Life, 1929-02-08 · page 25 of 44
Life — February 8, 1929 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains four satirical comic panels mocking various character types: 1. **"Secret Vices"** (top left): A film critic sneaks into a penny arcade despite his sophisticated profession, suggesting cultural hypocrisy—intellectual elites enjoying "lowbrow" entertainment. 2. **"Neurotic Citizen"** (top right): A man questions whether a skyscraper's construction safety measures are necessary, satirizing neurotic anxiety about modern urban infrastructure. 3. **"Burglar/Timid Householder"** (bottom left): A burglar and homeowner negotiate—the householder agrees not to look while the burglar steals his mask, mocking polite cowardice. 4. **"Prize Fighter"** (bottom right): A boxer suggests moving a fight "on the house" (to the roof), likely satirizing fixed fights or corruption in professional boxing. The page targets hypocrisy, anxiety, cowardice, and fraud in American society through humorous exaggeration.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Secret Vices The movie critic with a passion for penny pictures, ys SSS - Burciar: Gosh! There goes m | Prize Fichter (stalling): All right, Joe, Timw Housenotper: All right, I'll be fair—I won't look. let’s make this round on the house, comicbooks.com