What are these people looking at?

Before we get the answer, note how the folks are arrayed in height so perfectly. Almost as if the photographer lined them up.

Here's the object of fascination:

Fifty years later, I'm not sure we could improve on the technology, and the very term "newspaper personality" might confuse a lot of people. You mean someone whose personality is flat and square? No. I mean someone whose personality is made up of soy-based inks and a certain percentage of post-consumer pulp. OF COURSE I DON'T MEAN THAT. I MEAN COLUMNISTS. FAMOUS COLUMNISTS.

Sorry for shouting, but lately the imaginary people with whom I pick fights seem denser than usual.