Life, 1928-11-16 · page 25 of 44
Life — November 16, 1928 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical quotes and cartoon humor typical of 1920s Life magazine. **Top cartoon**: Shows a car accident scene with the caption joke playing on literal vs. figurative meaning—"Were you in the car with Madam when the accident happened?" / "No, I'm only the man that was hit." The humor relies on misunderstanding whether the questioner meant being present or being struck. **Bottom cartoon**: Depicts a music publisher confronting a blues composer about a promised song. The composer claims he cannot write because "my sweet baby left me I ain't been able to write nothin'"—satirizing the blues genre's reliance on romantic heartbreak as creative inspiration. It's gentle mockery of blues tropes. The page also features "Little Rambles with Serious Thinkers"—attributed quotes from public figures (Clarence Darrow, Upton Sinclair, etc.) on contemporary topics like youth, Prohibition, and smoking habits. These appear to be genuine or plausibly attributed statements, presented without obvious satirical commentary, reflecting the magazine's mix of humor and social observation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
23 Little Rambles with Serious Thinkers Tue createst trouble with youth is that it gets old.—Clarence Darrow. Next to books give me a good solid, old-time American farmer. —Dr. S. Parkes Cadman. The Prohibition Amendment is the great- est step in progress taken by America since the freeing of the slaves. ~Upton Sinclair. A fragrant breath adds immeasurably to one’s personality—Bernarr Macfadden. Just a minor note here. In broadcasting both baseball and football for the last three or four years, I notice fewer women smoking in the stands. There was a period not so ba g ago, when women apparently were smoking as casually in public as men. I had been told that this was pass- ing, particularly in the colleges, and this report is confirmed by this crowd here. “Were you in the car with Madam when the accident happened?” My general observation is that under- “No, I'm only the man that was hit.” graduate behavior generally is on the up- and-up.—Graham McNamee. squawky sound effects and stupid dia-| Mrs. Fim: Is your husband an up- . logue. Here, obviously, is a case where right, honest Christian man? Bossy: Button, button, who's got the noise was tacked on after the picture] Mrs. Fram: Yes, indeed! You snould|the button? was made, and it is done none too skil-| sce his collection of Gideon Bibles! Jimaty: The laundryman. fully. Chester Conklin gives a’ fine per- formance as the old janitor, being effec- te even in the talking sequences, but l advise young Charles Rogers to stick to the silent drama as long as there is any of it left. When Mr. Rogers attended the old Paramount School on Long Island the faculty at that select academy did not ralize that the talkies were soon to ar- rive, and that it would be well for them to instruct their pupils in elocution, Tue exterior scenes of “Varsity” were made in and about Princeton University, bat its story was written and directed by two Yale men, so perhaps there was some ulterior motive behind it all. Ishall never forget what Donald Ogden Stewart, of Yale, did to ‘Brown of Har- Yard.” 4 Confidential Guide to current movies will be found on page 26. SS sess THE “ALSO-SPOKES” Some speak for money, some for love, And some are just self-seekers; But here’s a toast to the gallant host Music PusuisHer: Where’s that “Lonesome Blues” song you promised me? Who are known as “other speakers.” | Buues Composer: I dunno. Since my sweet baby left me I ain't been able to write nothin’. comicbooks.com