Life, 1928-11-02 · page 31 of 48
Life — November 2, 1928 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes **radio broadcasting clichés** circa the 1920s. Agnes Smith (likely referencing Governor Al Smith, a 1928 presidential candidate) complains he won't repeat himself on radio because listeners will tune out. The column then lists exhausted radio tropes: Johann Strauss as "Waltz King," Sousa as "March King," Babe Ruth's batting habits, Beethoven's deafness, and overused descriptions of Southern fried chicken. The satire mocks both repetitive broadcasters and the advertising/entertainment industry's predictable formulas. The bottom image ("Bone Dry") references **Prohibition**, showing skeletons—perhaps criticizing alcohol's illegality. The closing voting appeals ("VOTE FOR ROGERS / VOTE FOR SMITH / VOTE FOR HOOVER") likely reference the **1928 election**, encouraging political participation. This is *Life* magazine's characteristic blend of cultural observation and political messaging.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ak “1 Heard You the First Time” Tue text for today’s sermon is from the sayings of Al Agnes Smith, Said Governor Smith: ; “I cannot afford to repeat my- Smith self on the raddio. if I da people won't listen to me. They'll turn to a band concert.” Will broadcasters please cut out these few words and hang them in every studio? After listening to the radio for six years, here are a few things I know which I don’t ever want to hear about again, which everyone who has listened even to one evening's entertainment on the radio knows: That Johann Strauss is called the Waltz King. That the scenery around any football stadium is beautiful just as the sun goes down. That Sousa is called the March King. That late in the last half of a football game it invariably gets chilly. That Jack Dempsey is a more colorful personality than Gene Tunney. That the announcer cannot see who is catrying the ball. That Franz Schubert was a very poor by man who died young but who wrote a great many beautiful songs, many of which will live forever. That all the night club damsels who are persuaded to step before a microphone are “very, very lovely girls.” That Hornsby’s fet name is Rogers, not Roger. That when it is eight o'clock Eastern Standard Time it is always seven o'clock Central Standard Time. That Babe Ruth always swings hard at the ball and is just as impressive when he strikes out as when he makes a home run. That mothers, moonlight nights and fried chicken are better down South than they are up North. That Beethoven was deaf and had a sulky disposition. That the quarter’s over—no, it’s a pen- alty—no, the quarter's over—no, they are penalized five yards for off-side. That Victor Herbert was America’s greatest composer of light operas. That the Rose Bowl in Pasadena is always crowded with movie stars on New Year’s Day. That the Democratic National Com- mittee will be glad to have suggestions from the radio audience. That Western crowds take their foot- ball harder than Eastern crowds. That Clicquot is spelled “C-L-I-C- QUO.-T.” That baseball and football scores have not yet been received and therefore will be announced later. That you'll find Heaven just ten little miles from town. Atys: Do you approve of companionate marriage? Prius: Sure. I'll try anybody once. NONCHALANCE Senior: What did the quarterback do when he fumbled the ball on our five- yard line? Junior: He lit a Murad. VOTE FOR ROGERS VOTE FOR SMITH VOTE FOR HOOVER sur — VOTE! comicbooks.com