Losers

At center, mannequin models are being constructed as stand-ins for actors. They are surrounded by scenes of price gouging, poorly attended performances, the use of wooden actors, indifference to customers, and haughty attitudes by theater staff, and the resulting failure of business. Above the main scene are the ghosts of past actors labeled “Booth, Gilbert, Forrest, Cushman, [and] Wallack.”

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1903-12-16

Charles A. Schieren walks toward city hall labeled “Brooklyn,” carrying a book labeled “Business Administration Schieren.” In the foreground, Whitelaw Reid is straddling a trunk labeled “To Salt River,” on which three men are sitting. He implores Schieren not to “forget the boys!!” The three men are of the “boss” or “walking delegate” type and their political careers appear to be over as they are headed up “Salt River,” as the new mayoral administration of Schieren gets underway. Caption: Political Adviser–For goodness’s sake! Don’t forget the boys!!

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1893-12-27

Creator(s)

Unknown

A bloated businessman, holding an American flag labeled “Victory,” rides in a wheelbarrow being pushed by another man. In the background, a young boy is explaining to a stranger that the scene is the result of a bet over the outcome of the presidential election. Caption: Boy–Yes, it was an election bet and Dad won. Ain’t he making an awful fool of the other fellow? / Stranger–Yes! Which one is your Dad?

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1896-11-11

Creator(s)

Dalrymple, Louis, 1866-1905

Illustration shows a comic look at how a college education prepares a person for employment later in life. On the right, in a vertical series of six panels, from top to bottom, the most successful students are employed in a variety of menial tasks, while the one considered “such a boob” has the highest position and is now the one who employs the others. On the left, from top to bottom, are vignettes that invite before and after comparisons, for example, the college “yell leader” is now a barker at a sideshow.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1914-11-14

Creator(s)

Goldberg, Rube, 1883-1970

A human figure with a large globe for a head looks at a campaign poster labeled “Vote For William Jenkins the People’s Choice,” showing a bust portrait of Jenkins that has been pasted on a wooden fence. Below the poster is a diminutive William Jenkins, scowling, holding a newspaper with the headline “Election Extra – Jenkins Loses,” as he walks away to the right.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1913-11-05

Creator(s)

Glackens, L. M. (Louis M.), 1866-1933