Judge, 1921-12-17 · page 21 of 36
Judge — December 17, 1921 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a satirical price list rather than a cartoon. The piece humorously catalogs what bribes—ranging from food and theater tickets to clothing—the magazine's theater critic would accept in exchange for favorable reviews of various Broadway productions and personalities. The satire targets theaterworld pretension and critical integrity. It references specific figures (Emily Stevens, Helen Hayes, Booth Tarkington, Edward Sheldon) and works popular with 1920s audiences, offering increasingly absurd "payment" for endorsements—from champagne and anchovies to trips to Bermuda. The headshot accompanying the text shows a woman identified as "Mlle. Marguerite" from "Irving Berlin's Music Box Revue," likely the production being promoted. The satire's point: theater critics are openly corruptible and the entire enterprise of dramatic criticism is a transaction. Modern readers would recognize this as commentary on paid promotion and compromised journalism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Judge’s Favorites—“Mlle. Marguerite,” To admire Emily Stevens, the actress case of real Wiirtembur- ger, a gold seidel, and a half dozen bo: of ported anchovies. To write a favorable review of a libretto by Anne Cald- well .... and two handsome sofa pillows. To go to the Greenwich Vil- lage Theater on a stormy night To go to the Neighborhood Playhouse in Grand Street, ditto ... * To hold that Allan Pollock is a fine actor. : bottle of Chateau Latour 1914, one bottle of Pies- porter, and two bottles of Marquis de Mun. To rave over Otis Skinner. suit of clothes and a Swiss watch. To print a picture of Russ Whytal . . and one of Martin and Martin’s silver cocktail- shakers. oO A new To say that Helen Hayes is the new Maude Adams.... T silver cocktail-shaker full. To work up a good notice of Booth Tarkington's plays. . Booth Tarkington’s nov: To _recant and write “Swords” was a great poetic drama .... and a new Knox hat. To _recant and write that “Clair de Lune” was a great poetic drama .... and a photograph ‘of Dr. Frank Crane. To print an enthusiastic en- dorsement of the Drama League promise that the person who borrowed my copi of Charles Rann Ken- nedy’s “The Terrible Meek,” “The Army with Banners” and “The Neces- sary Evil” will not return them. To hail Moody's vide” as a masterpiece.. vard flag, and a V. and S. phonograph record. \9 ne $500 William Vaughn $200 “The Great Di- A set of A Har- with Irving Berlin’s Music Box Revue. To say that Augustus Thomas is the dean of American dramatists ... and a free ticket to “The Music Box Revue.” To say that Edward Sheldon is a genius Around- trip ticket to Bermuda, and three pairs of flannel trousers. $350 HIS, obviously, is not a complete list; there are at least one hundred items not on it; but it will perhaps give an idea of certain openings in my integrity. I respectfully urge the managers and others to give it their close scrutiny. If the fees strike them as disproportionately high in certain instances, I might even con- sider a slight reduction. I, too, want to be bribed. I want to know how it feels. And I am ready to go half- way to get the sensation. All com- munications may be addressed to me in care of the office of this periodical. Please use plain envelopes. comicbooks.com