Life — September 14, 1928 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 9 This page contains a theater column titled "Along the Main Stem" by columnist Willard, discussing Broadway and theatrical slang. The main cartoon depicts a man saying goodbye to a woman at a doorway, with the caption "The Man Who Made Love on the Installment Plan." The joke plays on financial terminology—the man's romantic departure ("see you on the 15th") suggests he's pursuing courtship in scheduled payments rather than all at once, treating romance like a debt repayment plan. This satirizes both commercialism creeping into personal relationships and perhaps the casual dating habits of the era. The column discusses theatrical vernacular and reviews of Broadway productions, providing contemporary entertainment industry context.