Life, 1928-10-12 · page 17 of 44
Life — October 12, 1928 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Main Cartoon:** The large illustration titled "What's the big idea?" depicts what appears to be a silent film production scene—a common Life subject. The exaggerated figures and theatrical gestures are typical of silent-era slapstick comedy satire. **"Little Rambles with Serious Thinkers":** This is a humorous opinion column featuring brief quotes attributed to named individuals (Gene Tunney, Beverley Nichols, Charles A. Levine, etc.). The jokes mock contemporary figures and topics: aviation enthusiasm, romantic ideals, and social concerns. **Left Column:** A narrative piece titled "Nepenthe" by Samuel Grafton depicts mourners at what appears to be a film premiere, with satirical commentary on the emotional overreaction to entertainment. The page satirizes 1920s celebrity culture, silent cinema, and fashionable intellectual posturing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ES StRRFF RARER I es = a aR are B68 Nepenthe Tuty stood with bowed heads on the sidewalk and wept. From time to time one of them would walk inside for a moment, to return soon after with the rapt look on his face of a man who has just seen a sacred and a solemn thing. “No more peace for me,” moaned one, wiping his streaming eyes. “And I have no solace left in the world,” wept another. “And here is the last breath of com- fort on earth being extinguished,” la- mented a third, taking up the noisy cry. The crowd around the old structure moaned an amen. About their awe-struck gaze there was something which spoke of strange and lamentable things. _ And those nearest the building plunged into deeper and deeper melancholy. “Never again shall I rest,” lamented one, weeping as if his heart would break. “Heartsease and quiet—gone—gone!” added a second, striking a tragic attitude. _."The day of contentment is over,” fin- ished a third. And, even as he spoke, a sentry at the door lifted his hand in a FIEND MAD SIN TWO WEARS BAN “What's the big idea?” signal, and from the multitude rose a hushed cry of grief. The last silent movie house in the world had just concluded its final non- talkie performance. Samuel Grafton. One Tabloid Headline Writer Helps Another with a Big Problem ish time I’m haying, trying to fimd gloves for the wiles ‘birth day, ‘These prices are ame Louise is where my wife goes, She says it's a good “cheap place to buy Gomen’s plain or fancy §- KILLING! T've been looking around I'm a nervous wreck. Can't sleep. I was wide awake this morning AT 6! bad, old man, but try MISS! (4 ING! Mme. Louise.’ Till you do my wife says you fering fellow member of my eee won't know what you're her store? I'll beat it Carroll Carroll. right there and thanks for that tip more'n a cish the thought, old man, I'm Little Rambles with Serious Thinkers Ir has long been proverbially evident that getting precipitately out of the frying pan may be only a prelude to landing in the fire—Harry Emerson Fosdick. What if we do have these gangsters shoot- ing each other off because of bootlegging? That's just what we want. —Pussyfoot Johnson. The smile is the soul of France. —Gene Tunney. Life is a game, with a hand dealt out to cach one of us, and just so many cards to play.—Kathleen Norris. I repeat that I am sorry for the country which has not a Prince of Wales. —Beverley Nichols. Romantic love has an enchanting allure- ment.—Bernarr Macfadden. Anyone who announces my plans for aviation is crazy —Charles A. Levine. comicbooks.com