BY fILIPPO t. mARINETTI ENTITLED tHE vARIETY tHEATRE (sEPTEMBER 29, 1931).
tRANSLATED BY r.w. fLINT.
Because, and don't forget it, we Futurists are YOUNG ARTILERYMEN ON A TOOT, as we proclaimed
in our manifesto, ``Let's Murder the Moonlight,'' fire + fire + light against moonlight and against old
firmaments war every night great cities to blaze with electric signs Immense black face (30 meters high +
150 meters height of the building = 180 meters) open close open close a golden eye 3 meters high
SMOKE SMOKE MANOLI SMOKE MANOLI CIGARETTES women in a blouse (50 meters + 120
meters of building = 170 meters) stretch relax a violet rosy lilac blue bust froth of electric light in a
champagne glass (30 meters) sizzle evaporate in a mouthful of darkness electric signs dim die under a dark
stiff hand come to life again continue stretch out in the night the human day's activity courage + folly never
to die or cease or sleep electric signs = formation and disaggregation of mineral and vegetable center of
the earth circulation of blood in the ferrous faces of Futurist houses increases, empurples (joy anger more
more still stronger) as soon as the negative pessimist sentimental nostalgic shadows besiege the city
brilliant revival of streets that channel a smoky swarm of workers by day two horses (30 meters tall)
rolling golden balls with their hoofs GIOCONDA PURGATIVE WATERS crisscross of trrrr trrrrr
Elevated trrrr trrrrr overhead trrrombone whissstle ambulance sirens and firetrucks transformation of the
streets into splendid corridors to guide push logic necessity the crowd toward trepidation + laughter +
music hall uproar FOLIES-BERGERE EMPIRE CREME-ECLIPSE tubes of mercury red red red blue
violet huge letter-eels of gold purple diamond fire Futurist defiance to the weepy night the stars' defeat
warmth enthusiasm faith conviction will power penetration of an electric sign into the house across the
street yellow slaps for that gouty, dozy bibliophile in slippers 3 mirrors watch him the sign plunges to 3
redgold abysses open close open close 3-thousand meters deep horror quick go out out hat stick steps
taximeter push shove zuzu zuoeu here we are dazzle of the promenade solemnity of the panther-cocottes
in their comic-opera tropics fat warm smell of music hall gaiety = tireless ventilation of the world's
Futurist brain.
. . . so long as there are cannons they will always be more beautiful than beautiful but often false words.
Benito Mussolini
Mussolini and Marinetti were buddies.
