Captain Billy's Whiz Bang, June 1922 · page 56 of 68
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang #34 — page 56: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from the satirical magazine gossips about Broadway theater and Hollywood celebrities circa the 1920s. The text criticizes theater critics' power, particularly those at major papers like *The Times* and *The World*, noting they can "damn and save a play." Only critic George Jean Nathan allegedly dares challenge them independently. The gossip section targets film and stage personalities: Richard Barthelmess and Mary Hay face rumored marital discord; Theda Bara (the famous "vampire" seductress of silent film) has married director Charles Brabin, who reportedly keeps her confined—an ironic situation for cinema's most notorious femme fatale. The satire suggests Bara will only return to films if her husband directs, implying he controls her career. The humor relies on readers' familiarity with these celebrities' public personas and romantic scandals—typical of entertainment gossip columns of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
54 Captain Billy's Whiz Bang producer, and Heywood Broun, of The World, seem to be charter members, although Broun is the least offensive of all. Since criticism is at such a low ebb in New York, this faction, controlling two such power- ful papers as The Times and The World, as well as influencing others, can pretty nearly damn and save a play. Not one critic, save George Jean Nathan, dares to openly combat them. HERE is little else to relate on the Rialto. We hear rumors of family dis- cord in the Richard Barthelmess-Mary Hay maison. Just temperamental, y' know. Dick takes himself very, very seriously these days. Not that he ever had a sense of humor. And husbandly restraint must irk the Hay temperament. Besides Mary has just scored a hit in a musical show, “Marjolaine,” and the lure of the footlights is back again to puncture romance. We wonder if anything so fragile can endure within the hectic acres of Broad- way! Speaking of matrimony reminds us that they are telling amusing little things of Theda Bara and her newly acquired husband, Charles Brabin. Theda never was a person to go about but Brabin is practically keeping her under lock and key. An odd situation for the most famous vampire of 'em all. Incidentally, Theda may return to the films BUT ONLY IF HUB- BY DIRECTS. Charles says so himself.