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Why Do They Do It?

Item Info

Item No: pdcp01093
Title: Why Do They Do It?
Media Type: Drawings
Source: Print and Picture Collection
Notes:

This satiric cartoon, by illustrator Charles Davis Mitchell, was published in Philadelphia’s Public Ledger on September 24, 1918, page 9.  Captioned “Why Do They Do It?,” it was from Mitchell’s long-running series, called “Follies of the Passing Show,” and pokes fun at the seemingly-capricious and ironic proposals for urban development in Philadelphia.

The signs on the buildings read: "This office building to be replaced by thoroughly up-to-date theatre" and "On this theatre site will be erected a beautiful modern office building."  This original drawing is pen and ink, on board. 


Creation Year: 1918
Creator Name: Mitchell, Charles D. - Artist