Judge, 1887-11-12 · page 1 of 16
Judge — November 12, 1887 — page 1: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This November 1887 Judge cartoon satirizes a failed theatrical partnership. The caption reads: "We draw good crowds, but the play wasn't a success, after all!" Two performers stand on railroad tracks near a "Home Stretch" sign, accompanied by what appears to be a Devil or demon figure. They're depicted as clowns or vaudeville entertainers with exaggerated costume elements. The "busted combination" likely refers to a real theatrical act or partnership that collapsed despite drawing audiences—suggesting the performers were popular individually but failed when working together. The railroad setting and "home stretch" sign suggest the act is returning home in defeat. The cartoon mocks the entertainment industry's instability and the gap between crowd appeal and actual commercial success—a recurring theme in Gilded Age humor about show business.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGES FREE RAILWAY ACCIDENT POLICY. YOU ARE INSURED FOR$500.00. Tor One Week from date of this issue. See page i2 VOL.1I3 NO. 317 ENTERED AT THE POST OFFICE AT NEW YORK AS SECOND N9 g HOME. i Swrethome (% DR a THE BUSTED COMBINATION. “We drew good crowds, but the play wasn't a success, after all!”