Owner of the Road “(RHE Wild Man from Borneo is in the circus.” “So I understand.” “And all the daredevil stunt men in the country are in the movies.” “That's s “The boys who do seven diffe things at once are in vaudeville.” “True enough, but tell me—what are you driving at?” “I'm trying to identify the driver of that car ahead.” tion when he sees it. StrictLy Fresit comicbooks.com