Judge — October 29, 1921 — page 18: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page features a portrait sketch of **Augustus Thomas**, a prominent American playwright. The accompanying text praises Thomas for his distinctly American theatrical voice, noting that regardless of setting—whether Alabama, Arizona, Missouri, or frontier locations—his plays center on American themes and values. The reference to works like *Alabama*, *Arizona*, *Missouri*, *On the Rio Grande*, and *The Copperhead* identifies these as his major productions, each set in different American regions. The satire's point appears celebratory rather than mocking: Judge magazine is recognizing Thomas as embodying "Americanism" in theater during an era when American playwrights were still establishing cultural independence from European dramatic traditions. The sketch captures him in profile, presenting him as a significant figure worthy of serious artistic representation.