Judge — October 16, 1920 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Opening of the New Hotel at Yapp's Crossing" This is a bustling satirical scene depicting the grand opening of a new hotel at a rural crossroads. The illustration shows chaos and pandemonium—crowds of people, animals (including cattle and pigs), overturned carriages, bicycles, and general mayhem surrounding the "Yapp's Crossing Hotel." The satire appears to mock the pretensions of opening a fancy establishment in a remote location, with the "refined" hotel utterly overwhelmed by rustic crowds, livestock, and accidents. The contrast between the hotel's aspirations (evident from its formal appearance) and the actual clientele and disorder suggests ridicule of misplaced ambitions or poor business judgment. The drawing is credited to Johnny Gruelle, a notable illustrator of the era. Without knowing the specific date or location of Yapp's Crossing, the exact historical reference remains unclear, though this type of rural-versus-refined satire was common in Judge magazine.