The Wasp — 1894 — page 474: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains a **satirical profile of Walter Moresco**, a San Francisco impresario described as "one of San Francisco's most enterprising and successful impressarios." The large cartoon depicts Moresco as a mustachioed figure literally *carrying* theatrical productions—shown holding promotional posters for "Grand Opera House," "Good Old Fashioned Melodrama," and "A Villain Baffled"—while a small figure (possibly representing a rival or critic) holds a money bag. The accompanying verses mockingly praise Moresco's theatrical ventures with backhanded compliments about his taste and success. The satire suggests Moresco aggressively promotes low-brow entertainment while claiming cultural sophistication. The cartoon visually exaggerates his self-aggrandizement by depicting him as literally supporting these productions single-handedly, critiquing his outsized ambitions or dubious theatrical reputation in San Francisco's entertainment scene.