Judge, 1921-01-01 · page 12 of 32
Judge — January 1, 1921 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This is a humorous cartoon depicting an absurdist "all-world football team" composed of famous historical and contemporary figures rather than actual athletes. The satire mocks the era's tendency for experts to make grandiose "all-time" selections by taking the concept to an ridiculous extreme. The roster includes: - **Historical figures**: Isaac Newton, Benjamin Franklin, Rembrandt, Bacon, Socrates (as coach) - **Classical/artistic figures**: Beethoven - **Contemporary celebrities**: Gloria Swanson (silent film star), appearing to be other entertainers Each is assigned a football position as if their names or achievements somehow qualify them for the sport. The joke appears to target the pretentiousness of sports experts and the arbitrary nature of "all-world" selections—the absurdity of naming philosophers and artists as football players exposes how such expert pronouncements often lack real basis. This reflects early 20th-century American skepticism toward expert authority and cultural pomposity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
nN Gir Isaac Bert Williams, Newton, right tackler Zi veen x quarter . flee z Elizabeth, i Gloria Swanson, Murrey, s || tefe guard t | Beethoven, TBenjomin right Guard Center right half Franklin, right end Bacon, left half lembrandt, left tackle, Draws by Ettss0x Hooven FoLLowING THE CUSTOM OF THE EXPERTS, JUDGE MAKES AN ALL-WORLD FOOTBALL SELECTION, EMBRACING ALL AGES AND PEOPLES 2 comicbooks.com