Judge — April 3, 1920 — page 22: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical illustration titled "The Easterner's Idea of Los Angeles, After an Evening at the Movies." The cartoon mocks how Eastern Americans—people from back East—imagined Los Angeles based on Hollywood movies they'd seen. The scene depicts an exaggerated, chaotic street scene featuring: - A racing car with an open cockpit - A trolley/streetcar labeled "Hollywood" - People in swimwear and beach attire - Acrobats and performers - Generally outlandish, theatrical activity The satire suggests that Eastern viewers had wildly unrealistic expectations of LA life—imagining it as a constant spectacle of danger, glamour, athletic excess, and entertainment. It's mocking both the exaggerated nature of Hollywood films and the gullibility of audiences who took such portrayals literally. The joke hinges on the contrast between actual city life and cinema's fantastical depictions.