Judge — October 6, 1917 — page 15: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a single large satirical cartoon depicting Hell as an amusement park or entertainment district during winter—a visual pun on the phrase "when Hell freezes over" (meaning something impossible or never). The cartoon transforms Hell into a bustling recreation venue with identifiable attractions: a skating rink cabaret, Pluto Park, various shows and bars. Demons and damned souls populate the scene engaged in leisure activities—skating, dancing, drinking—rather than suffering punishment. The satire appears to mock either: - **Entertainment/vice culture** of the era (cabaret shows, drinking, skating rinks as morally questionable venues) - **Prohibition-era speakeasies** operating despite legal bans - Or possibly **corrupt officials/politicians** portrayed as hellish figures now enjoying themselves The detailed labels on various establishments suggest contemporary venues or entertainment trends the cartoonist viewed as disreputable. Without clearer historical context, the precise political target remains unclear, though the work satirizes urban entertainment culture and moral hypocrisy.