Judge — April 22, 1922 — page 17: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page satirizes **Ed Wynn**, a famous vaudeville and early radio comedian known as "The Perfect Fool." The joke operates on multiple levels: **The Setup:** Wynn toured his stage show to Newark and broadcast it on radio. However, radio couldn't transmit the visual appeal of his ensemble's female dancers—described as "too thinly clad" (wearing revealing costumes typical of 1920s stage entertainment). **The Satire:** Judge mocks radio's limitations by contrasting what audiences *heard* (Wynn's comedy) versus what they *missed* (the scantily-dressed chorus line). The accompanying photo of dancer **Aline McGill** emphasizes what radio's invisible medium couldn't convey. **The Humor:** This plays on the tension between emerging radio technology and traditional stage entertainment, suggesting radio strips away the visual spectacle that made live shows appealing—particularly the aesthetic appeal of female performers in revealing costumes, reflecting 1920s attitudes toward entertainment and sexuality.