Life, 1928-11-16 · page 17 of 44
Life — November 16, 1928 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece by Harry Smith mocks radio broadcasters covering college football games. The article describes an imaginary radio play-by-play between an overly enthusiastic "Announcer" and a "Cheering Section" (likely fans gathered around a radio) that devolves into chaos—the cheering section complains about cautious play, demands risky tactics, second-guesses the team's strategy, and argues about which broadcast to follow. The left cartoon shows Farmer Twainks building an air-mail letterbox—a visual gag unrelated to the radio content. The right image captioned "Boy, here's where I catch hell!" depicts a boy in what appears to be a tower or confined space, likely illustrating radio-broadcast chaos or domestic disruption from Saturday afternoon football broadcasts mentioned in the article.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE THE RADIO we The Sneering Section Mayse, after all, the an- by nouncers of football games Agnes aren’t entirely to blame. wy Smith be the little groups that gath- er around the radio these Saturday afternoons aren’t what you would call a perfect audience. It can’t be any fun describing a game to a group of enthusiasts who know more about foot- tall than Knute Rockne, Hurry-up Yost, Charles Crowley or Bill Roper. It can’t be any great lark to report a game when you know that you are breaking the hearts of at least half your audience; and when you know that the listeners are un- Pater Twanxs Buitos HIMSELF AN AIR- Maw Letrer-sox der the delusion that you are making up the whole thing out of your head, and hold you responsible for every unsuccess- ful forward pass. So here is why our home is turned into a madhouse every Saturday afternoon. Tue Announcer: Fourth down. One pe to gain. They're getting set for a ick. Tue Crerrinc section: Oh, the lily- livered shrimps! Only one yard to gain and they kick! At this stage of the game and with the score what itis. Why don't they try the line? They've been going through the line. Why can’t they take a chance? Football isn’t what it used to be. Too damned cautious. Too damned polite. Always playing safe, They just lic down without a fight, that’s what they do. That’s what the radio has done to football. Tue Announcer: They've fumbled the ball! Yes, Gibley of Acorn fumbled the ball on Acorn’s nine-yard line. And about fifty Chestnut Tech men fell on it. Tue Cneerinc Section: There! What did I tell you? That man McNamee is the greatest louse unhung. Sce that—he plays favorites! Well, it’s all over now. The ame is as good as lost. And this is the ast time I'll listen to anything that Mc- Namec broadcasts. Tue Announcer: Let’s see what's hap- pening now. They're taking out Number 77 and Number 22 is going in. Tue Cueerinc Section: Listen to the fool! Say, you, out there! Nobody's been around this house selling programs. How do we know who Number 77 is? Why can’t you tell us who is Number 22? You've got a program in front of you, you half-witted sap. Can’t you read the names? Tue Announcer: The quarter's over. Now I'll let you listen to the music of the Army Band. Leaver OF THE CHEERING Section: I'll turn to the Notre Dame game and see what's going on out there. Feminine Votces: Can’t we listen to the cadets play? Tue Cxeerinc Section: Shut up! We want to hear what's going on! Feminine Voices: But the music is the best part of the game! Tue Announcer: There seems to be some sort of disturbance down on the field. Let’s see what's going on. Oh, the cops are chasing a boy in a raccoon coat. The boy seems a littlh—ah—a little too] ; full of spirit. He's trying to fight the cops. Tue Creerinc Section: The great big bums! Can't they let the kid have a good time? That's cops all over. Always pick- “Boy, here's where I catch hell!” comicbooks.com