Judge, 1920-01-24 · page 8 of 36
Judge — January 24, 1920 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page This page contains satirical commentary on early cinema, particularly dog-themed comedies that were popular in silent film. The main article (credited to Pace Bailey) mocks low-quality movie comedies featuring dogs. It sarcastically suggests that respectable Boston Bulls and St. Bernards are actually writing these film scenarios—but out of shame, they hide their involvement and disguise themselves as Pomeranians to avoid recognition. The joke critiques both the poor quality of these animal-based comedies and the absurdity that dogs themselves wouldn't want credit for them. The surrounding captioned cartoons offer lighter humor: "Thirsty Householder" jokes about perspective, while the hunting anecdotes mock incompetent sportsmen whose dogs retrieve useless objects instead of game. "Their Ordeal" depicts rural parents forcing children to study Sunday School lessons. The overall point: satire of lowbrow entertainment and the proliferation of poorly-made dog comedies in early cinema, presented with Judge magazine's characteristic irreverent humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
by Pace Mauer Thirsty Householder (sweeping horizon with binoculars)—It’s wther raisin in it if policemen, taxicabs, plumb- wwders move less also it isn’t is the essence of comedy; ers, bathing girls, dogs and Seidlitz y than ninety miles an hour it isn’t funny when they do! Once in a while when the folks who commit these primitive burlesques turn the whole works over to the dogs, the pictures are amusing. But when the dogs are bored and walk out on them, the fun dies instanter! | wonder if some of these St. Bernards and Boston Bulls do write the scenarios, and if the reason the public doesn’t know it is because these dogs are too proud to let their relatives know what they are doing for a living? Can’t you just see how it might have happened? A respectable Boston Bull, snatched one sunny after- noon by the dog catchers, who are part of the organiza- tion of the Movie producers (doing business under the trade name of Notable Dog Catchers, Inc.) is taken t the scenario department and locked in with a sr typewriter and a promise of food when a “comedy completed. — Boston Bulls must have their beans and brown bread, so the trick is done. The dog shivers with-shame, but he must eat. He doesn’t writehome to his folks; his pride is too great; and he cannot lie! So he goes on writing movie scripts, gets to be a trusty, and is allowed to walk out at dusk for an hour's airing He disguises himself as a Pomeranian in case some all ) former pal should pass by and recognize him. He begs =e sitting up, the large salt tears coursing down his chops, imploring his masters not to mention his name on the screen. ‘They promise and his identity is never re- That's why you vealed have never seen his name ithor! It’s a hound’s life! Natural Enough I feel—oh, words — will hardly describe it—I feel, just well—all buoyed up,” the new father of an infant Gets What Was Shot Vimrod No.1 his dog is the best retriever in Jones says the country Nimrod No. 2—He is pretty good. Every time Jones tires his gun the dog brings in either a twig ora bunch of grass. Their Ordeal What's coming off in the house?” asked a neighbor whe was passing by in the glox ing of a Saturday eve. “Te reckon your children have got theirselves p'izoned, or nuth'n’ that-a-way, and are dying in ewful agony?” 7 nplied Gap John Rumpus Ridge, Ark.,who “Wife ming ‘em their Sabbath School lessons for tomor’ > Mar Throw an son. was comfortably draped over the top muil of the fence: is sorter lc that’s all Draven by ROB. Pein 1 r—Why is he ha Jepressed, M off this nar husband » thing to swe comicbooks.com