Judge — September 24, 1921 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "A Run on the First National Bank" This Judge magazine cover from September 24, 1921 uses a double entendre to satirize bank runs—sudden mass withdrawals during financial panics. The illustration shows a woman in a fashionable dress and heels literally "running" away from a bank, depicted as she rushes in motion. The joke plays on the phrase "run on the bank" (a financial crisis) versus an actual person running. This visual pun was timely in 1921, during the post-WWI economic recession and financial uncertainty. The woman's stylish appearance, jewelry, and confident pose suggest she represents either the wealthy class withdrawing deposits or a commentary on frivolous spending during economic instability—common satirical targets in Judge magazine's commentary on American society.