Life, 1929-02-22 · page 14 of 36
Life — February 22, 1929 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes 1920s high society and entertainment venues. The header "THIS IS THE LIFE!" accompanies an illustrated frieze depicting various leisure activities—dining, dancing, socializing—representing the era's Jazz Age excess. The text discusses the **Waldorf Hotel** and speakeasies, referencing Prohibition-era culture where alcohol was illegally served. It mentions the **Chesterfield**, a speakeasy requiring "a gentleman of the old school" as escort, satirizing exclusivity and hypocrisy—gentlemen openly violated Prohibition laws while maintaining pretense of respectability. The illustration shows well-dressed patrons at what appears to be an upscale club or restaurant, with formal attire and leisure activities typical of wealthy New Yorkers during Prohibition. The column by "Bea Juke" reviews theatrical performances and social observations, maintaining Life's satirical tone about privileged society during this period of legal alcohol prohibition and underground drinking culture.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ROBABLY none of our younger bloods Pasi regret the passing of the Waldorf Hotel; in fact, they probably didn’t even know it was sick, yet these old cyes can look back at the time when Peacock Alley was considered very uptown there was romance in those days, boys! Modest young Junior Leaguers waited *neath sheltering palms for their young Lochinvars out of West 23rd Street and when they went places and did things, it didn’t cost a week's salary! (Voice from audience—“Now snow who Beau Jeste is! He's Harry Thaw!”) The Chesterfield a speakeasy in the Fifties. no gentleman admitted unless accompanied by a lady _the proprietor, a gentleman of the old school who studies newcomers very carefully before allowing them within the sacred portals siders drinking an art and welcomes no one who does not share his views amateurs, nouveau souses and college boys are barred. at the rear is a wine cellar with rows and rows of bottles and kegs where one may taste different brands be- he con-} fore ordering. .all of the wine is “home- made” but the old world atmosphere is there. the French custom of saucers for “checks” is used. Best story of the week—the bird who ran out of money at a well-known supper club but wouldn't cash a check because he had heard so much about their practice of raising checks. __ so he goes back to his hotel, cashes a check and sends a taxi driver up with the money to pay the bill! THINGS T REMEMBER — Watching Max Schmeling chop down Risko at the Garden (Private Prophecy—Max will be the next heavyweight champion of the world, including Gene Joseph Tunney) two burly cops keeping a lone pedes- trian from crossing the street (maybe they thought he was Rothstein’s murderer) the Yale-Princeton Indoor Polo game at Squadron A Armory... .the taxi driver who offered me a drink of “good rye” (I took it!) Marjorie White singing “Raise the Dust” in “Lady Fingers” the oyster stew at the Grand Central Sta- tion ...Greta Garbo in “A Lady of Affairs” that “Sing Boom,” the song hit of “Lady Fingers,” was the song hit of Belle Baker's show “Betsy” a couple of years ago... the credit line in the gram of Earl Carroll's “Fioretta’.. “Setting sexecuted by Joseph Teichner, Our Own Blacklist... Half wits who say “I faw down and go boom”... sister acts. toe dancers (except Marilyn Mit ler). people who fall on your neck for the publicity they can get.. the “aise” actors on opening nights. . spats... the Happiness boys people who didn't like “This Year of Grace” Something is worrying me (hoarse eres of “Yes, Yes, go on!) with all thee celebrities receiving fabulous prices for recommending things I’m worried sick for fear that I won't get famous soon enough to get in on the easy money! comicbooks.com